CES 2026 returns to Las Vegas as AI, robotics and digital health take centre stage

CES 2026 returns to Las Vegas this week, reclaiming its place as the industry’s most influential showcase for consumer and enterprise technology. Organised by the Consumer Technology Association, the event brings together global brands, fast-growing startups, policymakers, investors and media across more than 13 venues and 2.6 million net square feet of exhibition space.

CTA chief executive Gary Shapiro said the scale of this year’s show reflects renewed momentum across the sector. With more than 3,600 Innovation Award submissions and exhibitors spread across the Las Vegas Convention Center, Venetian, ARIA, Fontainebleau and other hubs, CES 2026 aims to frame how technology will address productivity, healthcare, mobility, energy and accessibility challenges in the years ahead.

AI everywhere, but with sharper focus

Artificial intelligence is once again the dominant thread, but the emphasis has shifted. Rather than generic demos, CES 2026 highlights applied AI, including agents, digital twins and on-device intelligence designed to improve business processes, medical workflows and customer experiences.

Chipmakers, platform providers and device manufacturers are all positioning AI as infrastructure rather than novelty. Exhibitors span the full stack, from semiconductor designers to software firms embedding AI directly into consumer devices. The message is consistent. AI is no longer confined to the cloud. It is moving closer to the edge, where latency, privacy and efficiency matter.

Digital health moves from promise to practice

Digital health is another major pillar. CES 2026 brings together wearables companies, telehealth platforms, robotics firms and healthcare providers under one roof. The focus is on measurable outcomes, from continuous health monitoring to AI-assisted diagnostics and remote care models that can scale without overwhelming clinicians.

Sessions and showcases highlight how data from wearables and connected devices is being integrated into clinical decision-making, while exhibitors present tools aimed at prevention, early detection and personalised treatment. Women’s health and accessibility feature prominently, reflecting growing recognition that past health technology has often failed to serve broad populations.

Energy, enterprise and the cost of compute

Behind the consumer-facing excitement sits a harder constraint: energy. As AI, cloud and high-performance computing drive demand, CES 2026 puts renewed emphasis on power generation, storage and efficiency. Solar, wind, nuclear and alternative battery technologies are all represented, alongside discussions on smarter grids and sustainable data centres.

Enterprise technology follows a similar theme. Automation, safety and resilience are framed as board-level priorities rather than IT upgrades. From industrial robotics to spatial computing, exhibitors are pitching systems designed to work together rather than stand alone, reflecting tighter budgets and tougher expectations from buyers.

Mobility beyond the car

Mobility at CES has long outgrown the private car, and 2026 is no exception. The show spans air, land and sea, with innovation across agriculture, construction, logistics and marine sectors. Automation, connectivity and electrification dominate, but the narrative has matured. The question is no longer whether systems can operate autonomously, but how they integrate safely with existing infrastructure and regulations.

Agricultural robots, self-driving tractors and micromobility solutions share space with passenger vehicles, underscoring how mobility technology is increasingly about productivity and sustainability as much as transport.

Robotics steps into everyday life

Robotics is another area where CES 2026 reflects a shift from spectacle to deployment. Home robots, warehouse systems and assistive devices are pitched as tools to improve efficiency, safety and accessibility. Several exhibitors are focused on ageing populations and labour shortages, positioning robots as practical supplements rather than replacements for human work.

This pragmatic framing mirrors broader industry sentiment. Investors and customers alike are looking for robots that solve specific problems, not general-purpose machines searching for a role.

A heavyweight keynote line-up

CES 2026’s influence is reinforced by its keynote schedule. Executives from semiconductor giants, industrial leaders and global brands are using the stage to set strategy as much as showcase products. Speakers include leaders from AMD, Siemens, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Lenovo, alongside voices from sport, manufacturing and retail.

The mix reflects CES’s dual identity. It is both a launchpad for consumer technology and a forum where governments, corporations and investors debate the direction of the digital economy.

Policy, accessibility and the public interest

Unlike many tech events, CES also devotes substantial space to policy and accessibility. The Innovation Policy Summit brings together lawmakers and regulators to discuss privacy, trade, competition and autonomy. With AI and automation reshaping labour markets and information flows, these sessions are no longer side shows.

Accessibility is another expanding track. Dedicated stages and sessions highlight assistive technologies, inclusive design and the role of AI in widening access to services. The underlying message is that innovation is increasingly judged not only on capability, but on who benefits from it.

Creators, startups and the deal-making engine

Beyond keynotes and conference sessions, CES remains a marketplace. The Creator Space reflects the growing economic power of creators, while Eureka Park continues to act as a launchpad for startups seeking visibility and partnerships.

New this year is CES Foundry at Fontainebleau, a venue focused on AI and quantum technologies. By bringing entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers together in a more curated environment, organisers are betting that deeper conversations will translate into faster commercialisation.

C Space at ARIA, Cosmopolitan and Vdara reinforces CES’s role as a meeting point for brands, media companies and advertisers, where distribution deals and partnerships are negotiated alongside discussions on changing audience behaviour.

Media days and the battle for attention

CES officially opens on 6 January, but the news cycle starts earlier with two days of media-only events. Press conferences from major manufacturers and curated showcases such as CES Unveiled are designed to cut through the noise of a crowded show floor.

For exhibitors, the challenge is no longer simply launching a product. It is framing a story that resonates in an environment saturated with announcements about AI, automation and sustainability.

Why CES still matters

After years of questions about relevance, CES has reasserted its role as a barometer for the technology industry. It is not the place to find finished answers. It is where competing visions collide, partnerships are formed and narratives for the year ahead take shape.

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CES 2026 reflects an industry under pressure to deliver tangible value. AI must move beyond hype. Digital health must prove outcomes. Energy systems must scale. Robotics must work reliably. The sheer breadth of the show highlights how interconnected these challenges have become.

For all its spectacle, CES remains a practical event. Deals are signed. Supply chains are negotiated. Strategies are tested against peers and rivals. That is why, year after year, innovators keep showing up in Las Vegas.