Top Automotive Expos and Trade Shows in Canada 2027: Auto, Truck and Powersports Events

Automotive expos in Canada draw some of the biggest crowds of any events in the country. Hundreds of thousands of car buyers, families and enthusiasts walk the floors of the major auto shows every winter, and fleet owners and dealers fill the trucking shows in spring.

For exhibitors, that creates two very different opportunities. This guide lists the confirmed automotive expos in Canada for 2027, from consumer auto shows to trucking, powersports and RV events, with dates, venues, who attends and what your booth needs to stand out next to the cars.

Why automotive expos are worth exhibiting at

Consumer interest in auto shows is strong. The 2026 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto set an all-time attendance record of 374,678 visitors over ten days, according to the AutoShow’s final report. It also set a single-day record of 58,232 visitors on February 21. More than 45 brands exhibited, as TSNN reported.

That kind of audience is not only for carmakers. Auto shows also host aftermarket and accessory brands, EV charging companies, insurers, lenders, detailers and service providers, all reaching buyers who are actively thinking about their next vehicle. The show’s general manager described what visitors come for:

“A place to explore and better-understand the many great choices they have.”

— Jason Campbell, General Manager, Canadian International AutoShow

Source: Canadian International AutoShow, February 2026

Automotive expos in Canada at a glance

These are the confirmed automotive, trucking, powersports and RV shows for 2027, in date order. Dates are from organisers, venues and trade press at the time of writing.

Calgary and Edmonton also hold regional auto shows, but 2027 dates had not been published at the time of writing. As a guide, the 2026 Calgary International Auto & Truck Show ran March 12–15 at the BMO Centre, and the Edmonton Motor Show ran April 9–12 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, according to Lexus Canada’s show schedule.

The major consumer auto shows

Canadian International AutoShow, Toronto

The Canadian International AutoShow runs for ten days at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, staged by the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association. Manufacturers take large stands with current model line-ups, electric and hybrid vehicles and concept cars, joined by aftermarket and accessory suppliers, EV and charging firms, finance, insurance and auto service providers, and collector car exhibits.

Visitors are Ontario car buyers, families and enthusiasts, with dealers, media and industry guests at the preview. With crowds this size, smaller exhibitors win by being easy to spot and quick to understand: a bright backlit header, one clear offer and staff ready to capture leads fast.

Montreal International Auto Show

The Montreal show opens the national season at the Palais des congrès, running January 15–24, 2027, according to Bonjour Québec. It presents new electric, hybrid and conventional vehicles and light trucks alongside auto-related products and services. Graphics should be in French, or bilingual, for a Quebec audience.

Vancouver International Auto Show

The New Car Dealers Association of BC stages British Columbia’s consumer motor show at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with new-model line-ups from most brands sold in Canada, electric and hybrid displays, indoor test drives, and aftermarket and accessory stands. A media and dealer preview comes before the public days, so plan materials for both.

Trucking and commercial vehicle shows

ExpoCam, Montreal

ExpoCam is Newcom Media’s national trucking show, held every two years at the Palais des congrès in Montreal, according to Trucknews. Trucks and trailers are displayed indoors alongside stands for engines and drivetrain, aftermarket parts, tires, telematics, fuel systems, financing and fleet services. Visitors are fleet owners and managers, owner-operators, maintenance and safety supervisors, dealers and drivers from Quebec and eastern Ontario.

Atlantic Truck Show, Moncton

The Atlantic Truck Show is the biennial trucking event for the Maritime provinces, held at the Moncton Coliseum Complex with the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association. Trucks, trailers and service vehicles are shown indoors and outdoors, alongside parts, tire, lubricant, telematics, safety and recruitment stands. Trade days are followed by public opening, so plan for buyers first and enthusiasts later.

Outdoor truck displays need signage that survives wind. Feather flags and canopy tents are made for outdoor use, while indoor frames are not.

Powersports and RV shows

Moto Canada’s Motorcycle & Powersport Show tour runs four consumer events in 2027: Abbotsford, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, between January 15 and February 28, according to Powersports Business. Dealers and manufacturers show new motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides and riding gear to riders ahead of the season.

