What Is CES 2026

CES 2026 is the world's most influential technology trade show, organized annually by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Held January 6–9, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Paradise, Nevada, CES brings together the global technology industry for four days of product launches, keynote addresses, live demonstrations, and business networking across every corner of consumer and enterprise tech.

• Dates: January 6–9, 2026 (Tuesday–Friday)
• Location: Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Attendance: Approximately 138,000+ attendees (2026); 141,000 attended in 2025
• Exhibitors: 4,500+ companies from 160+ countries
• Industry Focus: AI, Vehicle Technology, Smart Home, Health Tech, Displays, Robotics, Sustainability
• Organizer: Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
• Website: ces.tech

CES traces its roots to June 1967, when the first Consumer Electronics Show was held in New York City with just 200 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees. Today it fills multiple venues across the Las Vegas strip — including the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian Expo, and Resorts World — spanning over 2.9 million square feet of exhibit space. The 2026 edition marked the third consecutive year with AI as the defining theme, but shifted the conversation from AI novelty to AI integration: how manufacturers, health systems, automakers, and logistics companies are deploying AI products in real commercial environments rather than in lab settings.

Key 2026 themes included autonomous vehicle platforms, agentic AI assistants across consumer devices, next-generation health monitoring wearables, residential energy management systems, and a growing cohort of robotics companies showing functional home and industrial robots — not just prototypes.

Who's Coming to CES 2026

CES draws a uniquely broad audience compared to any other tech show, spanning consumer electronics buyers, enterprise technology decision-makers, automotive engineers, startup founders, policy figures, and media from every major outlet on the planet.

• Consumer Electronics Retailers and Buyers — Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and major international chains send procurement and merchandising teams to evaluate new product lines ahead of the holiday cycle
• Automotive and Mobility Professionals — Engineers, product managers, and executives from OEMs (BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Sony Honda Mobility), tier-1 suppliers, and EV infrastructure companies
• Health Technology and MedTech — Hospital system executives, digital health startups, FDA-regulated device manufacturers, and wellness brand founders
• Enterprise Technology Decision-Makers — CIOs and IT directors attending to evaluate smart workplace, cybersecurity, and IoT infrastructure solutions
• Startups and Venture Capital — The Eureka Park section alone hosts 1,200+ startups, making CES a key destination for early-stage companies seeking media attention and investor introductions
• Media and Content Creators — More than 6,000 media professionals from broadcast, digital, and print attend, making CES the single largest tech media event of the year

Historically, about 45% of CES attendees come from outside the United States, representing countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Senior decision-makers (C-suite and VP level) account for roughly 30% of the professional attendee mix.

Want to know which companies are exhibiting? Lensmor tracks exhibitor profiles, booth data, and product categories for CES 2026 and 1,000+ other trade shows. Explore CES 2026 exhibitors on Lensmor →

Confirmed Speakers / Key Sessions at CES 2026

CES 2026 featured three keynote stages: the main keynote at Michelob Ultra Arena, the C Space keynote at the Venetian, and the AMD keynote at LVCC. Confirmed keynote speakers included:

1. Jensen Huang, CEO, NVIDIA — The marquee keynote of CES 2026; Huang outlined NVIDIA's vision for physical AI and robotics, introducing the Cosmos world foundation models and Project DIGITS, a personal AI supercomputer
2. Dr. Lisa Su, CEO, AMD — Delivered the AMD keynote covering next-generation GPU architectures and AI PC platforms for 2026
3. Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and CEO, Lenovo — Presented Lenovo Tech World at CES, covering AI PCs, hybrid cloud infrastructure, and agentic AI for enterprise
4. Ynon Kreiz, CEO, Mattel — Featured at C Space keynote on AI-powered product design and how toy brands are navigating digital entertainment convergence
5. Mark Read, CEO, WPP — Discussed AI's impact on creative industries and advertising at the C Space stage
6. GSMA and telecoms leaders — Multiple sessions on satellite connectivity, 5G-advanced rollout, and private wireless networks for industrial IoT

Key sessions beyond keynotes included:

• Digital Health Summit — A dedicated multi-day track featuring FDA officials, hospital executives, and health wearable founders; topics covered AI-assisted diagnostics, remote patient monitoring, and mental wellness technology
• Eureka Park Startup Showcases — Daily pitch sessions from emerging companies in robotics, AgriTech, sustainability, and smart mobility
• Vehicle Technology Track — Sessions on software-defined vehicles, EV battery chemistry advances, and autonomous driving regulatory frameworks
• CES Innovation Awards Showcase — 750+ award honorees in categories from Accessibility to Wearable Technology, all on display in a dedicated exhibition section

Sponsors and Exhibitors at CES 2026

CES 2026 featured over 4,500 exhibiting companies, making it the largest edition of the show in years. Major exhibitors spanned every tier of the technology industry:

Tier-1 Exhibitors (Large Anchor Booths):

• Samsung — Showcased its 2026 television lineup including new Micro LED formats, AI-powered home appliances under the SmartThings ecosystem, and Galaxy AI features across mobile and wearables
• LG Electronics — Presented OLED and QNED display innovations, transparent OLED for retail and hospitality, and its ThinQ AI home platform
• Sony — Demonstrated next-generation audio, camera sensor technology, PlayStation VR advances, and its Sony Honda Mobility AFEELA 2 EV sedan
• NVIDIA — Occupied a major exhibit footprint focused on automotive AI compute platforms, robotics development kits, and the GeForce RTX 50-series consumer GPUs
• Qualcomm — Highlighted Snapdragon X Elite performance for AI PCs and expanded automotive platform partnerships
• Bosch, Continental, Valeo — Tier-1 automotive suppliers with large presence in the Vehicle Technology hall
• Amazon, Google — Both present with smart home and assistant technology showcases

