Tesla is choosing who gets a seat at its December 3 annual shareholder meeting at Gigafactory Texas by random drawing, and entries close Friday, November 6, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Shareholders who can prove they owned Tesla stock on October 13 can enter. The meeting starts at 3 p.m. Central in Austin.

Tesla says it expects to start telling winners the week of November 16. A winner picked that Monday has 17 days to get to Austin, with Thanksgiving in between. Last year Tesla said it would start notifying winners the week of October 13, 24 days before its November 6 meeting.

Tesla’s Drawing Terms Leave Winners Paying for Their Own Trip

Tesla will not pay for a winner’s travel or lodging, even if it changes the meeting’s date, time, location or format. Its terms also let Tesla change whether and how the in-person portion happens at all, and they make every Tesla decision on the drawing final.

Winners are notified by email. If Tesla needs more proof of eligibility, the winner has 48 hours from that email to send it, or Tesla can disqualify them and draw someone else at random, according to the drawing terms on Tesla’s shareholder site. A seat also depends on a valid government-issued ID, and any attempt to transfer an invitation voids it.

Entering the drawing gives Tesla a perpetual, worldwide right to use photos and video captured at the event, including an entrant’s voice and likeness, for publicity and advertising without payment. Entrants also agree to hold Tesla harmless for any injury or loss connected to the drawing. When I compared the 2026 terms with Tesla’s 2025 drawing terms on Monday, the dates were the only change.

Shareholders Without a Seat Can Still Vote Online on December 3

Anyone who held Tesla shares on October 13 can join the meeting online at virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TSLA2026, vote and submit written comments. Getting in takes a 16-digit control number, printed on the proxy card or notice for directly registered holders and obtained through the broker for street-name holders.

The ballot covers three director seats, 2025 executive pay and the auditor. Voters on ProxyVote.com or Say by Robinhood will also be offered Tesla’s new standing instruction to vote with the board at future meetings. The public can watch the same livestream without voting.

EVXL’s Take

Tesla is selling this meeting as a show. The banner on its meeting page puts “Amazing Abundance” over the Roadster kickflip from last Thursday’s demo, and the drawing terms give Tesla free use of every attendee’s face while leaving each winner to cover the trip. Tesla’s email comes the week before Thanksgiving, so a winner books Austin travel around a holiday on short notice. If Tesla then moves the meeting, getting the money back is between the winner and the airline. If you enter, check what refundable fares cost now so you know what a win would really cost you. Vote your shares either way. A ballot cast online at TSLA2026 counts the same as one cast in the room at Giga Texas.

Sources: Tesla 2026 Annual Meeting Details and Drawing Terms, Tesla 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting page and Drawing Terms

EVXL uses automated tools to support research and source retrieval. All reporting and editorial perspectives are by Haye Kesteloo.