CES 2026 details: when, where & what to Expect

A new year means CES 2026 is upon us. For the global tech industry, January has long meant two things: a fresh calendar page and the annual return to Las Vegas for the world’s largest technology event.

This year’s event is shaping up to continue that tradition with another packed week of product launches, policy talk and no shortage of prototypes that may or may not ever ship.

While the show evolves each year, the core experience remains familiar to anyone who has made the trip before. Long days, bright halls, crowded monorails and an easy 30k steps clocked on your smartwatch or FitBit.

This article sets out what you need to know about CES 2026, whether you plan to attend or follow along online, based on information from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

CES 2026 will take place from the 6-9th January. Despite being an industry-only event, CES still holds a couple of media days before the show floors open.

For 2026, media-only days will be held on January 4th and 5th. Both days will once again be held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Resort ballrooms, with the pre-event, Unveiled Las Vegas, hosted on Sunday evening.

As the media days finish, the keynotes begin. Past years have featured chief executives from major manufacturers, automotive leaders and policymakers.

For CES 2026, there is a broad lineup of speakers from AMD, Siemens AG and McKinsey, but the big one this year goes to Lenovo.

The world’s biggest PC maker is taking over the Las Vegas Sphere on the opening evening of CES 2026. This is only the second time the now-iconic venue has played a part at CES, after last year’s incredible Delta Air Lines 100-year celebration and vision for the future.

CES 2026 will once again take over the city of Las Vegas (sorry, locals, I know the traffic is even worse when we’re in town), with the heart of the show held just off-strip at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

However, CES is way too big for just one location and boasts multiple satellite venues, including the Venetian Expo, Aria, Mandalay Bay ballrooms, and the Sphere.

Veteran attendees will recognise the usual zoning: automotive and mobility to the west halls, the big brand stands in central and north, and software, IoT and start-ups mixed across Eureka Park and the upper floors of the Venetian.

The CTA says it continues to refine navigation and transport planning each year, though it’s wise to assume the same long walks apply.

If you’ve been living under a rock, this may come as a surprise to you, but Artificial intelligence will again dominate the conversation, though now with a more mature emphasis on regulation, practical deployment and everyday consumer applications.

The CTA says AI now touches every category across the show, from wearables and health tech to next-generation transportation. The dedicated AI zone at the LVCC is likely to expand further as enterprise providers join consumer brands in demonstrating real-world deployment.

Expect mobility brands to showcase their latest EV and battery innovations. The Electric car market has quickly established itself at CES in recent years, with more and more floor space dedicated to the EVs of the future.

Health and wellness technology has gained ground since 2021, and CES 2026 should see more clinical partnerships announced on stage.

The CTA claims that healthcare exhibitors are among the fastest-growing categories. Expect more accurate wearable health gadgets with advanced biometrics, additional FDA-linked studies and a push towards devices that blend medical-grade data with everyday wearability.

CES 2026 will bring another surge of early-stage companies and start-ups to Eureka Park, a dedicated space downstairs at the Venetian Expo Center.

These stands often provide the most interesting surprises of the show week, even if many concepts never make it past the prototype stage. Some of the better-funded mobility, robotics and AI start-ups tend to draw the largest crowds.

CES remains a trade-only event, and the CTA will again ask for proof of industry affiliation when registering. For newcomers, the attendee portal is the best starting point, as it provides guidance on sign-up, travel, venues, badge pick-up and accessibility.

CES is a beast of an event, and it can take several years of attending before attendees manage to perfect a visit, make the most of their time, see everything (if that’s even possible) and schedule meetings with the fewest steps to the next booth.

The Las Vegas venues and the CTA continue to expand transport links, and the LVCC loop will operate throughout the week. Free shuttle buses are provided from many of the main strip and downtown hotels to the LVCC and Venetian Expo.

Those travelling internationally may wish to allow extra time on arrival. While January is a relatively quiet period by Las Vegas standards, CES attracts well over 100,000 attendees, always straining airport transport.

Once on the ground, make use of the CES badge pick-up desks at Harry Reid International Airport, so it is one less thing to worry about before the event begins.

And, while most of us are used to catching an Uber from the airport when we arrive somewhere, the ride-hail queues are always huge ahead of the start of CES. Use the fixed-price cab rides to all Strip hotels to save time.

Registration for CES 2026 is open now at ces.tech.