Why This Year’s NADA in Las Vegas Could Be the Most Important Industry Event Dealers Can’t Miss

The NADA Show is back in Las Vegas from February 3–6, 2026 at the Convention Center. It’s more than just a reunion for the car industry; it’s where leaders, new ideas, and business plans all come together for vehicle sales, fixed operations and all innovations that revolve around dealership operations. With the market always changing, new tech popping up fast, and how people buy cars shifting, showing up to NADA isn’t just welcomed opportunity to catch up with colleagues, it’s essential. The event will tee dealers up for navigating 2026 and beyond.

Coming into 2026, the US car industry is seeing slower growth, new tech is shaking up competition, and revenue worries are hovering overhead for a large number of franchise dealerships. Even with all that, the NADA Show is still the best spot for dealers, OEMs, suppliers, and vendors to kick the tires on new ideas, gain brilliant industry insight, and witness real results.

Here’s how going—and joining in—will help your dealership prosper in 2026.

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A Big Enough Stage for the Industry’s Future

The NADA Show has always been the biggest and most respected car sales event in North America. In 2026, it keeps that going with four days packed with main talks, workshops, new product showings, and chances to meet people. You can’t find this anywhere else.

Just think about how big it is:

• Each year, thousands of dealerships and top decision-makers from all over the US and the world meet up.
• Exhibitors include car makers, tech pioneers, service providers, software developers, money and insurance experts, and fixed-ops pros. AI will also play a big role.
• The Expo floor covers two huge areas—it’s like a marketplace for the newest tools and smart solutions

If you’re launching something new, looking for tech partners, or wanting to get an edge on the competition, this yearly get-together puts all the key people and ideas in one spot. This makes it super easy to spot trends, build partnerships, and win big business deals.

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Why 2026 Is a Big Deal: What’s Happening in the Market and What We Need to Do

To really get why going to the NADA Show this year is important, it helps to look at the bigger picture of the economy and the industry.

1. Slower Growth Means We Need a Plan

The latest predictions say new car sales in the US will be around 15.8 million in 2026. That’s a bit less than the stronger numbers from 2025. OEM leaders and dealers are already working in a market where deals, prices, and what customers want all need to be just right.

In 2025, the US car market did better than many thought, with sales up about 2% to roughly 16 million. But slowing down means we need to plan carefully, not just relax. What does this mean for dealers?

You need to be ready not just to sell cars, but to make customers happier, earn more money per sale or vehicle in the service lane, do better with fixed-ops, and change how you deal with what buyers want. The NADA Show program is set up to help you with these very things—from doing things well every day to new ideas like car subscriptions and selling across all channels.

2. Electric Cars and Car Tech Are Still Changing Everything

Even though electric car growth in the US isn’t as fast as once thought—a recent report expects only 13% EV growth in 2026, the slowest since the pandemic—electric cars are still a huge force in the market that dealers need to understand and get ready for.

Key things happening:

• How many electric cars people buy depends on government rule changes (like tax credits ending).
• Customers are leaning towards hybrids as a temporary choice.
• Problems with tech and charging spots are shaping what customers do and expect.

At the NADA Show, breakout sessions and panels will dig into these trends, showing how dealers can manage their inventory, educate consumers, and be ready for service in a market that has both hybrids and electric cars.

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What’s On the Schedule: Learning, New Ideas, Meeting People

One of the great things about going to the NADA Show isn’t just what you learn, but who you meet and how you can use those lessons.

Sessions Made for Dealer Success

The NADA Show is famous for its strong educational content covering:

• How dealers run their business and lead.
• How well fixed operations perform.
• Plans for money and insurance.
• Doing digital sales well and managing customer relationships.
• New tech, like AI and automation in sales and service.
• Growth begins with better retention
• Competing with the aftermarket in fixed operations

These aren’t just fancy ideas. They’re hands-on, practical classes led by industry pros, with real examples and tools you can use right away.

