CES 2021 to be an All-Digital Event
It’s the news I was fearing, everyone in the Tech industry was expecting and has now arrived! CES 2021 has been cancelled as an in-person conference and will be replaced with an All-Digital event in January.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the only real option for 2021.
COVID-19 Claims Another Conference
Ironically, #CES2020 was the last major tech event to be held before the global spread of this coronavirus. Just a month later, in February, #MWC2020 had to be cancelled, along with every other event/launch this year, so far.
Amazingly, IFA 2020 is going ahead! Mostly as a digital experience but with a select 800 person event in Berlin as well.
But with current reports in Europe of a second wave, or spike, this may still not come to fruition!
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CTA Press Release
On Tuesday 28th July the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) made a press release confirming the 2021 event will be all-digital.
It reads:
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® is reimagining how to connect exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media from around the world while prioritizing health and safety. We are excited to share that CES® 2021 will be an all-digital experience.
For more than 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation. And CES 2021 will continue to be a platform to launch products, engage with global brands and define the future of the tech industry.
With the growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it is not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person.
An all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. You’ll be able to participate in all the awe-inspiring moments of CES wherever you are in the world. We are designing a unique experience for the tech industry.
What to Expect
CES 2021 will offer a highly personalized experience:
- Keynotes and conferences. Now you’ll have a front-row seat for groundbreaking announcements and insights from the world’s tech leaders completely online.
- Product showcase. With this digital evolution of the CES show floor, you’ll be able to explore products and services, based on your interests and business, through dynamic product showcases or live demos.
- Meetings and networking. You’ll be able to engage with the brands, thought leaders and business connections you care about with live interactions, meetups or roundtable discussions.
Technology has helped us all work, learn and connect during the coronavirus pandemic, and it has presented real solutions to help solve complex global challenges. We recognize that, particularly in these uncertain times, it is the partnerships of some of the most creative minds that bring the best solutions to life.
We’re looking forward to welcoming the global tech industry, from international brands to budding startups, to kick off the year with the world’s most influential digital technology event.
Mark your calendars for the first week in January and be on the lookout for more exciting news about CES 2021. We plan to return to Las Vegas for CES 2022, combining the best elements of a physical and digital show.
Thank you for your continued support. Please stay healthy and safe.
Brands will Need to Adapt
Many of the big brands that showcase their new tech in Las Vegas each year will have the marketing budgets to overcome this announcement. My concern is what impact the CES 2021 digital event will have on the small, or start-up, brands that rely on the physical event.
Eureka Park, the area for start-ups at CES, is always busy. It’s a great opportunity for these new brands a chance to get in front of the worlds media.
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Hopefully, CES will allow some “Digital Space” for these new brands to be showcased in 2021.
Join the Conversation
I’m gutted CES will not be an in-person event or conference in 2021. But, I have every confidence the All-Digital experience will be worth the wait.
This predictable announcement is the right decision given the global guidelines on social distancing.
A Big Hit to the Vegas Economy
CES fills out most of Las Vegas every year. Without a vaccine, herd immunity or any of the other fixes being discussed, cramming 150,000+ people into the LVCC was always going to be a no-no.
The hotels should mostly be fine, they can fall back on the years of BS resort fees to see them through.
I just hope the trades and people of Las Vegas, a city reliant on business & pleasure travellers, see it through this period so the CTA can host CES 2022 safely and successfully.
Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter.
Visit ces.tech for further information.