BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The 2026 Lehigh Valley Auto Show will take over 140,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center beginning March 18, bringing hundreds of new, classic and custom vehicles across three connected venues in what organizers are calling the show’s most ambitious lineup to date.
The Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association, which hosts the annual event, announced the show’s details at a press conference Tuesday. This year’s theme, “Accelerating Excellence,” reflects a heavy emphasis on electric and hybrid models from nearly every major automaker, a shift that mirrors the industry’s rapid nationwide pivot toward electrification.
Vehicles from local dealerships line the floor at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, ahead of the 2026 Lehigh Valley Auto Show opening March 18.
“We’re not just showcasing vehicles, we’re showcasing progress — economic progress, technological progress, and the incredible momentum of the Lehigh Valley,” said Dan Moyer, executive director of GLVADA, during the Tuesday preview event.
SUVs and crossovers will anchor the show floor, reflecting their dominance in new vehicle sales nationwide. Highlights include Chevrolet’s refreshed 2026 Silverado EV and expanded-range Equinox EV, Cadillac’s Optiq and Vistiq luxury electric crossovers, the Jeep Recon EV, and Toyota’s BZ5X three-row electric SUV.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning returns with major range and charging upgrades, while Dodge continues its push into electric performance with the Charger Daytona EV.
A 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray LT1 on display during a preview event for the 2026 Lehigh Valley Auto Show on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa.
The show opens to the public at 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, and runs through the weekend. Tickets are $10 with free parking. Last year’s show drew 62,104 attendees, roughly 9 percent of the Lehigh Valley’s population, and organizers expect similar or larger crowds this year.
The event’s reach extends well beyond the immediate area, drawing visitors from the Poconos, the Strasburg area, central New Jersey and Philadelphia. Moyer said the Lehigh Valley show actually features nearly a dozen more manufacturers than the Philadelphia Auto Show, a draw for buyers across the region.
High-end buyers are part of that audience. RDS Group, a luxury dealership group specializing in brands such as Lamborghini, will return to the show floor at Rauch Fieldhouse this year.
At last year’s show, a customer purchased a new Lamborghini off the floor for nearly $400,000, Moyer said. The deal was completed at the dealership that same weekend.
“There’s money in the valley,” Moyer said. “And that proves it right there.”
The show’s growth tracks with the region’s. The Lehigh Valley has added more than 21,000 residents since 2020, with the population now surpassing 708,000, growth that Moyer called “one of the most significant population surges in decades.”
Job gains in manufacturing, logistics, health care and technology continue to drive economic expansion across Lehigh and Northampton counties.
Beyond the showroom floor, the event features several community-focused programs. The Shift Into Gear tuner show on March 21 will spotlight customized cars, exotic builds and lifted trucks, with 15 award categories and vendor displays.
Car clubs, including the Corvette Club, Thunderbird Club and Mustang Club, will rotate through the show on designated days. A Pit Stop Challenge runs Friday through Sunday, and Scouting America will host Pinewood Derby races Saturday and Sunday.
On opening night, the American Heart Association will lead CPR and safety training for young attendees from the Boys and Girls Club.
Claudia Rodriguez, co-owner of Whoodle Works Studio in Easton and a community education partner for this year’s show, said the event’s youth programming carries meaning beyond the cars themselves.
Whoodle Works Studio co-owners Sandra Catenaro, left, and Claudia Rodriguez, right, pose with GLVADA mascot Driver at a preview event for the 2026 Lehigh Valley Auto Show on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Bethlehem, Pa.
“Our goal is to give children and young adults a hands-on experience that is fun, expressive, and empowering,” Rodriguez said. “We want them to feel proud of what they create — to take home not only a piece of art, but also the feeling that they belong in spaces like this that celebrate learning, innovation, and community.”
Rodriguez and her sister, co-owner Sandra Catenaro, will host a Whoodle Works paint station on opening night for children from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Allentown, one of several nonprofit groups involved in the show’s “Cars & Kids, Because We CARe” initiative.
Community vendors and nonprofits attend the show at no cost, and GLVADA awards more than $150,000 in grants each year to local organizations whose missions align with its core values of cars, community and children.
Moyer said the goal is to push that figure to $200,000 annually. Any 501©(3) can apply for a grant through the association’s website. Jewelry retailer Kendra Scott, located at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, will also be at the show Friday through Sunday, donating 20 percent of on-site proceeds to the Cars & Kids program.
That initiative culminates with the inaugural Cars & Kids, Because We CARe Community Gala on Saturday, March 21, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Wind Creek Bethlehem.
The fundraising event will feature dining, live music from a nine-piece band, a silent auction and grant presentations to more than a dozen local nonprofits serving children and families.
Ticket purchases are 100 percent tax-deductible, with all proceeds funding youth programs. The gala is open to the public. Also making its debut this year is GLVADA’s new mascot, a Bernese Mountain Dog named Driver, sponsored by First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union.
Additional details on scheduling, exhibitors and gala tickets are available at glvada.org.
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