New automotive festival combines modified cars, motorsport, drifting, street culture, collectibles and entertainment in Serdang this November
Petaling Jaya, MALAYSIA — Malaysia’s automotive and car-culture scene is set for a new gathering this November as Malaysia Auto Xpo (MAX) 2026 makes its debut at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on 7 and 8 November 2026.
Conceptualised and owned by Alaf Sentosa Sdn Bhd and organised by Element X Strategies, the team behind Tokyo Auto Salon Kuala Lumpur from 2023 to 2025, MAX 2026 aims to bring together automotive enthusiasts, motorsport fans, tuners, collectors, lifestyle communities and industry players under one roof.
The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia and is positioned not simply as another automotive exhibition, but as a platform to celebrate Malaysia’s diverse car culture while promoting greater awareness of responsible and safer motoring.
According to Alaf Sentosa Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Jason Yap, MAX 2026 is designed to bring together the many different sides of automotive culture.
“MAX 2026 is envisioned to bring together the many diverse components of car culture, motorsports and lifestyle under one huge show.”
Yap added that the event is also intended to give the automotive industry’s business ecosystem a boost while using the influence of car culture to champion a more responsible automotive community.
Four Shows, One Automotive Culture
MAX 2026 will combine four major components — the Malaysia Auto Xpo, International Auto Modified (IAM), Tempatan Fest and Driftnutz.
IAM has been held in Malaysia since 2011 and has grown into a major automotive lifestyle show and competition series across Southeast Asia and beyond, with events in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the United States.
Meanwhile, Tempatan Fest brings a distinctly Malaysian cultural flavour to MAX, showcasing streetwear, vintage collectibles, creative businesses, visual arts, independent music and local bands. The festival was first established in 2015.
For drifting fans, Driftnutz will add tyre-smoking action to the weekend, bringing together recognised local and international drifters and giving visitors the opportunity to experience drifting up close.
The combination creates a distinctly broader proposition than a conventional motor show — one that mixes cars, competition, fashion, music, art and lifestyle.
Modified Cars, Motorsport and Plenty of Horsepower
At the heart of MAX 2026 will be a substantial display of customised and modified vehicles, featuring local and international tuners, custom car builders and automotive personalities.
Visitors can expect an auto styling competition, exclusive tuner unveilings, car clubs and a dedicated area for diecast collectors and hunters.
Motorsport and performance enthusiasts will also have plenty to keep them occupied, with a sim racing competition, dyno challenge and drifting activities, including drift taxi rides.
The dyno challenge promises to be one of the weekend’s performance highlights as competitors go head-to-head in search of the car producing the most horsepower in Malaysia.
And yes — there will be plenty of opportunities for enthusiasts to settle the eternal question: whose car is actually the fastest?
From Race Queens to Batik Cars
MAX 2026 is also looking beyond the traditional automotive show format with a series of lifestyle and entertainment programmes.
A dedicated automotive race queens fashion show will provide a platform for Malaysian designers and local fashion brands, while the Miss Auto Culture Malaysia pageant will add another element to the weekend’s automotive lifestyle programme.
One particularly Malaysian touch will be the batik car wrapping initiative, combining the country’s cultural heritage with automotive design.
The event will also feature live stage performances and a large food fiesta, making MAX 2026 as much a weekend lifestyle experience as it is a car show.
A 9,000km Road Trip to Tokyo
Perhaps the most intriguing announcement is the launch of an Exclusive Car Tour to Japan, a massive 9,000km, 35-day overland adventure beginning in Kuala Lumpur and ending in Tokyo.
The planned route will take participants through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China and South Korea before arriving in Japan and ultimately heading to the headquarters of renowned Japanese customisation brand Liberty Walk in Tokyo.
The tour will be led by a specially built car that will be unveiled as a surprise during MAX 2026.
Taking the wheel will be MAX 2026 Ambassador Vera T., a motorsport lifestyle creator and racing driver.
Organisers are also teasing additional surprises and “easter eggs” during the event, with further details being kept under wraps for now.
More Than Just a Car Show
While modified cars, horsepower and drifting will naturally provide much of the visual spectacle, MAX 2026 is being positioned as the beginning of something considerably bigger.
Yap described the 2026 edition as an introduction to what organisers envision becoming a larger and more iconic event in the years ahead.
“MAX 2026 is a celebration of everything automotive and much more — from modified cars, tuners and custom car builders to motorsports elements, classic cars and the trading/selling of motor vehicles.”
The event will also bring together automotive businesses, enthusiasts and the wider public, while giving back to the community that has helped shape Malaysia’s vibrant car culture.
With its mix of modified machines, motorsport, drifting, Japanese car culture, streetwear, music, fashion, collectibles and food, MAX 2026 is clearly aiming to blur the boundaries between an automotive expo and a full-scale lifestyle festival.
Tickets and Event Details
Malaysia Auto Xpo (MAX) 2026
???? 7–8 November 2026
???? Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS)
Presale tickets:
- RM25 — Single one-day pass
- RM45 — Two-person one-day pass
- RM80 — Group of four one-day pass
- Children below 10 years old — Free admission
Normal admission is priced at RM35 for a single one-day pass.
Tickets are available through the official ticketing platforms, while further event information and updates will be released through MAX 2026’s official channels.
For the Malaysian automotive community, MAX 2026 could be the start of a new kind of automotive gathering — one where cars, horsepower, motorsport, fashion, music, culture and lifestyle all collide in one weekend.
And if the organisers’ promise of a bigger show in the years ahead is anything to go by, this November could just be the beginning.
