Sim Gaming Expo 2026 returns to the Schaumburg Convention Center near Chicago on September 18 through 20. iRacing competition is back for the second consecutive year. The event brings together major sim racing hardware brands under one roof. There are 15 fully equipped sim rigs and a live broadcast competition format throughout the weekend.
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🏁 Official Sim Gaming Expo 2026 Thread (iRacing Forums)
What to Expect on the Show Floor
The Schaumburg Convention Center puts the event in the Chicago area, which drew a strong turnout in 2025. This year’s show spans 100,000 square feet. Hardware from Sim-Lab, Simucube, Heusinkveld, MOZA, and other major brands fills the demo area. Fifteen fully equipped rigs line the show floor so attendees can try equipment across different price points.
For anyone evaluating a sim rig upgrade, the brand lineup covers the major categories. Sim-Lab is one of the most widely used cockpit chassis makers in the community. Its steel-tube rigs attract builders across different budgets and setups. Simucube’s direct drive wheelbases, including its Pro and Ultimate tiers, rank among the most competitive in the market. However, most iRacers never get a chance to try one in person outside of events like this. Heusinkveld’s load-cell pedals, particularly the Sprint and Apex kits, earn consistent recommendations from serious iRacers upgrading from entry-level sets. MOZA Racing has grown quickly in recent years and will show its latest wheel bases, wheels, and dashboard displays at the expo.
iRacing Competition at SGE 2026
All sim racing competitions at the event will use iRacing, the same as last year. iRacing also provides live broadcast coverage of each race. Consequently, competitive drivers who want to race in front of an audience have a real opportunity here outside of a standard online session.
The competition runs on the sim rigs available on the show floor. iRacing broadcasts results and race coverage live during the event. Last year’s format worked well because it kept the barrier to entry low. It also gave serious drivers something to compete for in front of a live audience. For iRacers who have only raced online, competing in a room full of people watching is a genuinely different experience.
Livery Design Contest with Spark Models
Alongside the main show, iRacing and Spark Models announced a livery design contest running in connection with the expo. The winning design becomes a real 1:43 scale diecast model. Entry details and the submission deadline appear in the official iRacing Contests forum thread.
Spark Models is a French manufacturer known for officially licensed 1:43 scale race car replicas. Motorsport retailers worldwide carry their diecast models. iRacing and Spark Models will produce the winning livery as one of those replicas. That makes this one of the more tangible prizes in sim racing contest history. Submit entries through the iRacing Forums contest thread. You do not need to attend SGE in person to enter. For any iRacer who spends time in the livery editor, this contest is worth a look.
SGE15 Discount Code and Registration
Early registration is available through a discount code. SGE15 takes 15 percent off admission and remains valid through July 10. After that date, standard pricing applies. The official event thread linked above has full registration details and the contest submission process.
For sim racers in the Midwest, SGE is the most practical way to try premium equipment before committing to a purchase. Few opportunities exist to try a Simucube wheelbase or Heusinkveld pedals in person before spending that kind of money. Beyond the hardware, the live iRacing competition and the livery contest give the weekend real substance. September 18 is roughly 11 weeks out, so there is still enough lead time to plan travel and register before the SGE15 discount expires.
