CES 2026
Las Vegas Convention Center, Venetian Campus, C Space Campus, Las Vegas, NV
January 6-9, 2026
Attendees: 148,000
Exhibitors/Sponsors: 4,100+ (including 1,200 startups)
Speakers: 400+ conference sessions with 1300+ speakers
Media/Analysts: 6,900
Last week, CES saw its largest post-pandemic audience. 148,000 attendees from around the globe covered the 2.5 million net square feet of Las Vegas exhibition space spread over three campuses and 12 official venues across four days. More than 60% of Fortune 500 companies were represented, with 55% of attendees comprising senior-level executives.
CTA President Kinsey Fabrizio noted the extraordinary energy, saying, “CES brings the global tech ecosystem together for an unmatched volume of deal-making, partnerships, and idea-sharing. The innovation unveiled this week spanning AI, quantum, mobility, robotics, health, and so much more, underscores CES as the global stage where bold ideas move from vision to reality.”
AI dominates the conversation
AI was everywhere, of course. But this year, the focus was on how it was being embedded in consumer and industrial devices and smart systems to assist with and enable everything we do, rather than being an add-on. Keynotes and other speakers highlighted its functional move from training-centric to inference. As AI is allowed to run continuously in products and services, it will make instant decisions that enhance safety, enable precision operations, faster decisions and transform industries.
AMD’s CEO, Dr Lisa Su, kicked off this message during her keynote, explaining that ‘AI for everyone’ meant a move from cloud data centers to the device to enable inference at the edge. Jensen Huang of NVIDIA also emphasized how AI is evolving into physical and agentic real-time autonomous systems. Samsung’s Jong-Hee Han showcased AI in the consumer realm, with Samsung showing how AI works quietly in the background to enable convenience, connectivity, and efficiency. Intel reinforced the industry-wide push toward actionable intelligence. And automotive leaders, including Qualcomm and OEM partners, explained how vehicles are becoming real-time AI platforms.
Chips for Everything
Of course, this move to a ubiquitous, AI-powered world cannot occur if computing power doesn’t allow it, so it’s moving closer to the edge. This meant chipsets were some of the biggest news, with announcements including:
-NVIDIA’s Rubin platform: NVIDIA unveiled new processing efficiencies through the Rubin platform, comprising six new chips. Named after American astronomer Vera Rubin, the platform will cut the cost of training and running AI models and improve throughput and responsiveness to meet skyrocketing AI compute demands.
-AMD’s Ryzen AI 400 Series: AMD debuted several new silicon developments for PCs, laptops, workstations, and embedded AI applications for automotive, robotics, and industrial systems.
-Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3: Intel launched the Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processors and Series 3 (Panther Lake) chips.
-Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus & Snapdragon X Series: The latest evolution of the Snapdragon X Series platform is designed to improve performance for Copilot + PCs.
NVIDIA discussed open models trained on its infrastructure that will accelerate developments in areas such as healthcare and robotics, while a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz will see the company integrating NVIDIA’s automated driving technology. Developments in PC chips showed how laptops can run multimodal models locally, reducing latency and improving privacy. Multiple vendors showcased how even small devices could benefit from edge compute AI workloads.
The Need for Speed
These and other announcements reinforced the need for speed in this new AI-centric world. Autonomous vehicles can’t wait for decisions to be made in the public cloud when it comes to safety; a robot can’t rely on Wi-Fi to avoid an object left on the manufacturing floor, and a drone can’t tolerate an in-flight signal loss. Dan Jones of Fierce Networks says Industrial AI is signaling the comeback of private 5G networks in 2026 , and he quoted Recon Analytics analyst, Daryl Schoolar, as saying he thinks “AI-enabled private 5G will be a marketing buzzword in 2026.”
