E5 Wheels Event Field Guide
MCACN 2026: Key Info, Dates, and Times
Start here
MCACN 2026 Key Info at a Glance
The Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals is not a parking-lot cruise-in. It is a curated indoor gathering built around rare cars, major restorations, unveilings, certification programs, owners, historians, vendors, and special guests. Organizers say the 2026 floor will include nearly 600 vehicles. The public show is scheduled for Halls A, B, C, and D, so comfortable shoes and a plan matter.
| Official event | Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, commonly called MCACN |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, 2026 |
| Public hours | Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Central Time Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Central Time |
| Venue | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018 |
| Ticket prices | $45 single day online or at the gate; $90 weekend pass, available online only; $40 single-day tickets at participating outlets beginning October 1 |
| Kids and military | Children 12 and under enter free with a paid adult. Sunday is Military Appreciation Day; MCACN states that past and present military members receive free admission. |
| Parking | Venue garage: currently $20 for 24 hours with no in/out privileges. Event valet: $30, cash only. Rates and conditions can change. |
| What to bring | Walking shoes, light layers, phone or camera, portable charger, saved show schedule, a small notebook, and wheel or part measurements if shopping |
| Ticket deadline | Online ticket sales are scheduled to close Friday, November 20, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time |
Why enthusiasts travel for it
What Makes MCACN Different?
Cars With Context
Many vehicles are displayed with the owners, restorers, documentation, and stories that make them historically important. You can study details that are difficult to see at a normal outdoor show.
Premier Unveilings
Fresh restorations are revealed Saturday morning. The official display page lists a 9:30 a.m. kickoff, making the opening hours especially valuable for serious collectors and photographers.
More Than Displays
The weekend includes automotive vendors, seminars, live music, kids activities, signings, and guest appearances. The announced lineup includes Dennis Collins, Chris Jacobs, Wayne Carini, and racing legends.
Corvette priorities
Four Displays Corvette Fans Should Find First
Corvette Legends is scheduled to spotlight the C3 generation from 1968 through 1982, covering the era from high-performance big-block cars through the Collector Edition.
Triple Diamond Certification brings together Corvettes that have already earned both NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold recognition. That makes it a concentrated lesson in restoration accuracy, condition, and authenticity.
The L89 Invitational includes rare aluminum-head L89 performance cars, including Corvettes. The broader Class of 1966 and Class of 1971 displays also matter: organizers specifically reference the 427 Corvette for 1966 and the LS6 Corvette for 1971.
Schedules and individual cars can change, so check the official display page before travel and again when you arrive.
Use the weekend well
Saturday or Sunday: Which Day Is Better?
Best for the Full Experience
Choose Saturday if you want the longest day, the Premier Unveilings, peak guest activity, evening live music, and time to walk the entire floor without rushing. Arrive before opening so parking, admission, and coat storage do not consume the best morning hour.
Best for a Focused Visit
Sunday suits visitors who already know their priority displays or prefer a shorter schedule. It is also Military Appreciation Day. Do not arrive late: the seven-hour public window closes three hours earlier than Saturday.
Travel smarter
Parking, Flights, Hotels, and What to Bring
The venue is minutes from Chicago O'Hare International Airport and accessible from I-90 and I-294. MCACN recommends I-294 for drivers who want to avoid downtown Chicago. The convention center garage connects by skybridge, useful in late-November weather. Official hotel blocks are within walking distance, but several had already sold out by early September, so delaying the reservation is a bad strategy.
- Buy admission before the online sales cutoff
- Save the current schedule to your phone
- Wear broken-in shoes for four exhibition halls
- Bring layers for the walk from parking or hotel
- Carry a charger and clear photo storage
- Record wheel, tire, and brake specifications
Recommended packing items are practical guidance, not a venue permission list. Confirm current bag, camera, food, and accessibility policies with MCACN or the convention center before arriving.
The E5 enthusiast angle
Turn the Show Floor Into a Fitment Study
MCACN rewards slow looking. On restored Corvettes, notice factory proportion, sidewall, ride height, and how the wheel face sits relative to the body. On modified cars, study spoke depth, brake visibility, finish contrast, and whether the stance looks integrated or forced. Take straight side-profile and three-quarter photographs; they are more useful for comparing wheel designs than dramatic close-ups alone.
If the show inspires an update for a modern Corvette, do not buy from appearance alone. Generation, body width, wheel diameter, width, offset, bolt pattern, tire size, and brake clearance all matter. E5 Wheels focuses on Corvette-specific engineering rather than universal fitments. Owners can browse wheels by Corvette generation, compare the complete E5 wheel collection, and test finishes with the wheel visualizer.
Fast answers
MCACN 2026 Questions and Answers
When and where is MCACN 2026?
MCACN is November 21-22, 2026, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, Illinois.
What are the MCACN 2026 show hours?
Public hours are 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Saturday and 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday, Central Time.
How much are MCACN 2026 tickets?
A single-day ticket is $45 online or at the gate. The online-only weekend pass is $90. Participating outlets are scheduled to sell $40 single-day tickets beginning October 1.
Is MCACN 2026 good for Corvette fans?
Yes. Announced Corvette content includes the C3-focused Corvette Legends display, Triple Diamond Certification, L89 cars, special 1966 and 1971 groupings, and individual Corvette unveilings.
Can children attend MCACN?
Yes. Children 12 and under enter free with paid adult admission, and the show advertises free youth activities.
Study the Legends. Build Your Own.
Plan the MCACN weekend with verified details, then explore Corvette wheels engineered around the generation and fitment you actually own.
Explore E5 Corvette WheelsUpgrade Your Corvette Today
Engineered exclusively for Corvettes. Built to perform, designed to impress.
Shop E5 Wheels