Notable New and Emerging Exhibitors:

• A record number of robotics companies, including several showing functional domestic robots capable of household task assistance
• Chinese technology companies returned in strong numbers following loosened travel restrictions, with brands including Hisense, TCL, and DJI occupying significant floor space
• Health tech companies represented the fastest-growing category by exhibitor count for the third consecutive year

Lensmor provides real-time exhibitor intelligence for CES 2026, including company profiles, product categories, and booth locations. Access the full exhibitor list →

Why You Should Attend CES 2026

CES is the only trade show where the entire global technology ecosystem converges in a single city for the same week. The concentration of decision-making authority — from retail buyers to OEM engineers to venture investors — is unmatched at any other event.

For product teams and engineers: CES is the definitive benchmark for where hardware is heading. The density of working prototypes and announced product roadmaps across display, audio, compute, and mobility technology makes it the most efficient way to benchmark competitive positioning across multiple categories in a single trip.

For business development and partnerships: CES's informal side — the hotel suites, side meetings, and evening events that run parallel to the official schedule — is where many of the year's most significant commercial agreements get initiated. Companies like Qualcomm, Samsung SDI, and automotive OEMs use CES to announce supplier partnerships and platform integrations.

For investors and analysts: CES gives institutional investors and technology analysts direct access to founders and product demos before companies reach traditional fundraising or analyst day cycles. Eureka Park alone provides a uniquely compressed view of early-stage hardware innovation across a dozen verticals.

For media and content creators: CES generates more technology media coverage in a single week than any other event. Being present enables direct access to brand communications teams, embargo briefings, and product demonstration sessions that are unavailable outside the show.

Travel & Logistics

Getting There

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Direct flights serve Las Vegas from virtually every major U.S. hub and many international gateways, with peak travel on January 5 (arrival) and January 9–10 (departure). Book flights 8–12 weeks in advance; prices spike sharply in December. Non-stop international services from London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Tokyo Narita, and Toronto Pearson are typically available.

Getting Around

The CES Shuttle Network is the most practical option for most attendees — free buses connect all major venue clusters (LVCC, Venetian Expo, Resorts World, and Aria/Vdara). Rideshare surges during CES peak hours (8–10am and 5–7pm) can be severe; budget 30–45 minutes of buffer for important meetings. The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip and stops near LVCC. Walking between LVCC halls is further than it appears on maps; the campus spans more than a mile from end to end, and the West Hall to Central Hall walk alone takes 15–20 minutes.

Hotels

CES's official hotel block opens in late summer and sells out within days for adjacent properties. The closest hotels to LVCC are the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World, Renaissance Las Vegas, and Marriott's Grand Chateau. The Venetian and Palazzo are premium options directly attached to Venetian Expo. Budget-conscious attendees often stay in off-Strip properties like Palace Station or Red Rock Resort and rely on the shuttle network.

Badge and Registration

Professional registration typically opens in September with early-bird pricing. A standard 4-day All-Access pass costs approximately $1,000 for CTA non-members and $300–500 for CTA members. Day passes are available but restrict access to keynotes. Media and analyst credentials require employer verification and close in November.

Practical Tips

• Download the CES official app before arrival; it contains live shuttle schedules, the exhibitor map, and session registration
• Pack comfortable shoes — the average CES attendee walks 8–12 miles per day
• Bring a portable battery charger; charging infrastructure at LVCC is limited
• Business cards remain widely exchanged at CES; bring more than you think you need
• January weather in Las Vegas is mild (50–65°F / 10–18°C) but can be surprisingly cold after dark, especially while waiting for shuttles

FAQ

When does CES 2026 take place and where?

CES 2026 ran January 6–9, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and adjacent venues including the Venetian Expo and Resorts World. CES 2027 is scheduled for January 5–8, 2027 at the same venues.

Who organizes CES?

CES is organized and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the U.S. trade association representing over 1,000 technology companies. The CTA also publishes annual consumer technology industry revenue forecasts cited by analysts and investors globally.

How many exhibitors and attendees does CES attract?

CES 2026 drew approximately 138,000 professional attendees from 160+ countries and featured over 4,500 exhibiting companies. The 2025 edition drew 141,000 attendees, and attendance has been trending back toward the pre-pandemic record of 182,000 (CES 2020).

What is Eureka Park at CES?

Eureka Park is a dedicated startup exhibition hall within LVCC's West Hall. Over 1,200 early-stage companies from around 50 countries showcase products and take meetings during CES. It is organized by national pavilion groups (French Tech, Korea Pavilion, Israel Pavilion, etc.) and is free to walk for all registered attendees.

Is CES open to the general public?

No. CES is a trade-only event. Attendance requires professional registration tied to a company affiliation. Consumer badges are occasionally offered through promotional partnerships but are limited and not guaranteed.

How should I prepare before attending CES?

The most effective attendees do their homework before stepping on the plane. Study the exhibitor list, identify priority companies and product categories, and pre-schedule meetings at least two weeks before the show — CES weeks fill up fast. Tools like Lensmor help you research exhibitors before arriving — you can filter by industry, company size, and product category to build a target list before Day 1.