Buzz and excitement filled downtown Vancouver over the last week with a successful 2026 Vancouver International Auto Show – an event that broke attendance records for the third consecutive year.
Over the course of five days at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Auto Show welcomed a record-breaking 139,991 attendees – including record-setting attendance on opening day with 20,071 visitors on Wednesday, March 25, as well as closing day –with 30,188 attendees on Sunday.
Before the doors opened to the public on Wednesday, we had more than 100 journalists, photographers and influencers take part in our media tour – highlighting many of the exciting exhibits as well as some Canadian and Western Canadian debut vehicles. We saw a great deal of excitement among those who joined us on the tour, so I thank everyone for coming out and sharing exciting clips and information about the show.
This year’s show featured nearly 300,000 square feet of sold-out floor space, featuring more than 30 global automotive brands. Vehicles on display ranged from cutting-edge electric vehicles to high-performance and luxury models – reflecting the rapid evolution of the automotive sector.
Highlights included a meet-and-greet with Sung Kang from the Fast & Furious franchise, the Canadian debuts of the C9 Corvette CX Concept and the CX.R Vision race concept from Chevrolet, both drawing huge crowds throughout the three days they were on the floor. The Audi F1 vehicle and Oilstainlab’s HF-11 also drew plenty of intrigue.
The EV and PHEV Test Drive Experience presented by CleanBC, Go Electric and RBC returned to this year’s show with 3,030 attendees hopping into some of the newest and most highly sought after EVs and plug-in hybrids in the country. Interest in new technologies is strong, but so is the need for clear information, real-world experience and practical understanding. Activations like this play a critical role in grounding the conversation and getting people with real-world driving experience with EVs. The test drive experience had 49 vehicles from 17 top manufacturers to choose from.
With record attendance, sold-out exhibitor space, and strong consumer engagement, the Vancouver International Auto Show continues to grow as a key platform for the automotive industry and a must-attend event for British Columbians.
The continued success of this show would not be possible without the many people who contributed to its every detail. I want to say a big thank you to the vehicle manufacturers, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, media, and of course – attendees, who once again created an atmosphere like no other. As President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC, I could not be prouder of what our team was able to put together this year and look forward to another brilliant show next year.
The 2027 Vancouver International Auto Show will return to the Vancouver Convention Centre West from March 31 to April 4.
