Custom snowmobiles, side-by-sides, ATVs and motocross bikes have only a few days left to secure a place in the inaugural Adrenaline Ink Show & Shine at the 2026 Alberta Powersports Show.
Adrenaline Ink’s official registration page sets October 1 as the deadline for machine entries, or earlier if the available display spaces fill.
The Show & Shine will run as part of the Alberta Powersports Show on October 16 and 17 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Entry costs $35 per machine and includes admission to the powersports show for the registered entrant.
With the deadline now three days away, September 28 is a useful point for Alberta builders to decide whether their machine is going onto the show floor or staying in the garage.
A first-year custom showcase
Adrenaline Ink is describing the 2026 event as its first annual Show & Shine.
The concept is broader than a traditional snowmobile display.
Eligible entries include snowmobiles, side-by-sides, ATVs, motocross bikes and other custom powersports builds.
That mix reflects how customization has spread across the off-road market.
A sled build may focus on graphics, suspension, lightweight components and backcountry setup. A side-by-side may combine wheels, tires, lighting, protection and cab accessories. An ATV can be modified for trail, mud or utility work, while a motocross bike may stand out through graphics, controls, suspension or race preparation.
The Show & Shine gives those different approaches one physical display area inside a larger powersports event.
October 1 is the registration cutoff
The most important practical detail is the deadline.
Adrenaline Ink says registration closes October 1, 2026, or when the remaining entry spaces are filled.
The entry fee is $35 per machine.
That fee includes admission to the Alberta Powersports Show for the registered entrant, which changes the economics compared with paying separately to display a machine and then purchase a show ticket.
Registered participants will receive load-in instructions and arrival times before the event.
Machines will be judged during the weekend across multiple categories, with awards and prizes attached to the competition.
The organizer also emphasizes that entries are limited so each build has enough display space.
That means October 1 should be treated as the outside deadline, not a guarantee that every category will remain open until that date.
The wider Alberta Powersports Show
The Show & Shine sits inside a much larger Edmonton event.
The Alberta Powersports Show runs Friday, October 16 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
The main show promotes more than 100,000 square feet of machines, gear, accessories and industry displays.
Its current exhibitor and visitor material highlights 2027 snowmobiles and off-road machines from brands including BRP, Polaris, Arctic Cat, Segway Canada and AODES, along with trailers, sled decks, apparel, education and show-only offers.
The program also includes avalanche education, outback survival training, demonstrations and an AODES Pathcross 550S ATV giveaway.
That surrounding environment matters for Show & Shine entrants.
A custom build is not being displayed at a standalone parking-lot meet. It will be placed in front of a powersports audience already comparing new machines, accessories and off-road products.
Why custom machines matter commercially
Customization is one of the ways owners extend the relationship with a machine after purchase.
Graphics and appearance are the obvious part, but many builds also involve protection, suspension, controls, wheels, tires, lighting, storage and performance components.
That makes custom culture commercially relevant to dealers and aftermarket companies even when a machine is not being built specifically for competition.
A Show & Shine can reveal which modifications are gaining traction and which combinations actually resonate with riders when they see them in person.
It can also expose visitors to work that is difficult to appreciate through a small social-media image.
Wrap quality, fabrication, fit and finish, component integration and overall proportions are easier to judge at full scale.
Build quality still matters more than the parts list
A long list of modifications does not automatically create a strong build.
The best custom machines usually have a coherent purpose.
A trail-focused SxS should still make sense as a trail machine. A mountain snowmobile should not sacrifice critical function for appearance. A motocross bike prepared for display should still reflect safe assembly and proper mechanical work.
Visitors should also distinguish between visual modifications and changes that affect safety, legality, warranty or operating characteristics.
Dealers and installers have a useful role here.
Customers considering similar modifications should ask how a change affects maintenance, manufacturer coverage, fitment and legal use rather than copying a show machine without understanding the consequences.
An Alberta community feature, not just decoration
The Alberta Powersports Show positions itself as a gathering point for riders from across the province and neighbouring western markets.
A Show & Shine adds an owner-built layer to that mix.
New OEM products represent what manufacturers are delivering for the next model year. Custom machines show what owners do after delivery.
Putting the two in the same building creates a more complete picture of powersports culture.
It also gives builders recognition.
Adrenaline Ink says entrants will compete for awards and prizes and receive exposure to thousands of attendees across the weekend.
For a private owner, that may simply mean sharing a project they are proud of. For a shop, fabricator or wrap company, the exposure can demonstrate capability to potential customers.
What entrants need to do now
Anyone considering an entry should review the official registration page before committing.
The machine needs to fall within an eligible category, the $35 entry fee applies per machine, and space is limited.
Entrants should also be prepared for later load-in instructions.
A display machine needs to arrive clean, complete and safe to move through a public event environment. Any fuel, battery, transportation or venue requirements provided by the organizer should be followed exactly.
Builders should not assume the rules from another show apply in Edmonton.
The organizer’s final instructions control.
The deadline creates the news value
The Alberta Powersports Show itself is still more than two weeks away.
RideFirst already tracks the October 16–17 event in its Canadian calendar.
What changes this week is the custom-build entry window.
September 28 leaves only a short period before the October 1 cutoff.
That makes the Show & Shine registration a distinct update rather than a repetition of the broader event listing.
For Alberta riders who have spent the season building a machine worth displaying, the decision point is now: submit the entry before October 1 or risk missing the inaugural field if available spaces fill first.
