Highlights from the Philadelphia Auto Show 2026

I attended the 2026 Philadelphia Auto Show on its opening day, January 31, 2026, at the PA Convention Center in Center City. With access granted via press credentials, I parked in the garage on Race Street, where I’ve parked many times before, and walked a couple of blocks through Chinatown to the PA Convention Center. Of all the auto shows out there, Philly is the one I know best from growing up in and around the automotive retail industry. I used to attend every year on employee vouchers, but like many, I haven’t been back since the COVID era.

Having recently attended the auto shows in Arizona and Detroit, I’ve become quite an expert in the auto show circuit. Philly’s show featured many of the same sideshow-style events as Detroit’s, just on a slightly smaller scale.

The differences between all the shows I visited were noticeable, and I will lay them out in a future auto show comparison article. For this piece, I will provide a virtual tour of the 2026 Philly Auto Show, which is timed perfectly, and maybe even on purpose, with tax season.

As a fourth-generation Philadelphian, I can attest that the automotive retail market here is one of the most competitive in the nation. It's a true buyer's market, and the Philly auto show itself reflects that intense rivalry among local dealerships and their 27 manufacturers in attendance, vying for eyeballs and ears—attention, please. 

Not only is the auto scene fiercely competitive, but the food scene is also. With three Philadelphia restaurants earning their first Michelin stars as of November 2025, the food scene is also cutthroat. The on-site food options were notable, surpassing those at other auto shows I've attended. This higher quality was likely due to the proximity and influence of local culinary hubs such as Reading Terminal Market and Chinatown.

The competition doesn’t stop in Philly. Our sports teams rank among the most competitive anywhere, and the Eagles’ spirit shone bright at the 2026 Philadelphia Auto Show, with the most green-colored vehicles I’d seen at any recent auto show. The strong presence of green colored vehicles suggested a shift in color preference, moving away from the dominance of black, white, silver, grey, and other neutral tones—even for those who aren't Philadelphia Eagles fans. Go Birds.

Philly’s 2026 auto show signaled a resurgence in consumer demand with a massive turnout on the first Saturday morning of the show. Blame it on the Eagles not making the playoffs, but the populace of Philly was out in full force to kick tires and peruse Monroney labels. There were many trends I noticed, both new and recurring, which I describe below.

Van life may have been a popular trend that peaked during the pandemic, but the Philly auto show continued to provide support to interested vanlifers with displays of overlanding and high-top conversion vans in the front left section of the main hall at the PA Convention Center. It’s been a while since I saw a good display of conversion vans at any auto show, and this one had a nice variety of up-fitted vans from Ford, Sprinter, and GM, including one with its own custom-matching trailer.

Mini-vans were also a popular sight once again, with several automakers displaying their offerings. Toyota had a green Sienna parked in its booth with a Yakima cargo carrier on top, continuing the green theme at the event. KIA had its Carnival, attracting families, while the Honda Odyssey in Honda’s booth drew the least attention of all the minivans in attendance, by my observation.

An overlanding section, reminiscent of the Michigan Overland area in Detroit, was a notable feature on the left side of the hall at the Philly show. A dedicated Ineos display occupied the opposite corner to increase brand visibility. The first area showcased heavily modified vehicles, complete with large tires, snorkels, and various racks and carriers, resting on the carpeted floor. Among these impressive rigs, I inspected a Nissan Frontier PRO-4X in Citrus Strike, a color that immediately brought to mind a highlighter's bright hue. I appreciated it, not only for the color, but also for its factory-supplied drop steps and body cladding reminiscent of Husky Liners fender flares. Next to the Frontier sat a 2026 Rogue Rock Creek edition in the exclusive Baja Storm Metallic color.

Behind the Nissan trucks sat a couple of upfitted Ineos models: a Grenadier and Quarter-Master with a chase rack and set of Black Rhino wheels and BFGoodrich A/Ts.

Past the overlanding display, a row of bright orange landscaping equipment was displayed next to an assortment of go-karts, quarter midgets, a dirt bike, and several side-by-sides. A rotating carnival ride featured quarter midgets moving in triplicate for children to enjoy. Three of the UTVs had dump beds, turning them into handy little dump trucks, which was smart. 

