First SimRacing Expo in USA Huge Success, Confirmed to Return in 2027

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TopMob recently attended the SimRacing Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina, over Memorial Day Weekend. This event was especially significant because it was the first time the expo had been held in the United States, having previously taken place in Germany.

The first-ever US expo was an amazing three-day event! The exhibit hall was full of companies excited to showcase their latest sim racing products and explain why they’re great for both current enthusiasts and anyone thinking about getting involved.

As someone who loves both real racing and video games, attending this event really opened my eyes to the world of sim racing. I hadn’t tried it before, but after seeing the setups, talking to the teams, and experiencing the atmosphere, I’m now hooked and eager to participate. If you’re interested in checking it out yourself, the next event is already scheduled for 2027.

Hands Down the Best Way to Test Out Sim Racing Equipment

Getting into sim racing can be daunting. There’s a lot to choose from – different equipment, customization options, and price points – which can be overwhelming for beginners. And even if you’re experienced, it’s hard to evaluate new gear without simply buying it and hoping for the best.

Events like the SimRacing Expo are fantastic because they bring together a huge range of racing simulation products in one place. It’s a great opportunity to learn about everything available and, most importantly, try it out for yourself. I was surprised by how easy it was to test all the equipment – the SimRacing Expo really made it simple.

The event was an absolutely incredible experience during all three days that it ran.

The show attracted almost 9,000 sim racing enthusiasts over three days. Despite the large crowd, it was easy to find time to try out different sim racing setups. These ranged from affordable options under $1,000 for beginners, to high-end rigs costing over $100,000 for serious racers.

The SimRacing Expo had an amazing variety of equipment to test, from complete racing setups to smaller accessories like steering wheel attachments and VR headsets. They even had options for kids and innovative new controllers. Honestly, anyone interested in sim racing would have left the expo feeling excited about the hobby.

Now that the event is over and we’re planning for the next one in 2027, here’s a list of all the companies who exhibited, so you can see what to expect.

  • Asetek
  • Bavarian Simtech
  • BDH Racing Sim
  • Conspit
  • D-Box
  • DOF Reality
  • Driven Dynamics
  • E-PXN
  • eNASCAR
  • Fanatec/Corsair
  • Fastlap Sims
  • Flatout Sims
  • Giants Software
  • Gomez Industries
  • GT Omega
  • Heusinkveld
  • ImSim Racing
  • iRacing
  • Kunos Simulazioni
  • Logitech
  • NASCAR
  • Operation Motorsport
  • Podium 1 Racing
  • Raceroom
  • Rafa Racing Club
  • Sabelt
  • Sensit
  • Sim Lab
  • Simagic
  • Simcraft
  • Simgear
  • Simpatico Sim Shop
  • Simracing Pro
  • Simucube
  • Simufy
  • SimXPro
  • Skip Barber
  • Soelpec
  • Straight4 Studios
  • Thrustmaster
  • Trak Racer
  • VPG Sim
  • VRS Racing
  • VRX
  • Wantex VR
  • ZustAI

The SimRacing Expo had a huge amount of equipment to check out, from established brands and many exciting new companies. It’s the perfect event for anyone looking to buy sim racing gear or get a preview of upcoming products.

Insider Information From the Big Names

Beyond the huge variety of vendors and products available to explore, the SimRacing Expo also featured engaging stage presentations. These included talks with game developers, professional racers, and popular sim racing streamers. The expo culminated in a Sunday event showcasing live sim racing competitions across different racing categories.

No matter your sim racing passion, there was something exciting to see. The FIA shared details about officially sanctioned upcoming tournaments. Podium 1, a leading sim racing equipment provider, discussed their current projects and future plans. Plus, popular streamers Daniel Kilian, Stormalina, and Thomb talked about their sim racing setups and experiences creating content.

What really stood out to me were the stories of racers who began their careers with sim racing and then transitioned to real-world tracks. For instance, Parker Retzlaff started by excelling in iRacing before becoming a professional NASCAR driver. Hearing these experiences made me even more fascinated with and enthusiastic about sim racing.

Beyond just receiving information as a member of the press, I was also struck by how accessible the teams were. After our scheduled interviews, they didn’t disappear – they were right there on the show floor, mingling with everyone and happy to chat with anyone who approached them.

What really stood out was the incredible enthusiasm from everyone involved in sim racing. I haven’t seen that level of passion at other events – people were genuinely excited to share their work and talk about what they’ve been creating.

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Okay, so if you’re like me and really want to deep dive into how handbrakes actually work – like, all the little details and technical stuff – the SimRacing Expo is totally worth checking out. Seriously, they go into everything!

Looking Forward to 2027

If you couldn’t make it to the SimRacing Expo in Charlotte last weekend, you really missed a fantastic event! With around 9,000 attendees, it exceeded all my expectations. I don’t say that to make anyone feel bad, just to share how great the experience was.

Hey everyone, if you missed the SimRacing Expo this year or are already hyped for the next one, I’ve got some awesome news! Because of how well the 2026 event went, the organizers have officially confirmed we’re heading back to Charlotte for another expo from May 21st to 23rd, 2027! I’m already marking my calendar!

I’m really excited about sim racing and plan to make the SimRacing Expo an annual event. I’m working on building my own setup now and can’t wait to start racing! Hopefully, we’ll all meet again at the expo in Charlotte in 2027.

All photos provided by the SimRacing Expo team.

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2026-05-29 22:40