RV shows follow the same consumer pattern. The Halifax RV Show, billed as Atlantic Canada’s largest RV show and sale, runs January 21–24, 2027 at the Halifax Exhibition Centre, with dealers selling travel trailers, motorhomes and fifth wheels directly on the floor.

How to choose the right automotive expo

Decide whether you need consumers or fleets

Consumer auto shows deliver huge numbers of private buyers and families. Trucking shows deliver far fewer people, but most of them buy or specify vehicles, parts and services for a fleet. Pick the type that matches who signs your purchase orders.

Think about where your customers are

Auto shows are regional. Montreal reaches Quebec, Toronto reaches southern Ontario and western New York, and Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton reach the west. If you sell through dealers, exhibit where your dealer network is strongest.

Plan for long show days

A ten-day consumer show is a marathon. Budget for staff rotas, fresh literature, and graphics and flooring that still look new on day ten. Trucking shows are shorter but often start early in the morning.

Define success before you book

Exhibit strategist Elizaveta Golikova, in an interview with IAEE, argued that the real test is whether the booth supports the company’s wider business goals, not how impressive it looks:

“The real measure of success is whether the experience supports the company’s broader business objectives.”

— Elizaveta Golikova, Executive Consultant, ET Global

Source: IAEE, Make Your Booth Unforgettable (2026)

For an auto show exhibitor, that might mean booked test drives, quote requests or service appointments. Our guide to trade show displays in Canada, with types, sizes and CAD prices helps you budget the display side.

Booth planning for automotive exhibitors

Compete with the cars for attention

At an auto show, every booth sits next to shiny vehicles and big manufacturer displays. Light is your best tool: SEG lightbox displays stay bright under hall lighting and draw the eye from across the floor. Where the venue allows rigging, a hanging banner marks your spot above the crowd.

Make the floor part of the display

Vehicle displays use the floor as a stage. Branded interlocking floor tiles define your space, make long days easier on your staff, and help a small booth look finished next to a manufacturer stand.

Check height and sightline rules

Under the IAEE display guidelines that many North American organisers base their rules on, inline booth backwalls are typically capped at 8 ft, and taller items generally have to stay toward the back of the booth. Vehicle placement, ramps and lifts usually need separate approval, so read the exhibitor manual early.

Pick the display for your footprint

For a first show, a 10 ft trade show display with a printed counter covers most needs. For larger footprints, booth kits sorted by size keep everything matched.

Consumer auto show booth versus trucking show booth

Common mistakes automotive exhibitors make

• Trying to out-size the manufacturers. You cannot win on scale, so win on clarity and lighting instead.
• No plan for lead capture. With thousands of visitors a day, a paper sign-up sheet cannot keep up. Use a scanner or a short digital form.
• Under-staffing long shows. Ten days with the same two people leads to tired, quiet booths by the weekend.
• Forgetting French in Quebec. Montreal shows need French or bilingual graphics.
• Blocking the front of the booth. Keep it open so people can step in. Our booth design principles explain why.

Your next step: a pre-order checklist

1. Confirm dates, hall and booth number in writing with the organiser.
2. Read the exhibitor manual for height limits, rigging, vehicle placement, power and fabric fire-safety requirements.
3. Decide what a successful show looks like: test drives, quotes, appointments or sign-ups.
4. Write one headline and one offer for the backwall, in French as well for Quebec shows.
5. Choose the display for your footprint, including lighting, flooring and a lead-capture counter.
6. Request a free 2D mockup and get sign-off from everyone who needs to approve it. Production starts within 24 business hours of your written approval.
7. Tell us your show date and delivery address when you order so we can confirm timing.
8. Do a test build before the show and plan a staffing rota for every day.

Plan your automotive booth with a free mockup

Automotive expos put your brand in front of huge, motivated audiences, but only if visitors can see and understand your booth next to the cars. Pick your show, lock in your booth number, then request a free 2D mockup to see your artwork on the exact frame size before anything goes to print. Our in-house designers can get your file print-ready at no extra cost.