- The 2025 Columbus Auto Show has been cancelled, just days before the event was scheduled to take place.
- Organizers were vague on specifics, but blamed “headwinds in the auto industry.”
- Officials said they’re committed to returning, but auto shows have been on the decline.
The auto show apocalypse continues and has claimed another victim. It’s the 2025 Columbus Auto Show, which has been cancelled at the last minute.
While nowhere near as high-profile as the ill-fated Geneva and Frankfurt motor shows, the Ohio event has been a staple of the community for decades. It also provides important funding for local groups as the 2024 Charity Gala raised $150,000.
More: Detroit Auto Show Attendance Plummets As Glory Days Fade
This year’s event was scheduled to kick off on March 13, but that’s no longer happening as the Columbus Automobile Dealers Association made the “difficult decision not to proceed with a 2025 show.” Organizers were vague on their reasoning, but chalked the cancelation up to “headwinds in the auto industry.”
Officials said they’re “working to address these challenges and are committed to see[ing] the return of the show in future years.” Furthermore, they’re “exploring new and creative opportunities for events that provide consumers and auto enthusiasts the opportunity to learn and engage with auto manufacturers and dealers.”
Detroit Auto Show / Michael Gauthier
That doesn’t sound too promising, but auto shows have been struggling for years. The 2025 Detroit Auto Show was a shell of its former self as the Ford Mustang RTR and Mustang GTD Spirit of America were introduced ahead of the event, leaving the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards as the only actual news on media day.
The lackluster showing spurred dismal attendance as the event only garnered 275,000 visitors over the course of 11 days. That pales in comparison to the 774,179 people who attended in 2019.
