During Memorial Day Weekend 2026 (from May 22 to May 24, 2026), Europe’s leading virtual motorsport event, the SimRacing Expo, officially launched a major new global chapter by making its U.S. debut at the Charlotte Convention Center (501 S College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, North Carolina)—the home of NASCAR.
The inaugural American edition drew 8,930 visitors and featured 43 exhibitors, rapidly solidifying its standing as an essential fixture on the international sim racing calendar.
1. SimRacing Expo Charlotte 2026: Full Event Overview
- Over 100,000 Sq. Ft. Exhibition Floor: Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, directly across from The Westin Charlotte and connected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The venue provided extensive space with modern meeting facilities, multiple conference rooms, and on-site dining.
- Comprehensive Simulation Spectrum: Featured everything from entry-level hardware for beginners to professional-grade full-motion simulators used by international motorsport teams, alongside dedicated motorcycle simulators, flight simulators, and cutting-edge direct drive gamepads.
- Hands-on Driving, Time Attacks & On-Site Purchasing: Attendees had full access to test every simulator on display, connect directly with major industry brands, enter time attack competitions for major prizes, and purchase hardware directly on-site or via direct orders.
- Global Product Launches & Premieres: Served as an international innovation stage with world debuts from Track Racer, VRS, PXN, Simucube, and Conspit, along with the North American debut of Fanatec’s latest Podium pedals.
- Real-World Racers & Content Creators Live: The three-day main stage lineup featured active NASCAR drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Anthony Alfredo, and Parker Retzlaff, alongside motorsport veteran Max Papis, esports icon Ian “Crimsix” Porter, and prominent creators including Matt Malone, Thomb, and Stormalina.
- Ready Set Sim (RSS) Integration: Showcased the leading rig-builder platform that combines proprietary configuration tools with verified community feedback and expert testing to guide users in designing the ideal sim rig.
2. Simufy Showcase: 3 High-End Simulator Rigs on Display
From May 22 to 24, 2026, leading simulation distributor and manufacturer Simufy joined the Charlotte event to expand its presence across the rapidly growing North American simracer community:
- 3 Complete Simulator Cockpits: Provided full-simulator test setups allowing visitors to get behind the wheel and experience handling and feedback virtually indistinguishable from a real race car.
- Torqsim Simulator Debut: Highlighted a dedicated cockpit from Torqsim—a newly integrated brand in Simufy’s hardware portfolio—alongside top-tier setups from leading market manufacturers.
- Anticipated Hardware Previews: Showcased new hardware updates and highly anticipated product releases up close on the exhibition floor.
- Direct Community & Engineering Access: Offered a dedicated networking hub where sim racers, virtual drivers, and fans could discuss setup optimization, competition, and realism directly with the Simufy team.
3. The History & Growth of SimRacing Expo
- From Niche Gathering to Global Stage: What began as a focused gathering with only a few thousand attendees has evolved into the world's largest trade exhibition dedicated to virtual motorsport.
- Industry-Wide Partnerships: Supported by premier governing bodies like the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), leading simulation software developers including iRacing and Assetto Corsa, and tier-one hardware manufacturers like Fanatec, Thrustmaster, Logitech, and Simagic.
- Record Growth (2025): Prior to its U.S. premiere, the 2025 European edition hosted over 24,371 attendees and reached more than 155 million impressions across global social media channels.
4. SimRacing Expo Charlotte 2027 Schedule & Travel Information
Following the success of the 2026 edition, dates have been officially confirmed for the return event:
- Dates: May 21–23, 2027
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Friday through Sunday)
- Venue: Charlotte Convention Center (501 S College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202)
- Public Transit & Access: Direct transit via the LYNX Light Rail (Stonewall Station) with regional access through major highway corridors (I-77, I-85, US-74).
- The Golden Ticket: Exclusive VIP ticketing tier offering full access to dedicated motorsport experiences.
