Championships are hotly being contested while race teams and tracks are putting the finishing touches on their 2026 seasons. As the heat of summer begins to fade, the racing industry turns to plans for the 2027 season, and that strategizing often includes the 2026 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show.

Although the motorsports trade show doesn’t take place until December 10–12, early planning is one of the key components to a successful venture while in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Debuting new products and equipment, connecting with suppliers, acquiring new business, technical, or industry knowledge, it all can be found at the PRI Show, which will take place in the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) and Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS). Attendee registration is now open for the 38th edition of the motorsports trade show.

With each edition, the PRI Show incorporates plenty of new components to lead the industry and offer racing businesspeople a notable ROI. Beginning this year, an individual PRI membership will no longer be required to attend. Instead, a tiered-pricing schedule has been implemented. Based on feedback from PRI attendees, we transitioned to a simplified model with a fee for Show access rather than maintaining a membership structure. For those registering by October 1, the cost is $45. From October 3 to December 9, the cost increases to $55 to attend, and on-site registration will be $65. Visit performanceracing.com/tradeshow to register.

Education Focus

PRI is a gathering place to learn about the newest products, equipment, and market trends, but this year’s event has a special element that is focused squarely on bringing together some of the best in the industry with those who seek a motorsports career.

Since race engineers are tasked with creating new innovations and resolving situations that sometimes don’t quite go as planned, PRI introduces its Motorsports Engineering Symposium (MES) where engineers from race teams and manufacturers alike will gather to strengthen the connection between engineering theory and real-world race application.

Unlike traditional education sessions, the content is built around real-world case studies and engineering challenges; practical solutions that impact speed, reliability, and performance; open dialogue between professional engineers and technical leaders; and direct interaction between industry and emerging engineering talent.

Scheduled for Thursday, December 10, this engineering-focused conference will be located in ICC meeting rooms 237–239 and begin at 10:00 a.m. after the Grand Opening Breakfast. The first two sessions of the day will be “From Simulation to Track: Closing the Performance Gap” and “Powertrain & Thermal Limits: Where Performance Breaks.” The program pauses for a networking lunch from 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. and then picks up with two more sessions titled “Building the Next Race Engineer: Closing the Talent Gap” and “Materials & Manufacturing: Speed to Track.” The full-day event will conclude with a panel at 4:00 p.m. who will discuss “The Future of Motorsports Engineering.”

MES registration is free for qualified engineers but everyone who attends must have a PRI Show badge. Visit performanceracing.com/trade-show/attend to register.

Young adults, including high school and college students, who are seeking a career in motorsports, can find plentiful resources to help them at the new NextGen Connect, located in Wabash 1 and 2, in aisle 7100 of the ICC’s Green Hall. Meet with a human resources executive to review a resume, get a high-quality head-and-shoulders photo taken by a professional photographer, meet with career experts and exhibitors, pick up valuable tips about being in the workforce from carefully crafted seminars, and network with others in the industry.

NextGen Connect will be open all three days of the PRI Show.

Students will also benefit from the return of the annual Student Program Industry Networking Breakfast, which will begin at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, December 11, in the Sagamore Ballroom, upstairs in the ICC. This year’s Breakfast will again offer students a complimentary hot breakfast as they hear a welcome message about opportunities in the racing industry and how they can get involved. After the Breakfast, students can meet with a variety of exhibiting companies who will also have a table set up in the Sagamore Ballroom where company representatives will speak directly with students.

Females who are just getting started in motorsports or are seeking a career in this vibrant industry can join the Gear Up Girl Lunch, presented by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN). This networking event allows young women to meet with and learn from other women who are firmly established in their racing careers. These veterans are eager to share advice and knowledge to encourage the next generation to pursue motorsports careers. The networking lunch takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in ICC Meeting Rooms 208–209. To register, contact Nicole Bradle at nicoleb@sema.org.

PRI is a place to share knowledge, and learning opportunities are available everywhere for new or established industry members. Continuing down the knowledge gathering path, the PRI Education program returns on Friday, December 11, also in ICC Meeting Rooms 237–239, with four sessions specifically for motorsports professionals. Details about these seminars will be included in the PRI Show Guide, which is the November edition

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