CES Trade Show: Dates, Venues, Innovations & How to Make the Most of It

CES is the world's largest consumer technology trade show, held each January in Las Vegas and organized by the Consumer Technology Association. With 4,500-plus exhibitors, 130,000-plus attendees, and coverage spanning AI, mobility, and digital health, it sets procurement roadmaps across industries. Here is what you need to know to participate effectively.

What Is the CES Trade Show?

CES launched in New York City in June 1967 as a modest consumer electronics showcase with roughly 100 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees. More than five decades later, it has grown into the world's most influential technology event, drawing over 130,000 professionals to Las Vegas each January to preview the innovations defining the next decade.

The official CES site provides registration details, exhibitor resources, and program schedules for the full scope of the event. Over 4,500 companies now exhibit annually, representing more than 60 countries. The show is organized by the Consumer Technology Association, a trade body representing more than 1,000 member companies in the United States.

How Did CES Evolve from a Regional Electronics Fair to a Global Technology Event?

The international CES consumer electronics show debuted in New York City in 1967 before rotating through Chicago at McCormick Place during the 1970s. It settled permanently in Las Vegas in 1995, a shift that unlocked the venue scale needed to accommodate surging exhibitor demand. Post-2010, the program expanded well beyond hardware into software, AI, and mobility sectors. Across its history, over 20,000 new products have been launched at CES, cementing its role as the global benchmark for consumer technology standards.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and Its Role as Organizer

CTA represents 1,000-plus member companies spanning startups, global manufacturers, and policy advocates. Beyond managing CES logistics, CTA sets technology standards that shape product development globally and maintains an active advocacy presence in Washington, D.C. The association publishes the annual U.S. Consumer Technology Sales and Forecasts report, a widely referenced industry planning tool. CTA also tracks emerging automation technology categories. For a broader view of how automation fits into industrial and consumer tech ecosystems, see our overview of automation in the industry.

CES Asia vs. International CES: Understanding the Distinction

CES Asia operated from 2015 to 2019 in Shanghai as a regional trade offshoot designed to serve Asian consumer electronics markets directly. The regional strategy reflected CTA's effort to capture growth in Asia-Pacific without requiring attendees to travel to Las Vegas. CES Asia was suspended in CES 2020 and has not been revived. As of 2025, no active CES Asia event exists. All global focus has consolidated back to the flagship January Las Vegas edition. Practitioners planning international trade engagements should treat the Las Vegas show as the sole authoritative CES platform.

CES Dates and Upcoming Editions

CES 2025 attracted more than 141,000 attendees across 4 days in January, a figure that underscores why booking travel, hotels, and badge registration well ahead of the event is not optional. Miss the early windows and your booth placement, accommodation options, and speaker access all narrow significantly.

Edition	Dates	Location	Key Planning Deadline
CES 2026	January 6-9, 2026	Las Vegas, NV	Badge registration open now; early-bird deadline August 2025
CES 2027	January 6-9, 2027	Las Vegas, NV	Exhibit applications open Q1 2026; badge early-bird August 2026

When Is CES 2026 and What Are the Confirmed Dates?

CES 2026 is held from January 6 through 9, 2026, at the Las Vegas Convention Center and satellite venues across Las Vegas Nevada United States. Media days typically precede the main event on January 5. Confirmed focal themes for 2026 include AI, digital health, and sustainability. Review CES 2026 highlights and priorities for the full program outline as sessions are confirmed. Badge registration and exhibitor applications are already open.

When Is CES 2027? January 6-9, 2027 and What to Plan For

CES 2027 runs January 6-9, 2027, in Las Vegas. Developers and automation consultants who want exhibit space should target Q1 2026 to get started on applications, since floor placement is assigned on a first-come, first-reviewed basis. Hotel room blocks near the LVCC fill within days of release, often before most people realize registration has opened. Flag both dates in your planning calendar now and build a pre-show outreach calendar to ensure your pipeline is warm before you land in Nevada.

How Far in Advance Should You Register for CES?

1. Monitor CES.tech for exhibitor application opening, typically March through April, roughly 9 months before the January event.
2. Submit your booth application within the first 30 days for best floor placement and category adjacency.
3. Register attendee badges by August for early-bird pricing, which can represent savings of up to 30% versus on-site rates.
4. Book Las Vegas hotels within 48 hours of room-block release; prime properties adjacent to LVCC sell out within hours.
5. Lock in travel by October to manage airfare costs effectively.

Plan your post-event workflows at the same time as registration. A structured post-conference email sequence built before the show closes will outperform anything assembled in the scramble afterward.

Where Is CES Held? Venues Across Las Vegas

Think of CES less as a single convention hall and more as a small city temporarily wired for technology, spanning over 2.5 million net square feet of exhibit space across multiple Las Vegas venues simultaneously. Knowing which product categories live in which building is the difference between a productive day and 10,000 wasted steps.

For a full sector and audience breakdown of CES, see this overview from Advanced Manufacturing.

• Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) | AI, mobility, smart home, embedded systems | Core hub; West, Central, and North Halls
• The Venetian Expo | Startups, sports tech, digital health | ~1 mile northeast of LVCC
• Mandalay Bay Convention Center | Automotive, advanced mobility | ~4 miles south of LVCC
• Wynn Las Vegas / Resorts World | Private suite meetings, enterprise briefings | Various Strip locations

Las Vegas Convention Center: The Core Hub

The LVCC is the anchor of CES, encompassing West, Central, and North Halls across more than 3.2 million square feet of total facility space. West Hall, opened in 2021 following a roughly $980 million expansion that added 1.4 million square feet, hosts AI, smart home, and embedded systems exhibitors. The LVCC Loop, operated by Elon Musk's Boring Company, provides underground transit between the Las Vegas halls, reducing the walking distance between the far ends of the campus significantly.

The Venetian Expo, Mandalay Bay, and Satellite Venues

The Venetian Expo (formerly Sands Expo) hosts the C-Space startup zone, sports tech, and digital health exhibitors across approximately 1.1 million square feet. Mandalay Bay Convention Center, roughly 4 miles south of the LVCC, focuses on automotive and advanced mobility sectors. Satellite venues including Wynn Las Vegas and Resorts World serve private suite meetings where enterprise deals are frequently negotiated. Booth design across these satellite venues requires careful attention to audience flow and signage because foot traffic patterns differ significantly from LVCC. Use the official CES app to track real-time venue maps and session locations.

Why Las Vegas, Nevada Has Anchored CES for Decades

Las Vegas offers more than 150,000 hotel rooms within a few miles of the LVCC, the largest concentrated hotel inventory of any U.S. city. Harry Reid International Airport handles international charter flights efficiently, enabling global attendance. The city's infrastructure, including power capacity, bandwidth, and hospitality workforce, absorbs a 130,000-person influx with far less friction than most alternatives. Nevada's business-friendly tax environment and central U.S. geography reinforce the choice. CES moved permanently to Las Vegas in 1995 after rotating between New York and Chicago at McCormick Place, and the city has hosted it for over 30 consecutive years since.

What Technologies and Innovations Are Showcased at CES?

If a technology category is not represented at CES within 3 years of achieving commercial viability, it is effectively invisible to the enterprise buyers who set procurement roadmaps. CES is not a passive showcase; it is an active filter that separates the consumer-ready innovations from the concept-stage projects that still need work.

Technology Category	CES Presence Level	Relevant Audience	CES Venue Zone
Artificial Intelligence	High	Developers, enterprise buyers	West Hall, LVCC
Advanced Mobility / EVs	High	Automotive, logistics	South Hall, Mandalay Bay
Digital Health	High	Healthcare, wellness tech	Venetian Expo
Smart Home / IoT	High	Consumer tech, integrators	West Hall, LVCC
Video Game / Gaming Tech	Medium	Gaming, GPU, peripherals	Central Hall
Spatial Computing	Emerging	AR/VR developers	Eureka Park, Venetian
Humanoid Robotics	Emerging	Automation, manufacturing	West Hall
Wireless Power	Emerging	Consumer electronics	Central Hall

Artificial Intelligence and Embedded Systems on the Show Floor

AI applications dominated West Hall at CES 2025, with over 800 AI-focused companies represented. Agentic AI platforms, embedded systems in vehicles and appliances, and automation software were the three fastest-growing sub-categories on the floor. The event type most relevant to developers is product demonstration, where real inference hardware runs live rather than via video. If you are evaluating AI platforms for client deployments, reviewing AI workflow automation tools for small business before attending CES helps you ask sharper questions on the show floor.

Advanced Mobility, Wireless Power, and Smart Home Tech

Advanced mobility, covering EVs, autonomous vehicles, and connected transport, has anchored the South Hall and Mandalay Bay for more than 5 consecutive years. Wireless power solutions from companies including Wi-Charge and WiBotic emerged as breakout technology categories at CES 2024, attracting procurement interest from consumer electronics brands. Smart home technology remains a perennial top-5 category, with over 400 smart home exhibitors at CES 2025. CTA publishes interoperability standards for smart home devices, directly influencing product roadmaps at manufacturers globally.

Digital Health, Gaming, and Emerging Consumer Categories

Digital health exhibitors grew substantially between CES 2022 and CES 2025, reflecting the category's shift from niche to mainstream consumer procurement focus. Gaming technology, including GPUs, peripherals, and video game streaming hardware, has maintained a strong presence since 2015. Emerging categories confirmed for CES 2026 include spatial computing, humanoid robotics, and sustainable tech. The CES Innovation Awards recognize outstanding design and engineering across 28 product categories, and winning an award measurably elevates booth traffic during show days.

Which Product Categories Generate the Most Business Impact at CES?

AI, mobility, and digital health consistently generate the largest post-show business activity, measured by partnerships formed, media coverage earned, and procurement meetings converted. Startups exhibiting in Eureka Park have collectively raised over $2 billion in funding in the year following their CES appearances. Canadian tech companies often participate through the Canadian Technology Accelerator program, co-located in Eureka Park, giving domestic projects a supported pathway onto the global stage. For market context on exhibitor opportunity, the U.S. Department of Commerce market context for CES exhibitors provides a grounded planning reference.