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A Market Full of New Ideas

All over the Expo floor, you’ll find hundreds of exhibitors showing off solutions for today’s toughest problems—from making service bays work better to making digital shopping more productive.

Examples of what you’ll see live:

• AI-powered tools that make fixed ops better and get customers more involved—sometimes showing real results, like more money for dealers.
• New CRM and digital sales platforms made to connect online shopping with what happens in the showroom.
• Optimizing warranty reimbursement and operational efficiencies. Making the most of what is pulling up in your service lane.
• New ways to finance/lease and tools to keep up with rules as money situations change.

Just one contact made or demo set up at the NADA Show could mean huge gains for your business in the next year.

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Meeting People That Really Help

If you think the NADA Show is “just another trade show,” think about this: the deep connections you make here are unmatched in the car world.

• Dealers and industry leaders have strategic chats that can lead to test programs, preferred suppliers, and joint marketing efforts.
• Service managers and fixed ops leaders swap good ideas that cut months off their learning time.
• New people in the industry build trust and get noticed by partners and mentors.

Plus, there are tons of social events, get-togethers, and casual meetings—from official welcome parties to informal chats where current issues and real solutions are hot topics.

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Getting Your Money’s Worth Beyond the Booths

Some dealers ask: Is it worth the cost to go? Think about this:

• Going to a big show like NADA saves you money and time you’d spend meeting partners one-on-one all year.
• You hear ideas from the whole industry at once—OEM, state dealer associations, tech partners, fixed operations vendors, digital marketing solutions providers, money experts, and more.
• You leave with a plan—not just ads—informed by people who are dealing with the exact same stuff you are.

Think of the NADA Show as a big planning meeting joined with the world’s biggest car sales marketplace.

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In Uncertain Times, Making Connections Is the Plan

With money worries, changing customer wants, and tech changes all making things tricky, dealers face a simple truth: the car industry has never been so connected. Success isn’t just about selling and servicing cars anymore; it’s about doing well with every part of the business and building customer retention for the long haul.

NADA Show 2026 gives you just that:

• Ideas from industry leaders who have been through changes.
• Tools and solutions that help you compete better.
• Connections that turn right into business results.

Whether you’re focused on digital selling, fixed operations, making customers happy, or growing your business, you’ll find ideas that make you better.

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Final Thought: The Time to Be There Is Now

The US car scene in 2026 might be more complex than ever—with slow sales, uncertainty about electric cars, cracks in the customer retention ecosystem and the changing financial landscap. But with complexity comes a chance: for dealers who are ready, informed, and connected.

NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas isn’t just an event—it’s a key moment that helps dealers use industry trends to get ahead. Whether you’re an independent dealer, part of a bigger group, a tech provider, or represent the factory, your presence matters.

Sign up, mark your calendars, get your plans ready—and be there to push your business forward for the next ten years.

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Meet with Recall Masters at NADA

It’s time to scratch the recall itch.  If you’re store is looking to get serious about comprehensive recall management and building a sustainable retention model, NADA 2026 is the opportune time to meet with Recall Masters.  There’s no high-pressure sales or awkward vendor meeting – we’re long-time industry professionals spanning all aspects of the industry.  We’re helping dealers, OEMs and automotive vendors leverage the existence of a dangerous recall to connect with consumers and re-engage customers who have defected to the aftermarket.  It’s time to plug the holes in the retention bucket and build a sustainable service-to-sales-to-service ecosystem.  With the single-largest VIN-owner database in the nation, we’ll connect you with 3X more vehicle owners affected by a recall.  And, with a turnkey solution backed by a 5:1 ROI guarantee in the first 90 days, all your store has to do is repair the vehicles when they pull into the service drive.  We’ll handle all facets of the data, technology and communications, including all consumer inquiries and scheduling all the repair appointments.  Find out what we do with brands just like yours in markets just like yours.  To meet at NADA 2026, visit https://www.recallmasters.com/nada/ .

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