We’re excited to welcome you to the 2027 Washington, D.C. Auto Show. As we prepare for another great show in January, this page is your central resource for everything you need to know as an exhibitor.
The Exhibitor Service Manual is your go-to guide for preparing for the show. Inside, you’ll find important information about move-in and move-out, booth requirements, show rules and regulations, deadlines, shipping and freight, credentials, services, and other essential details to help you plan and execute a successful show. Please take time to review the manual carefully and keep it handy throughout the planning process.
As the show approaches, we’ll continue to share updates and additional information here. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest exhibitor resources and announcements. We look forward to working with you and welcoming your team to the 2026 Washington, D.C. Auto Show this January.
From Intent to Purchase: The Verified Results
Through our partnership with Urban Science, we match ticket-buying households by VIN to new vehicle registrations. That gives exhibitors verified sales results, not survey estimates. In 2026, 1 in 4 attending households bought a new vehicle within seven months of the show.
The Public Policy Show
Public Policy Day brings members of Congress, federal agency leaders and automotive executives together before the show opens. OEMs can join the agenda through model reveals, policy panels and award presentations, and they can connect with Washington’s decision-makers on the show floor.
Auto Shows: Crucial in Shaping Consumer Purchase Decisions
A recent study by Productions Plus, surveying 14,908 U.S. auto show attendees, highlights the significant impact of events like the Washington, D.C. Auto Show on the automotive industry. Data from 10 auto shows reveals that attendees spend an average of 2.8 hours engaging with vehicles and exhibits. Notably, 43 percent plan to buy a vehicle within a year, 69 percent find the visit helpful in their decision, and 37 percent add a new brand to their consideration list. These findings validate the essential role of auto shows in attracting and influencing in-market consumers. See the full article here.
Our Commitment
The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is committed to driving innovation and standardization in the auto show industry. We are part of The Automotive Experience Alliance; a coalition of shows that work to define and promote a standard set of processes, practices, methodologies, metrics, and messaging that drive more value for the entire automotive experience ecosystem, including Consumers, OEMs, Dealers, Suppliers and Show Producers.
Learn more about AEA here.
For more information, please contact:
- Chris Daniel, Show Director: cd@wanada.org
- John O’Donnell, Show Marketer: jod@wanada.org
- Joe Koch, Assistant Show Marketer: jk@wanada.org
- Bob Storin, VP/Marketing & Sponsorships: rs@wanada.org
Telephone: 833-249-4078
Welcome to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is a GBAC STAR™ accredited facility.
GBAC STAR™ is an outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation. This performance-based program establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures, and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. This is the “gold standard” for sanitization. Learn more about GBAC STAR™
In addition to achieving GBAC STAR™ accreditation, the Convention Center is currently utilizing the following additional, state-of-the-art sanitation protocols:
- The building is the first convention center in the nation to use an HVAC solution called Synexis to purify the air inside the building by using dry hydrogen peroxide which is present throughout the entire building. For more info, please visit Synexis.
- Additionally, the building recently activated a new robot that uses disinfecting ultraviolet lighting to cleanse up to 5,000 square feet at a time in less than 5 minutes. More info can be viewed on YouTube.
The producers of The Washington, DC Auto Show will provide any operational or policy updates on this page and elsewhere on the site if any changes are to occur. For more information, please contact Joe Koch.