In the midst of all the small recreational-type vehicles sat a couple of rat-rodded pickup trucks with twin-turbo setups. The first had “Hades” painted on the door, while the one next to it was slammed to the ground with a PBR logo and a vanity license plate that read, “BEERTRK.” Reading between the lines, this was a friendly reminder to drive responsibly. 

As I walked further back on the left side of the hall, I had the chance to closely inspect a new 2026 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor with PA State Trooper livery and the 3.0L Ecoboost powertrain. As Danny Russo would say, that engine was like two 1.5L Dragons smushed together. It had a Sentinel crash bar up front and a really sleek dash inside, with an illuminated, multi-colored scanner radio between the front seats.

There was a Philadelphia fire truck and a medic-style side-by-side toward the back wall, but the pièce de résistance was the Medic 308 Fatboy, which was similar to something like a Sherp. Powered by a Caterpillar diesel, its four large tires could automatically deflate and inflate just by detecting the surface it was being driven on.

The Philadelphia Auto Show does its best to represent automotive history, and it shows. There were well-placed historic examples from many popular car manufacturers sprinkled throughout the 2026 Philly Auto Show, including Buick and Ford.

The grand hall at the convention center exclusively housed antique and classic cars, which I highlight later in this guide.

There were three cool lifted diesel trucks with drop hitches on the main floor at Philly’s 2026 Auto Show, including two Cummins and a Duramax with low-offset wheels and the door emblem replaced with a “Dirtymax” logo. The square-body Dodge with a utility body was the crown jewel, with a show-quality presence similar to a SEMA build.

There were little Jeep Power Wheels set up for the kiddos to scoot around on, and some life-size fun rigs, including a trail-ready JLU Islander with a Stinger Front Bumper and 37s. Tony D’Antonio was there with his doorless dark red JKU on 37s, which looked ready for the beach. There was also a khaki-colored overlanding JT with a cap, rack, tents, canopy, and enough accessories to hold down camp in the remote wilderness. 

In addition to the Power Wheels, which were also present in Arizona and Detroit, there were several other attractions to keep everyone in the family cheesing with delight. A remote-controlled truck course reminded me of the joys of playing with RC cars as a kid. Photo opportunities with the Phillies were the big highlight, with the All-Star Game coming to Philadelphia in 2026, as well as a variety of cool backdrops for social media selfies and the like. If you got tired or sore, there were a couple of dozen massage chairs available to mold you back into shape.

I was thrilled to hear that the Phillies’ Milt Thompson and Dickie Knowles were going to take photos in Toyota’s booth. I was able to talk ball and snap a pic with a couple of the Phillies’ greatest players. I still can’t believe I got to tell Milt how I would replicate his batting stance to throw off the pitchers in Little League. Dickie asked me if I batted 300, and I said the dance worked most of the time and that I had a memorable ground-rule double.

I caught the smell of French fries several times throughout the day, and food concessions were clearly premium-tier and plentiful across the main floor. Additional snack and drink vendors lined the connecting hallways. This is by design to keep attendees on the premises instead of walking over to one of the local eateries downtown. I myself was very tempted to visit Reading Terminal Market after the show, but decided to skip it so I could get home to let the dog out.

Camp Jeep was in attendance at Philly in 2026, but its 35-degree mountain slope was dwarfed by the 40-degree offering in Detroit. Philadelphians enjoyed the bumpy ride around obstacles and off-kilter turns nonetheless. The EV tracks were more prominent in Philly, as this market really seemed to embrace the electric vehicle movement. Chalk it up to Philly’s tech hub around King of Prussia and the Route 202 corridor.

There were 27 automotive manufacturers in attendance at Philly’s 2026 auto show, and I will spotlight some of the memorable moments from my visit in this section.

Stellantis had the best real estate in the main hall, where I caught a glimpse of a Jeep JT painted in a color that’s actually a year— ‘41. I overheard a conversation with two gentlemen praising the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, saying how all it needs is a little maintenance, and it will go a long way for a long time. Ram trucks were everywhere, with trims from the Tradesman all the way up to the Power Wagon. The 2500 Power Wagon on display had a set of low-profile running boards that could also double as frame sliders.

When I entered Toyota’s booth, I was greeted by a brand-new 2026 4Runner slathered in a paint named “Mudbath,” sitting on a slightly elevated round pedestal, which was rather slippery against my Red Wing boots. The Midnight Black Metal Tundra HV 4X4 TRD Pro with red interior looked sharp, and I appreciated its roll-down rear window.

