After the transitional editions which followed the COVID parenthesis, the CES had to review its copy, the 2026 edition confirms this evolution with fewer consumer gadgets, more heavy industries, embedded AI, robotics, automobiles, energy and critical infrastructure. Changes that we find on the organizational side if we want to make a success of our trip to Las Vegas, because the CES is an extraordinary event, which must not be endured and requires good preparation. If you have decided to make the trip for the first time, here are some recommendations:
Define your goals and make clear choices
Don’t let the scale of the event destabilize you, CES is not a show that you “do” in its entirety. Between the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian, private spaces and off-site events, it will be impossible to see everything.
Before even opening the program, it is essential to formulate your priorities:
- identify industrial or technological partners;
- meet investors or corporate venture arms;
- position an innovation with specific decision-makers;
- observe targeted sectoral trends (automotive, health, industry, AI, energy).
Deliberately limiting yourself to one or two areas allows you to structure a realistic agenda. In 2026, travel times remain a critical factor, as getting from one location to another can take 30 to 45 minutes during the day, more during peak hours.
Effective planning is based on a drastic selection of conferences and areas with high added value, deliberately leaving free time to absorb unforeseen exchanges, which remain one of the main interests of the CES.
Think of CES as an ecosystem, not just an exhibitor park
The official trade fair is only part of the event and many strategic discussions take place outside the halls, in private events, meetings or more confidential formats.
Thematic dinners, sectoral cocktails, demonstrations by invitation, investor-startup meetings: these moments are often more productive than the overcrowded aisles of the show. They allow more direct exchanges, without the constant noise of the show floor.
Upstream, it is recommended to identify:
- events organized by your potential partners;
- recurring sectoral meetings (automotive, AI, semiconductors, retail, health);
- the places where your peers and targets are concentrated.
Social networks, LinkedIn in the lead, remain a good indicator for mapping presences and anticipating points of convergence.
Integrate the reality of the “invisible CES”
As we said previously, an essential part of CES takes place out of sight of the standard visitor. The major industrial decision-makers do not spend their days roaming the stands, some are in fact absent as exhibitors, but hold meetings in private suites at the Venetian, the Wynn, the MGM, the Westgate or on the Strip.
This is where partnerships are negotiated, or technological roadmaps, component contracts or software integrations are discussed. With the rise of industrial AI and complex value chains, off-line conversations will be fueled.
If these actors are part of your target, it is essential to:
- contact them several weeks in advance;
- offer short and precise meeting formats;
- consider, if the budget allows, the sharing of a private space with other complementary actors.
In some cases, a well-located suite and a controlled agenda generate more value than a classic stand lost in the crowd.
Create experiences adapted to the CES context
CES remains an exceptional event, and participants expect to go beyond the usual framework. For an exhibitor or an actor in a business meeting, this is an opportunity to be carefully exploited. No need to multiply spectacular effects, it is better to offer experiences consistent with your objectives:
- a restricted dinner to consolidate a strategic relationship;
- a private demonstration for a key prospect;
- an informal moment to trigger a substantive discussion.
Las Vegas offers a particularly favorable setting for this type of approach, provided you anticipate. Reservations, invitations and logistics must be settled before the show opens.
Finally, the CES remains an intensive exercise in professional sociability. Engage in conversation, contextualize what you say, listen as well as present, skills that often make the difference in an environment saturated with messages.
Structure monitoring rigorously
CES doesn’t stop when the doors close, and post-event follow-up is often the deciding factor between a promising contact and a lost opportunity.
A few days after the show, it is recommended to:
- systematically recontact the people you meet, with a contextualized message;
- formalize the points raised and the next steps;
- organize clear follow-up over time, including in the event of no immediate response.
Professional networks, notably LinkedIn, usefully complement these exchanges. Not all contacts will be successful, but a rigorous process allows you to maximize the return on investment of the trip.
Enjoy your stay in Las Vegas, and find the highlights of CES 2026 all week on FW.media