How to Participate in CES as an Exhibitor or Attendee

What separates the companies that leave CES with 300 qualified leads and 5 signed LOIs from those that ship a booth to Las Vegas and come home with a stack of unscanned badges? The answer is almost never booth size or budget; it is preparation, outreach strategy, and what happens in the 72 hours after the show closes.

Exhibiting at CES: Booth Design, Registration, and Lead Strategy

Submit your exhibitor application via CES.tech; space assignment is based on application date and product category. Booth design should prioritize a clear product demo zone, visible category signage, and a dedicated lead-capture station staffed throughout show hours. Badge scanners are supplied by CES, but developers who integrate a CRM or automation tool for real-time lead routing gain a measurable advantage over competitors relying on manual badge exports. Build your lead capture stack before you ship the booth. The AI conference lead capture workflow guide covers exactly how that integration should be built.

Attending CES: Networking, Sessions, and ROI for Tech Professionals

Registered attendees access keynote sessions historically delivered by Samsung, Sony, NVIDIA, and major automotive brands, plus the full show floor and CES-organized networking events. The CES app lets attendees schedule 1:1 meetings in advance, a feature used by over 40% of attendees in 2024. Sessions are grouped into tech-topic tracks; AI-automation consultants should prioritize the "AI in Business" and "Future of Work" tracks specifically. Get started on your session wishlist before arriving in Las Vegas and Vegas hotel check-in logistics are settled, so your first morning is productive rather than administrative. ROI is best measured by qualified contacts made, not total booths visited.

How Can AI Automation Tools Improve Your CES Outreach and Follow-Up?

Post-show follow-up within 24 to 48 hours increases response rates meaningfully; waiting beyond 5 business days causes open rates to drop sharply. Automated lead capture connected to a CRM sequencing tool ensures every badge scan triggers a personalized cta (call-to-action email) without manual intervention. The privacy policy and data handling requirements for badge-scan data vary by jurisdiction, so configure your CRM workflows to include compliant consent language before the event opens. Treating lead follow-up as an automated workflow rather than a manual task is the single highest-leverage operational change most exhibitors can make.

Key Takeaways

• Register early: Badge and booth applications open 6 to 9 months before January; early-bird pricing saves up to 30% and secures better floor placement.
• Map the venues: LVCC, the Venetian Expo, and Mandalay Bay serve distinct product categories; plan your schedule by venue, not by walking distance.
• Focus on your category: AI, digital health, and advanced mobility are the top-3 business-impact zones at CES 2026; align your exhibit or attendance strategy to one primary track.
• Automate follow-up before you go: Configure CRM lead-capture workflows before the show so post-event outreach launches within 48 hours automatically.
• Canadian companies: Use the Canadian Technology Accelerator program in Eureka Park to reduce exhibit fees and gain access to co-promotion resources.

FAQ

What does CES stand for and who runs it?

CES originally stood for Consumer Electronics Show. Today it operates simply as CES, reflecting its expanded technology scope. It is organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a U.S.-based trade association representing more than 1,000 member companies. CTA manages logistics, sets exhibitor policy, and produces supporting industry research including the annual U.S. Consumer Technology Sales and Forecasts report.

Where and when is CES 2026?

CES 2026 runs January 6 through 9, 2026, with media days on January 5. The primary venue is the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with additional exhibit space at the Venetian Expo and Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Confirmed focal themes include artificial intelligence, digital health, and sustainability.

How much does it cost to exhibit at CES?

Costs vary significantly by exhibit type:

• Eureka Park startup booths start at approximately $1,500 USD.
• Standard 10x10 exhibit space runs roughly $5,000 to $15,000 USD for space alone, before booth build-out.
• Full island exhibits and custom builds can reach six figures.

Submit your application early; space assignment is date-sensitive and prime floor locations fill within the first 30 days after applications open.

Is CES only for large tech companies?

No. Eureka Park, the CES startup zone, is specifically designed for early-stage companies and startups. Over 1,000 startups exhibited there at CES 2025, and participants pay reduced exhibit fees. The zone has produced companies that collectively raised over $2 billion in post-CES funding. Developers, independent consultants, and small teams attend regularly as badge holders without exhibiting.

What is the best way to prepare for CES as a first-time attendee?

Learn more about preparing for a learn more event like CES as a first-time attendee by following these steps:

1. Register for a badge at least 6 months out to secure early-bird pricing.
2. Download the CES app and pre-schedule 1:1 meetings before arriving.
3. Map your two or three priority venue zones and product category tracks.
4. Build a post-show CRM follow-up sequence before you travel, not after.
5. Review the CES 2026 highlights and priorities page once the full program is published, typically in autumn 2025.

Can I access CES session recordings after the show?

Information on session recordings is typically retrieved March through June following the January event via the CES digital access portal. Select keynote sessions and curated tech talks are made available to registered attendees online. Not all sessions are recorded or publicly released; availability depends on speaker agreements. Check CES.tech for the most current post-show content privacy policy each year.