There was a RAV4 and Sequoia with kayaks on their roofs, the new Land Cruiser, Prii, and nearly all of Toyota’s offerings in attendance. The two vehicles that really caught my eye were the earthy green Bronze Oxide Tacoma Trailhunter and the Cypress Sienna minivan with a carbon-fiber Yakima cargo carrier on its roof.

GM was present with Chevy, GMC, Hummer, and its lineup of trucks and SUVs. Dads let their kids roll around in the beds of trucks while lightly and liberally testing their payload and tailgate capacities against gravity. A blue Silverado Trailboss was the Easter egg of the day, sporting a RealTruck Advantage hard-folding tonneau cover. 

Kia had the second most prominent display at the 2026 Philly Auto Show with a stage built similarly to the Corvette Stars and Steel display in Detroit. I had the chance to look at the 2026 Telluride X-Line EX AWD in Terrain Brown Matte, a color that reminded me of caramel candy.  The 2026 Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige minivan was also neat to see, a phrase I never thought I’d write about a minivan.

FoMoCo had a variety of vehicles and color offerings on display. There was no Maverick Lobo in Philly, but a Ruby Red XLT sufficed. I’m always a fan of Ford’s red colors and was glad to see Ruby is back. There was a Rapid Red 2026 F-150 SuperCrew, which reminded me of my old Ruby Red ‘17. The 2026 Ranger SuperCrew XLT in Marsh grey had a hint of mineral green undertones. The F-150 Lightning was there alongside an F-250 SuperDuty FX4 Off-Road SuperCrew with the tailgate step extended. The mobility service spec Transit van with dually rear axle was another example of vans staying relevant in 2026.

Ford had some display vehicles, like the Mustang, completely fenced off from the public, but some vehicles, like the Ranger Raptor and Bronco R, had a fence with an opening where you could enter to visit. I found the fence around these displays to be a bit cumbersome, but I’m sure it was for some degree of crowd control. Ford had an Eruption Green Mach-E and Bronco Sport next to each other, displaying the hue’s ability to bend light waves and shift color. The Robin's Egg Bronco with white accents made me shrug and shift my head in disgust. There was no one looking at the new 2026 Escape, which is being discontinued soon. There were a few people looking at the new Expedition. Channel 6 ABC Action News had theirs on display.

The Eagles-wrapped Santa Fe was the best thing in Hyundai’s 2026 Philly Auto Show booth, next to the Hyundai Palisade with the Children’s Cancer Handprint Wrap. A Canyon Red 2026 Santa Cruz XRT was positioned on the corner, where a couple examined it closely. I mentioned to them that I thought these might become a good deal as they are being discontinued, to which they replied, “Why?” I explained the demand wasn’t that great, and nearly no one wanted them. The guy replied, “That’s not exactly true, I almost got one,” reinforcing my point. Something like this might be more popular overseas, but in America, I think it’s safe to say you’re better off with any of the other mid-size trucks. Hyundai’s electric Iconiq 5 and Iconiq 9 were toward the far end. It was nice to be able to get a good look at the unique body shape of the 9 for the first time, with its sloping roofline.

Nissan had a Tactical Green Metallic Frontier. This was also the first time I’d seen Nissan’s presence at any auto show. I believe they focus on the Northeast, so I expect to see them again in NY.

The coolest thing I found in the Buick booth was the Buick Y-Job Roadster. Positioned behind an aluminum fence rail, this display was an excellent monument to automotive history, as it’s known as the auto industry’s original concept car. Designed and driven by Harley J. Earl, the Art Deco design proved timeless as it sat in the PA Convention Center that morning.

There was quite a buzz in Philly around electric vehicles. Tesla had its entire lineup on display, where visitors could compare standard and performance models side by side. The Robotaxi was there, but it was locked, so you’d better find another cab. The Cybertruck was one of the most popular vehicles at the show, with people clamoring around and smudging its stainless steel body.  

Lucid had a few vehicles, which I was surprised to see, including a certified pre-owned model on display for an affordable $37k and a Gravity Grand Touring. Polestar was there, next to its sister brand Volvo, displaying a full lineup of models. It included the Polestar 1 coupe with the “flux capacitor” in the trunk. This all makes sense, since it's a bit like Silicon Valley out here with tech and geeks galore.

