If there is an overarching theme to CES 2026, it’s AI, which will weave itself into every product, conversation, or prognostication about the future of consumer electronics, but it will be far from the only story at what’s expected to be the world’s largest technology trade show.
If the recent past, where CES 2025 pulled in 142,4654 attendees and 4,500 exhibitors, is prologue, we expect this year’s event, which runs January 4-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to host thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees.
They’ll arrive at a convention center that was expanded in recent years and underwent another major upgrade last year during the event. This year, we’ll see the fruits of that labor and expanded passageways that hopefully help us all digest this monumental show.
The iconic Sphere will also once again play a role. Last year, it hosted Delta’s impressive 100-year celebration and innovation update. This year, Lenovo takes the stage to showcase updates in PCs and mobile (via Motorola) and is expected to follow with a performance by Gwen Stefani.
As for what attendees will see through the main show. Well, leaving aside AI this and AI that, there’ll be clusters around:
- Health and Longevity
- Mobility and transportation
- PCs and chips
- TVs and Display Tech
- Smart home
- Food Tech
- Entertainment
- Robotics
- Startups
- More AI
A mix of new and familiar
In some ways, the story this year is the same as the dozens that have come before it. CES is a mix of consumer-facing products, business, and even enterprise solutions. It covers the 4K and 8K TVs you’ll put in your home next year, the laptops you’ll take to school, the LED facemask you’ll wear to look younger, the translation device you’ll wear on your face to seem smarter, and the exoskeleton you’ll wear on your body to walk further.
While many of the products will be somewhat familiar from previous events, many will now be infused with AI to make them more intelligent and maybe more useful.
Wearable AI should be a significant trend, with AI and AR Glasses and AI chatbots likely showing up in other wearable options.
There will be a wide range of audio products from all the major players, in all the most recognizable form factors, from speakers and sound bars to over-the-ear headphones and earbuds. Yes, some will include AI, and there may be some surprising mashups.
Health and living
CES has long focused on health, wellness, and even beauty, but now it’s codifying around “Longevity,” which is likely a response to the aging population, especially in the US.
Aside from anti-wrinkle masks and exoskeletons, it’s unclear what kinds of products might show up here. Could there be some cognition-enhancing apps, and even robots that can quiz you daily? Maybe.
Mobile technology, including tablets, laptops, e-readers, and phones (though not from the big names like Apple, Samsung, and Google), should be on display with the latest mobile chips and some exciting cameras. We hope, though, to see a fair number of unusual form factors, including more foldable devices.
Similarly, while we expect more consumer and office laptops, CES is often a good place to spot wild flights of design fancy, like roll-out or expandable screens and keyboards.
Big TVs and bigger equipment
Some of the gear at CES gets big. Really big: In the past, we’ve had farming robots from Caterpillar and John Deere. But we’ll also expect smaller worker bots like pool clearers and, of course, so many robot vacuums. We do hope that at least one of them can beat last year’s arm-toting Roborock Saros Z70.
TVs will be bigger and maybe brighter, thanks to Micro RGB LED, and we’ll see even more transparent and flexible displays, but there may not be any major TV updates, and fewer TV manufacturers will be talking about 8K — since there’s still virtually no 8K content.
Speaking of content, Netflix won’t be on the show floor, and we’re not expecting as much star power as in recent years. Perhaps there’s just too much uncertainty about these big media companies (who will gobble who) and how AI will impact the future of content and creativity.
Getting smarter
Smart home technology will be everywhere, though we expect most companies to talk about how their platforms are now supercharged through AI or at least work with the major platforms for easier integration and automation. Perhaps Matter will show us this year how it’s finally achieving its promise.
There will be robots, including humanoids, though no one expects to see 2025 breakout stars, Figure 03 from Figure AI and Neo Beta from X1. Hyundai is expected to show off some mobility robots, and Unitree will again display its G1 and other robot updates.
Also expect untold startups with countless eye-opening and weird ideas in every major category. Many will be impractical or at least not market-ready, but they all point to the future, and that’s why we’re here, isn’t it?
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lance.ulanoff@futurenet.com (Lance Ulanoff)
