After 17 years in Arizona, Overland Expo West has history behind it, but it is not running on history alone. It continues to lead because it keeps delivering the most complete overlanding event experience anywhere in the world.
It has the rigs. It has the launches. It has the gear. It has the education. It has the camp culture, the evening programming, the nonprofit support, the exhibitor depth, and the community that brings it all to life. Most of all, it has the authority that comes from being the event where the overland world gathers in full force.
That is why Overland Expo West remains the flagship event in the series.
And why it is still the #1 overlanding event in the world.
There’s no way to cover everything that went down at Fort Tuthill, but we’ve put together a quick overview that includes the rigs, education, gear, community, and special events that made it another weekend to remember. To truly understand Overland Expo West, you have to experience it. No matter if you’re an attendee or an exhibitor, and even if you’ve been to one of the other events in the series, West has a vibe all it’s own.
You can always count on the attendees, campers, and exhibitors to bring amazing rigs of every shape, size, and style to Overland Expo. We saw tons of rigs that we loved, but here are a few of our favorites. For starters, we couldn’t be happier to debut the 2026 Ultimate Overland Vehicle Build, the Nissan Frontier equipped with some amazing gear from dozens of our build partners. The crowd was thrilled with the truck, and we’re looking forward to sharing the stories and adventures this rig will experience as our team and journalists travel across the country throughout the year. If you want to check out the latest and greatest rigs from talented builders and upfitters, this was the weekend to do it. Winnebago debuted the ARKA, a RAM 550 expedition vehicle for extended off-grid adventures, AEV displayed their new FXL Super Duty package, and Field Van had the brand new Field Adventure Vehicle flexed out to prove the capability of this E350 platform.
“This [Overland Expo West 2026] has probably been the best show that we’ve ever done for Overland Expo.”
- Coby Byers, Tire Right Solutions, Sales and Marketing
420 exhibitors showed off the gear we need to outfit our adventures. From armor, tents, tires, and other big items to the small gear that can really make a trip memorable, everything you need to outfit your trip was at Overland Expo. Plus, attendees got the chance to score huge discounts on all sorts of gear.
We love the rigs, we love the gear, and of course, we love the people that make up the overland community. Over the course of three days, 132 expert instructors helped attendees expand their skill sets and prepare for future adventures. No matter if you’re brand new to overlanding or you’re looking for specific training for an international expedition, the Overland Expo educational programming has you covered.
And all weekend long, events, gatherings, roundtables, and plenty of impromptu conversations proved that Overland Expo is a place to find people passionate about every facet of adventure travel imaginable. The Oasis Bar and Food Court, sponsored by Nexen Tire America, was the hub to refuel and refresh, and the spot to be each night at the Happy Hours sponsored by Barebones Living, TOPS Knives, and BRS Offroad. Subaru hosted a dog adoption event that brought some canine companions to some very lucky overlanders. The Women Who Wander Networking Event, sponsored by MAXXIS Tires, fostered conversation, connections, and community.
It’s our second time here, I really enjoy sitting in the classes and getting the opinion of experts and then getting to walk through the expo area and see all the neat gear. You definitely have to come experience it, there’s no other way to explain it.
-Greg L., Weekend Pass Attendee
Friday night, the toughest decision was where we wanted to head next with Toyota’s Game Night, the Moto Party Dinner and Raffle sponsored by Rider Justice, and the Overland Expo Film Festival sponsored by Remote Vans. The film festival gave us a preview of the final entry in XOverland’s milestone series, followed by a Q&A with the team that completed this truly epic 25,000-mile journey. Saturday night, the always exciting Overland Expo Foundation Raffle raised over $23,000 that will go to support protecting public lands, expanding trail access, and introducing more people to overlanding. Saturday also saw the return of an Overland Expo West tradition, the AT Overland, Equipt, and Overland Collective Party. This is always a great time, and as usual, it was packed with people and good times.
For a deeper dive into Overland Expo West 2026, check out the full recap and keep an eye out for our picks for some of the best rigs and best gear from the weekend. The energy at Fort Tuthill, the community in the campgrounds, the gear/vehicle launches, the spirit for adventure, and of course, the incredible rigs, all proved once again that there is nothing else like West. If you missed Flagstaff, you still have three chances to catch up with the Overland Expo community this year. We hope to see you in Redmond, Loveland, and Arrington.