Cadillac and Lincoln were both present with a smattering of SUV/CUV offerings. The battle of screens, between the Navigator’s low-slung dashboard in comparison to the wraparound style screen in the Escalade, proved to be difficult to judge. The ambient soundtrack and perfume emanating from the Navigator set it over the top. I was also a big fan of the Navigator’s wraparound taillights. Lincoln’s line of perfumes and digital scents is very interesting, but proof luxury brands are opulence personified.

The exotic gallery toward the back of the hall housed new and used exotic vehicles in colors like Tropical Skittles from manufacturers like McLaren, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Maserati, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, and others. There were even more Ineos Grenadiers, including one that had a tent that looked like a RealTruck GoTent, but it was, unfortunately, made by another brand.

After spending a couple of hours in the main hall of the PA Convention Center, I wanted to visit the grand ballroom to see the antique car exhibits. Walking into the ballroom, there was a collection of old British roadsters, like the MG Midget, staged on the left. These cars were fairly average in quality; however, as I walked clockwise around the ballroom, the quality of the vehicles improved.

Here’s a handful of hand-selected antique trucks and Jeeps.

The Robinsons' restored 1909 Model T, featuring a rare "Pontiac Body" (aluminum-skinned), was built on August 11, 1909. Restored from 2012 to 2025, it has a 22 hp 177 cid four-cylinder engine, a two-speed manual transmission, and a top speed of 42 mph.

The Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company displayed their 1-ton Chemical Truck, a Ford Model TT. Like the Model T, it uses a 22hp, 177CID four-cylinder engine. The Model TT had a two-speed manual transmission, a recommended top speed of 22 mph, and a chassis price of $600 (or $12,900 in 2026).

You don’t see Vim trucks every day, and this may have been my first time seeing one. Manufactured by the Touraine Company of Philadelphia, this ‘23 VIM three-quarter-ton was in outstanding show-quality condition. The general public was in awe over this rare Philly-produced truck. This was one of the final examples after filing for bankruptcy in 1923.

This Harvard Red classic with a Black interior, presented by Connors Motorcar Company, has only 1,200 post-restoration miles. It features a 110hp GM 2.5L four-cylinder engine, 4-speed manual transmission, rack and pinion steering, disc brakes, and includes modern updates.

Custom Alley, similar to Modded Detroit but more active due to the overlapping public/press days, was overwhelming with noise from several DJs. I quickly located a few Jeeps and trucks to cover.

A show-quality lowered Apache pickup owned by the McElroys was present, featuring its glossy bright-red paint job, flareside bed, and 17” Torque Thrust wheels. This thing was so nicely packaged, and I appreciated the color-matched windshield visor.

There were more lifted JKs and JLs in the basement of the PA Convention Center, featuring oversized wheel-and-tire setups, lift kits, and enough lighting to illuminate the entire Delaware Valley at night.

There were several OBS trucks in the PA Convention Center basement, but I was drawn to a monochrome white F-350 with large, squared wheels and tires that poked out past the body about a foot due to low offsets. Another color-matched window visor to boot — is this a trend that appears to be returning?

Finally, as I was about to leave the basement, I saw an intriguing and seemingly out-of-place two-toned Studebaker pickup. The foamboard sign leaning against the front bumper included a city scene with a Chrysler TC by Maserati and the caption, “The Italian Contribution to America.” It was very quirky, and I had to mention it here.

The 2026 Philadelphia Auto Show was a resounding success, capturing the fierce competitive spirit of the local automotive market while showcasing an impressive variety of vehicles, from the latest EVs and overlanding rigs to meticulously restored antiques and custom trucks. The strong consumer turnout, the notable emphasis on green vehicles mirroring the city's Eagles pride, and the well-curated exhibits, including the busy Camp Jeep and expanded EV tracks, all signaled a vibrant resurgence for the event. After experiencing the full circuit, the Philly show stood out for its blend of intense local flavor and broad automotive appeal, making it a crucial stop for any industry enthusiast looking to gauge consumer interest and regional trends.

Click the video below to watch footage shot with my iPhone 17 Pro Max paired with DJI Osmo 8.