The van gathering calendar has a shape to it: a heavy run through spring and early summer, a late-summer cluster in the mountains, then a long quiet stretch until February. Here is what is still on the calendar for 2026, what has already run, and — just as important — which well-known gatherings are currently in limbo. Van events change plans more than most, so a few of these come with caveats you should read before booking anything.
Image courtesy of Adventure Van Expo
Most van gatherings are a field, a stage, some vendor booths, and whatever you brought to eat. VanWild is a different animal: four nights in Montrose, Colorado where breakfast, dinner, drinks, and a guided adventure every single day are all included in one ticket.
The fifth annual VanWild runs September 17–20, 2026 at The Camper’s Hub, and the format is worth understanding even if you never go — because it points at where van gatherings may be heading.
Images courtesy of Adrenaline HQ / VanWild
If you are trying to decide between a Sprinter and a Transit, or between paying a builder and doing it yourself, there is no substitute for standing inside forty finished vans in one afternoon and asking their owners what they would change.
That is the entire premise of Adventure Van Expo, a travelling show that has been touring Western fairgrounds and ski resorts for years. Three stops remain on the 2026 schedule, and they are stacked into a five-week window between mid-August and mid-September.
Images courtesy of Adventure Van Expo
Taylor and Zervan are taking us on a full tour of “Sun Buzz,” their stunning Volkswagen ID. Buzz that has been transformed into a fully electric camper by the experts at Peace Vans. This conversion represents the next generation of van life, combining the iconic VW aesthetic with a modern, sustainable electric platform.
If you have spent any time looking at van conversions, you already know the seating problem. A van layout has to do everything a tiny home does — cook, sleep, store gear, carry passengers — except it also has to pass for a vehicle when the road gets serious. The bench that doubles as a bed is one of the most contested pieces of the build, and most builders end up either compromising on safety, comfort, or how cleanly it converts.
The Broad Arrow Seat 2.0 from Wilderness Vans in Lethbridge, Alberta is one of the more interesting answers we have seen to that problem. It is a heavy-duty folding bench-bed system designed specifically for van conversions, RVs, and custom builds, with integrated seat belts, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, and a frame engineered around the transition from seat to bed.
It comes in three widths (500mm, 900mm, and 1200mm) and two fold styles (bi-fold and tri-fold), in black, brown, or Sedona upholstery. Pricing starts around $1,469 CAD, with the configuration driving the final number.
Images courtesy of Wilderness Vans
Most van lifers are trying to squeeze a life into 60 square feet. Waldemar took a different approach entirely. He bought a massive 10-ton MAN commercial delivery truck — originally an airport transport vehicle from Frankfurt, Germany with only 100,000 km on an engine rated for 1.5 million — and spent a year and a half transforming it into a fully off-grid tiny home on wheels. The finished build is just 6 meters long (about 20 feet), fits in a standard parking spot, and yet packs in a motorized elevator bed, a full stone shower, a retractable sky balcony, 800W of solar, and a 220-liter freshwater tank. The total material cost? Around €50,000 ($54,000 USD). This is a DIY truck conversion that makes most professional camper builds look tame by comparison.
Image via @romanexploring on YouTube
Jimmy and Natalie are back with an essential guide on building a DIY elevator bed for your van. After their first version failed, they decided to start from scratch and build a better one using extruded aluminum. This new and improved design offers greater stability and durability, proving that even a failure can lead to a better outcome when you’re willing to iterate.
There’s a reason van life has captured the imagination of millions. It’s not just about the Instagram photos of coffee with mountain views (though those don’t hurt). It’s about freedom—the ability to wake up somewhere new, to carry your home on your back, and to design a life that doesn’t fit in a cubicle.
We’ve featured hundreds of van conversions over the years, and today we’re sharing eleven that stopped us in our tracks. From a couple who built a rooftop van with an office to an 80-year-old woman thriving on the road, these builds prove that van life isn’t just for twenty-somethings with trust funds. It’s for anyone brave enough to reimagine what home can be.
Garrett and Staci met in preschool, dated in high school, got married, got jobs, and got a house. They “had it all” and yet something was missing. After careful consideration, they realized that the ability to travel and explore was precisely what they were seeking.
They built their own camper van. Their DIY ProMaster conversion features a permanent gaming setup and a rooftop deck. These digital nomads have no plans to return to everyday life and have invested in their van to ensure their life on the road runs as smoothly as possible.
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Images via Tiny Home Tours
