The 2026 NADA Show wrapped up February 6 in Las Vegas, delivering another busy and productive week for dealers, suppliers and partners from across North America — including a strong Canadian contingent.
This year’s shift to a midweek schedule was widely viewed as a positive change. Dealers attending events throughout the week said the Tuesday-to-Friday format helped concentrate activity without stretching the show across a full weekend. Attendance remained brisk through the event, with packed sessions, standing-room-only keynotes and full franchise meetings.
As usual, navigating the expanded Las Vegas Convention Center required careful planning, with significant ground to cover between the North and West Halls. Despite the distance, traffic remained steady across the sold-out Expo floor, where more than 600 exhibitors showcased solutions focused on artificial intelligence, fixed operations and dealership performance.
While there was no formal Canada Night at NADA’eh event this year, Canadian dealers still found opportunities to connect through a packed schedule of receptions and social gatherings, many of which were attended by the Canadian auto dealer team.
One of the most well-attended events with Canadians was Dealer Solutions Mergers & Acquisitions’ (DSMA) cocktail party at the Skyfall Lounge on the eve of the show’s opening. The event drew hundreds of dealers and industry partners, including many from Canada.
“I can’t believe the turnout,” said Farid Ahmad, CEO of DSMA in an interview at the event. “We thought we would have about 400 people. We had 585 people register. We got a combination of dealers, accounting firms, manufacturers, law firms, insurance companies. The energy in the room is great, and the media response has been superb.”
Canadian auto dealer also attended dealer-focused events hosted by PBS Systems, BMO, RouteOne, DAS Technology, TD Auto Finance and CDK.
The DAS Technology reception took place at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, where attendees kicked field goals, caught touchdown passes in the end zone and took part in on-field activities. The evening featured music from DJ Jazzy Jeff, an appearance by Shark Tank’s Daymond John, current and former NFL players, a tour of the Raiders’ locker room, and a 150-foot indoor zipline.
CDK’s event delivered a classic Las Vegas experience, featuring performances by C&C Music Factory, Tone Loc and Sugar Ray, and others along with a casino nightclub setting and custom airbrushed ballcaps for attendees.
On the conference side, NADA’s education sessions and main-stage programming were well attended, with dealers paying close attention to economic forecasts. NADA Chief Economist Patrick Manzi projected a flat U.S. sales environment for the next several years, citing ongoing affordability challenges and high interest rates.
With full agendas, high-energy events and no shortage of conversations, NADA 2026 once again delivered value for Canadian dealers on and off the show floor.