Landon Garner, President of Mobile Operator, Kajeet, found that a VIP tour of Samsung’s ‘The First Look’ delivered a great overview of everything in one place, showing how the ecosystem fits together. He reiterated the importance of attending CES, saying, “CES is hard to beat for seeing a lot of people in a very short amount of time, as it “still does what it does best. It brings the right people together, sparks great conversations, and reminds you why this industry is so fun to be part of.”
Other highlights from the CES included:
Automotive technology will benefit from software-centric, AI-enabled mobility, making vehicles smarter, safer, and more stylish. Advanced sensors paired with intelligent software and AI mapping tools adapt in real-time for more reliable journeys. The rise of robotaxis, autonomous shuttles, and self-driving bikes was highlighted, as well as the expansion of automation into agriculture, construction and other industries to make workplaces safer and more sustainable. Exhibitors included: BMW,Brunswick Corporation, Caterpillar, Doosan Bobcat, Geely, John Deere, Oshkosh, Pliyt, Qualcomm, Sony Honda Mobility Inc., and Tensor Auto.
Digital Health innovations focused on technology that moves beyond tracking to deliver insights through diagnostic tools and wearables. Exhibitors included AARP, Abbott, Earflo Inc., myolab.ai, Vivoo, and Withings.
Automotive technology will benefit from software-centric, AI-enabled mobility, making vehicles smarter, safer, and more stylish. Advanced sensors paired with intelligent software and AI mapping tools adapt in real-time for more reliable journeys. The rise of robotaxis, autonomous shuttles, and self-driving bikes was highlighted, as well as the expansion of automation into agriculture, construction and other industries to make workplaces safer and more sustainable. Exhibitors included: BMW, Brunswick Corporation, Caterpillar, Doosan Bobcat, Geely, John Deere, Oshkosh, Pliyt, Qualcomm, Sony Honda Mobility Inc., and Tensor Auto.
Robotics demonstrated ‘physical AI’, showing how edge-enabled machines can make smarter decisions and become collaborative assistants. Exhibitors included: Hyundai, Primech AI, Richtech Robotics, Sharpa, Tuya, Yarbo International Inc., YuShu Technology Co., Ltd. (Unitree).
In the world of satellite technology, Infinix unveiled always-on satellite phones for voice and messaging, and Keysight Technologies demonstrated direct-to-cell NR-NTN networks. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed support for direct-to-cell technology, pointing to new spectrum proposals he hopes will bring down prices and saying the FCC wants to “build a framework that incentivizes investment.”
Companies showcased next-generation energy solutions, including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cells, plug-in hybrids, and extended-range EVs for vehicles of every size, from e-bikes to heavy-duty construction and agricultural vehicles. Breakthroughs in battery storage, portable power systems, smart home energy management, and renewable sources were big. Exhibitors included: Donut Lab, Evotrex, Flint Paper Battery, Jackery, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), SPOG Trailers, Stryten Energy, and Superheat.
It’s a Wrap
CES 2026 showcased how technology is transforming industries and everyday life through intelligent, edge-enabled platforms. However, for any technology vendor, the sheer scale, pace, and complexity of the show can be daunting, from tracking the right keynotes, finding the right venue, and product launches to identifying partnerships and networking opportunities.
Working with an experienced agency like Calysto can make all the difference, helping your company navigate the show , deliver innovations in context with the event themes, and connect with the right customers, partners, media, and analysts. We can help turn CES and other 2026 events into strategic opportunities for your brand, ensuring your story is seen, your technology is understood, and your presence generates measurable impact.
Contact us to learn how we can support your 2026 event strategy and amplify your message across the year’s top tech showcases.
Sources and More information
CES 2026: The Future is Here
Why CES 2026 Signals The End Of ‘AI As A Tool’
Highlights From AMD’s CES 2026 Keynote: Everything That Happened in 14 Minutes
Nvidia Dominates CES 2026 with ‘Rubin’ Architecture, Redefining the AI Frontier
Key Highlights from CES 2026: The Rise of AI and Robotics in Consumer Tech
FCC Chair Brendan Carr champions direct-to-cell satellite technology at CES