The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is calling for sessions at its annual trade show to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 3-5, 2026. Sessions should be geared toward business management or technical training for independent auto repair shops and owners, event officials stated in a press release. The deadline for submission is March 18, 2026.
Select interactive training sessions will take place in Joe’s Garage, a hallmark of AAPEX. Located on the show floor, Joe’s Garage is a full-service center featuring 10 fully operational vehicle lifts. The space is designed for hands-on training and real-world demonstrations, and often showcases new parts, tools and service equipment. Additional training sessions will be located around the show floor, near Joe’s Garage.
“Last year, AAPEX hosted more than 100 training sessions and product demonstrations as part of our dedicated programming for service and repair professionals, including activations in Joe’s Garage,” said Liz Goad, vice president of Events with MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, which co-produces AAPEX. “Access to training and exposure to new product innovations are consistently among the top reasons people say they attend AAPEX in our polling.”
A post-show survey of attendees who participated in a training session at AAPEX in 2025 gave the training high marks, noted the release. More than 9 in 10 (93%) said the training met (53%) or exceeded (40%) their expectations.
Selection Criteria for Training
All proposals will be evaluated by a panel of independent repair shop owners and technicians. The selected sessions will be announced to applicants by mid-April.
The selection criteria for session proposals include the following:
- Relevance to the independent repair community
- Quality of proposed content
- Achievable learning outcomes
- Trainer or presenter qualifications
- Applicability to a service shop’s daily work or career
AAPEX notes that sales pitches and sessions that are promotional in nature will not be considered.
Speaker Honorarium & Travel Stipend
AAPEX says that it recognizes quality training is an investment. As such, presenters whose sessions are selected will receive:
- Complimentary access to the show
- $500 honorarium per session
- $750 stipend for travel and expenses
The $500 honorarium is paid per session (not per speaker), officials said. The honorarium remains at a flat rate regardless of the number of speakers in any given session.
How to Apply to Speak
Prospective speakers can submit proposed sessions here. New speakers will be prompted to set up an account, while returning speakers will be invited to log back in.
Each speaker may submit up to six different session proposals by the deadline. Questions related to speaking at Joe’s Garage may be sent to kelly@appexshow.com.
“The pace of innovation in service and repair is accelerating, which makes continuous training essential for independent repair professionals,” said Mark Bogdansky, vice president of Trade Shows and Community Engagement at the Auto Care Association. “Likewise, AAPEX is always striving to improve the show experience and deliver the newest products, the best networking and, of course, world-class training and educational opportunities.”