Left to right: MPN Editor Meagan Kusek, Content Director Greg Jones and Content Creator/Video Editor Randy Ziemnik
For the first time in its history, AIMExpo headed west — and the move to Anaheim, California, marked a milestone moment for the industry’s premier trade-only event. From Jan. 7-9, the show delivered its most expansive performance yet, bringing together dealers, OEMs, distributors, aftermarket suppliers and media for three days of business, education and connection.
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In total, 6,569 industry professionals packed the show floor, including 2,815 dealers representing 1,230 dealerships, alongside 465 exhibitors. Attendees traveled from 47 U.S. states and two territories as well as from 55 countries, underscoring AIMExpo’s continued growth as a global gathering point for the powersports industry.
“Thank you for being part of an unforgettable week in Anaheim,” said Cinnamon Kernes, vice president of market expansion for the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC). “We had a sold-out floor, a packed schedule and a remarkable mix of new and familiar faces coming together from every corner of the industry. If you couldn’t make it this year, you missed our best show yet.”
Where the Industry Does Business and Pleasure Together
The first day of the show was jampacked with new vehicle and product presentations. The momentum began with the OEM Media Tour, where manufacturers went beyond showcasing previously revealed 2026 models. In some cases — most notably Moto Morini and KTM — OEMs used the show floor to unveil brand-new bikes for the first time. For dealers, the value wasn’t just in seeing new metal up close, but in having direct, face-to-face access to the teams behind it and conversations that are difficult to replicate outside of AIMExpo. We’ll be taking a closer look at several of these newly unveiled models in upcoming OEM Update coverage.
Moto Morini unveiled the 3 1/2 Sport at AIMExpo 2026.That afternoon, the New Product Central stage boasted 10 product presentations and demonstrations from such companies as Alpinestars, Cardo Systems, Brembo North America and more. In addition, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation launched its Ride for Kids All For One Challenge, with the goal to raise $1 million for childhood brain tumor research and family support by Dec. 31, 2026. You can learn more at curethekids.org/allforone.
Of course, AIMExpo isn’t just a place to see the latest products — it’s also a space where meaningful connections happen. This year, I attended the sold-out Women in Powersports Lunch hosted by Synchrony, which brought together nearly 100 women from across the industry. In a field that remains largely male-dominated, seeing the room filled with women in powersports was a powerful reminder of the depth and diversity of talent within the industry. The lunch opened with remarks from MIC President and CEO Christie LaCurelle and sparked conversations ranging from shared enthusiast experiences to thoughtful discussions about the future of powersports. While designed to support women, the event underscored a broader takeaway: the value of community, shared perspective and knowing you’re not navigating the industry alone — something AIMExpo uniquely enables.
MIC President and CEO Christy LaCurelle opened the Women in Powersports Lunch hosted by Synchrony.
The evening continued with the ever-popular Industry Party hosted by Turn 14 Distribution, as well as the return of the National Powersport Auctions (NPA) Charity Auction, which raised nearly $26,000.
Education Built for Today’s Dealer
Education remained a cornerstone of AIMExpo 2026, with programming structured to give dealers practical insights they could apply immediately as they head into the new selling season.
If you’ve been wondering about the state of the industry and where it’s heading, AIMExpo is the place to find out what’s going on. The Dealer Evolution stage provided snapshots of marketplace trends, ranging from a look back at 2025 and a forecast of 2026 to a government relations panel covering the key topics of PFAS chemical bans and tariffs to discussions about electrification, AI and more.
On the other end of the showroom floor, MPN’s Dealer Excellence series offered business-focused education, including sessions on eCommerce, fixed ops, growth strategies for the current economy, selling EVs and what we can learn from automotive dealers. The resounding theme across many of these sessions centered on utilizing AI. Even so, technology was never the be-all-end-all answer. That was people.
MPN Content Director Greg Jones hosted a Dealer Excellence the education session, “Fixed Ops: Advice for Beyond the Showroom.”
“The key to this is, let’s have good people who we trust, who you’ve employed, and then let’s build processes around them if you don’t have those. Get the right people first, build the processes around them, and then use the tools,” says Jared Dowdy, vice president of sales and strategic partnerships at Transax, who was on the panel for “Auto Dealers vs. Powersports Dealers: Technology and Inventory Management.”
Tech Talks rounded out the education lineup with exhibitor-led sessions highlighting how the latest technology tools can help dealers solve specific operational challenges, from lead management and service efficiency to data security and customer experience.
For dealers who couldn’t attend every session or want to rewatch to recapture this critical information, videos from both the Dealer Excellence and Dealer Evolution tracks will be available online soon, extending the value of the education well beyond the show floor.
A1 Track Walk Delivers a One-of-a-Kind Experience
One of the most anticipated moments of AIMExpo 2026 happened off the show floor. The inaugural A1 Track Walk, hosted at Angel Stadium, took 756 attendees behind the scenes for rare access to one of the most iconic venues in motorsports.
Participants experienced the track up close ahead of the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, blending industry networking with a first-of-its-kind experience. For many dealers, the Track Walk wasn’t about sales or strategy — it was about connection and industry enthusiasm, underscoring the value of face-to-face engagement in bold, memorable ways.
Looking Ahead to 2027
After three days of everything powersports, the takeaway from Anaheim was clear: As a trade-only event, AIMExpo continues to be an essential gathering for dealers, OEMs and industry partners alike. Between a packed show floor, expanded education offerings and unique experiences like the A1 Track Walk, the 2026 event reflected both where the industry stands today and where it’s headed next.
If you missed the show this year, be sure to mark your calendars for the next. After the success of aligning with the start of Supercross in Anaheim, the show is taking that strategy and running with it. Next year, AIMExpo returns to the East Coast and its roots in Orlando, Florida, from March 3-5, 2027, just ahead of Daytona Bike Week, scheduled for March 5-14, 2027. How can the show outdo itself for next year? We’ll happily wait and see.
