CES 2026: Vegas Braces for AI and Robot Overlords

About the Event

Prepare your most comfortable shoes and a backup battery for your backup battery. CES 2026, the annual pilgrimage for anyone who’s anyone in technology, is set to descend upon Las Vegas from January 6-9, 2026. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), this is not your average trade show; it’s a sprawling, chaotic, and utterly essential glimpse into the tech that will dominate our lives in the coming years. Spanning the massive Las Vegas Convention Center and several other venues, the event is a city-within-a-city dedicated to shiny new gadgets and world-changing ideas.

This trade-only event is where the global tech industry’s sharpest minds, from Fortune 500 CEOs to garage-based geniuses, converge to announce their latest breakthroughs. It’s a proving ground for innovation where deals are struck, partnerships are forged, and the rest of us get to see what happens when thousands of brilliant engineers are given caffeine and a deadline. The target audience is, frankly, everyone in the tech industry: engineers, developers, journalists, investors, and executives who want to stay ahead of the curve. What will you gain? A sore neck from looking at drone displays, a bag full of branded pens, and a crucial understanding of where technology is headed.

Attendees will gain insights into the bleeding edge of consumer and enterprise technology, from AI that anticipates your every move to the vehicles that will (eventually) drive themselves. It is, without exaggeration, the most powerful tech event in the world.

Key Themes

While the official theme is “The Arrival of Innovators,” you can bet the unofficial theme will be “Putting AI In Everything.” Expect these topics to dominate the conversation and the show floor:

• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics: AI will be the foundational technology woven into nearly every product on display. This year, a major focus will be on humanoid and industrial robots, with many expecting to see major leaps in capability.
• The Boston Dynamics Spectacle: In what might be the most anticipated reveal, Hyundai has confirmed that Boston Dynamics will debut its next-generation Atlas humanoid robot on stage. This signals a major push from research curiosity to a commercial product, and it’s a can’t-miss moment for the robotics world.
• Automotive & Mobility Tech: Long considered a major auto show in its own right, CES will showcase the future of mobility. Look for breakthroughs in electric vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and maybe even a flying car that doesn’t look like a deathtrap.
• Digital Health & Wearables: Technology continues to merge with healthcare, offering real-time biometric monitoring and early illness detection. Expect to see wearables that do more than just count your steps—they might just save your life.
• Immersive Entertainment & VR/AR: As the lines between the physical and digital worlds blur, expect to see the next generation of virtual and augmented reality that will transform gaming, media, and remote collaboration.

Featured Speakers

The final speaker lineup is still under wraps, but CES consistently attracts the titans of the tech industry for its keynote addresses. In the past, this has included CEOs and presidents from companies like Siemens, Samsung, Intel, and Nvidia.

The main event for the robotics community, however, will undoubtedly be the Hyundai Media Day on January 5, where the company will present its AI Robotics strategy and formally introduce the new Atlas robot. While Marc Raibert might not be doing backflips on stage anymore, the presentation from Boston Dynamics and Hyundai is set to define the conversation for the commercialization of advanced robotics.

Schedule

A detailed schedule is still being finalized, but the core of CES 2026 will run from Tuesday, January 6, to Friday, January 9. Media Days, where many of the biggest announcements are made, will take place on January 4 and 5.

A typical day at CES involves:

• Morning: Keynote addresses from industry leaders.
• All Day: The show floor is open. This is where you’ll wander through millions of square feet of exhibits, from giant booths by global brands to the startup-focused Eureka Park.
• Afternoon: Conference sessions and panel discussions on specific tech tracks.
• Evening: Networking events, parties, and the quiet contemplation of how you’ll ever see everything.

Registration

CES is a trade-only event and is not open to the general public. If you’re affiliated with the consumer technology industry, you can register now.

Register Now

Pricing is tiered, with an “Exhibits Plus Pass” starting at $350 and a “Deluxe Conference Pass” for those who want access to all sessions priced higher. Early registration is strongly advised, as prices increase closer to the event date. Registration requires providing proof of your affiliation with the industry.