Since its inception in 2009, Overland Expo has grown exponentially, expanded to five events across the United States, each featuring hundreds of vendors, over 100 presenters, trainers, and VIPs, and nearly 500 session hours of education. With so much to do during the event, it can be both exhilarating and a bit overwhelming for the first-time attendee to an Overland Expo.
Here’s a brief introduction to what we have going on, along with some tips to get you going, whether you’re an Overland Expo veteran or a newcomer experiencing all the excitement for the first time.
Things to Do Before You Arrive
First things first. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, head over here and do that. With your tickets in hand, be sure to download the Overland Expo app from your phone’s app store (links below). The official app gives you access to the event map, event schedule, and an easy way to find the vendors or classes you are looking for. Once you have the app, be sure to select “Overland Expo East 2026” as the event and let it download the event-specific data.
In addition to the official Overland Expo app, we’ve teamed with onX Offroad to bring you a complete venue map with point-to-point navigation instructions via the onX Offroad app. Discounts for onX Offroad subscriptions will be available at the event.
Once you arrive, the overland world is your oyster. Here are the highlights to get you on your way:
Education
One of the highlights of Overland Expo is the quality (and quantity) of overland education offered all weekend. East will feature more than 265 unique classes in 9 different education areas and nearly 300 session hours taught by more than 50 different instructors. With that many classes, there is no shortage of opportunities to learn a new skill, get inspired by your fellow travelers, brush up on your fundamentals, or engage the experts at a roundtable. You can learn more about the weekend’s classes, including descriptions of all 10 areas, suggested classes, and the jam-packed schedule here.
As part of the educational programming, join us on Saturday at 10:00 am for some community time and a few morning refreshments at the Women Who Wander Networking Event, happening from 10 AM to noon at the Oasis Bar & Food Court, sponsored by Nexen Tire America. Attendees can enjoy muffins and mimosas while hearing stories from women throughout the off-road and overland community. It’s an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and meet others from across the industry and enthusiast community.
Exhibitors
No doubt, the exhibitor area is one of the most popular parts of Overland Expo. This year, the East event will have more vendors than ever, with hundreds of exhibitors showcasing thousands of products to support your vehicle-based adventuring. Just about anything overland-related you can imagine can be found for sale, but the most enjoyable thing may be just wandering around and discovering new and interesting kit. You’ll find some in-booth demos, giveaways, and demonstrations going on in the vendor area – a further reward for wandering about a bit. The complete list of vendors can be found here.
Relax at the Bivvys
Swing by the Bivvys to find a place to sit, rest for a bit, recharge your phone, fill your water bottle, and plan your next move. Multiple Bivvys will be set up around the venue, so enjoy the time between classes and relax during your action-packed weekend.
Evening Festivities
While you will spend your days attending classes, visiting our amazing vendors, and dreaming about your next overland adventure, we’ve got plenty in store for you in the evening.
Thursday
For campers and exhibitors getting settled before the show officially opens, the weekend starts early. The Welcome Happy Hour, sponsored by the OX Foundation, runs from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Oasis Bar & Food Court sponsored by Nexen Tire America. From 6 PM to 8 PM, the new Overland Expo Foundation Charity Dinner adds another opportunity to gather before the weekend gets underway. Available exclusively to Overland Expo East campers and exhibitors as an add-on experience, the dinner combines food, storytelling, and fundraising. Email [email protected] if you would like to join us for the dinner and 50/50 raffle or add the charity dinner tickets to your order. Proceeds support the Overland Expo Foundation and its featured beneficiary, the Venture Unknown Foundation.
Friday
After an exhilarating first day of the event, start off your evening right by heading to the Oasis Bar & Food Court sponsored by Nexen Tire America. Mingle with your newfound overlanding friends and expand your circle before the rest of the evening activities ramp up. Happy Hour sponsored by General RV runs from 5-7 PM. Following Happy Hour, you can head over to Subaru LIVE! at Subaru Booth A300 from 7 PM to 9 PM, where you will find live music with light bites and drinks in a relaxed setting.
If you are a movie buff or have been dreaming about adventure all day, come to Overland Expo Film Festival sponsored by Midland Radio in the outdoor area next to the Oasis Bar & Food Court sponsored by Nexen Tire America, featuring four films along with question and answer sessions with the filmmakers. You can learn more about the film festival that runs from 7-9 PM here.
READ MORE: Don’t Miss Exclusive Discounts at Overland Expo East
Saturday
Start your Saturday night over at the Oasis Bar & Food Court sponsored by Nexen Tire America where the center of the action will be Happy Hour sponsored by Toyo Tires from 5 PM to 7 PM.
While you are there, make sure to stop by the Overland Expo Foundation booth nearby to stock up on raffle tickets and find a good seat at the Oasis Bar & Food Court, where the world-famous Overland Expo Foundation Raffle runs from 7-9 PM. Come for a chance to take home some amazing prizes from a truly impressive cache of overland gear donated by sponsors and exhibitors. It really does take two hours to give away that many prizes! All proceeds from the raffle tickets go to supporting the charitable work of the Overland Expo Foundation. You can learn about the impact the Foundation had last year through the raffles here.
Ready to Join Us?
Now that you know what to expect and what can’t be missed, click the link below to make sure you join in on the fun in just a few short weeks at Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, Virginia.
