ZCON 2026 Starts Today in Arizona: What to Expect and How to Register
Six days of car shows, driving events and Z-car community gatherings begin September 21 in the Phoenix area.
The Z Hub | September 21, 2026
The Z community has a busy week ahead. ZCON 2026, the 39th annual International Z Car Convention, begins today and runs through Saturday, September 26, bringing a six-day celebration of Nissan and Datsun enthusiasm to the Phoenix area. The program combines car shows, motorsports and social events, with the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West serving as the host hotel.
This is more than a park-it-and-polish-it gathering. ZCON’s format lets attendees build their own experience: spend time around the show cars, get out for a drive, meet people behind the Z’s design and racing history, or reconnect with friends from across the community. The convention’s mission encompasses every generation, from the original Datsun 240Z through today’s Nissan Z.
How to register
Start with ZCON’s official registration page or the registration form linked by the organizers.
This year’s registration is à la carte rather than an all-inclusive package, allowing attendees to select optional activities. The organizer lists an event badge and lanyard, T-shirt and event bag among the included items. Confirm current pricing and remaining availability before making last-minute plans; registration changes can be requested through info@zcon.org, subject to events still having space.
The convention’s headquarters is the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West, 860 N. Riverview, Mesa, Arizona 85201. Monday’s onsite registration hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
For overnight visitors, the host hotel is listed as full, although organizers invite inquiries about a small number of rooms held back. The Courtyard Mesa Wrigleyville West is the designated overflow hotel. Check availability directly rather than relying on previously advertised room-block rates.
What’s happening this week?
These are the highlights from ZCON’s official day-by-day schedule. Times are local to the Arizona venues.
Day | Highlights |
Monday, September 21 | Suds-n-Shine, opening ceremonies and the Z Club of Texas chili party. |
Tuesday, September 22 | Tortilla Flat drive, Octane Raceway karting and an F1 movie night. |
Wednesday, September 23 | Indoor ZCCA Judged Show, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at AZ Athletic Grounds; Hump DaZe at Martin Auto Museum. |
Thursday, September 24 | Firebird HPDE, a diecast exchange, special-guest talks and autographs. |
Friday, September 25 | All Nissan–Infiniti–Datsun People’s Choice show, 6–9 p.m., on the Sheraton’s south lawn. |
Saturday, September 26 | Nissan test-facility activities, followed by the closing banquet and awards. |
Spectating at Wednesday’s and Friday’s car shows is listed as free; entering a car is an optional paid activity. The detailed schedule places People’s Choice on Friday; an introductory blurb still says Saturday. Check the detailed listing and onsite updates.
Racing history, design stories and familiar faces
The announced guest list includes Peter Brock, John Morton, Hiroshi Tamura, Randy Rodriguez, Chris Willes and the JDM Legends team. Between them, the program brings together experience in BRE racing, Nissan product development, Z design, race engineering and Japanese-car restoration.
That makes the guest program worth a look even for attendees who aren’t entering a show or driving on track. It is an opportunity to hear about the cars from people who helped develop, race and preserve them—not just compare modifications in the parking lot.
Bringing a car for the driving events?
ZCON’s motorsports program includes a high-performance driver education day at Firebird Motorsports Park, autocross at Nissan’s Arizona test facility and karting. Drivers should review the official motorsports packet before arriving: the organizers require appropriate paperwork and inspections, and specify Snell SA2020-or-newer helmets for the applicable motorsports activities.
For the HPDE-only option—not full convention registration, the official website links to a separate MotorsportReg listing. That listing welcomes all makes and models while spaces remain and currently shows registration closing Tuesday, September 22, at 9:59 p.m. Arizona time.
Check the HPDE price before paying: ZCON’s homepage advertises a reduced $200 price, while the linked MotorsportReg description still states $250. Confirm the applicable amount with the organizers rather than assuming the two pages have been updated together.
A visit to Nissan’s testing grounds
Saturday’s Nissan facility visit offers another reason to make room in the schedule. Organizers describe approximately 40-minute guided tours, with tour selection and visitor permits handled when attendees collect their registration packets. Participants are asked to arrive about 15 minutes before their assigned tour. Personal photography is prohibited at the facility.
Whether your priority is driving, show cars or the people behind them, ZCON’s pick-and-choose format offers several ways to take part. Use the official registration and schedule pages as your starting point, and confirm availability before heading out.
Going to ZCON? Share your build, club road-trip story or photos from permitted areas with The Z Hub at info@thezhub.org. Include the photographer’s name and permission to publish—we’d love to help tell the community’s stories.
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