The big ZDNET guide to CES 2024: when, what, where and how

The annual technology fair, CES, is back next week, from Tuesday, January 9 to Friday, January 12. This new edition promises impressive technological revelations. As a preparation, let’s take a closer look at what exactly CES is, where it takes place and who can attend.

What is the CES?

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a large-scale annual event during which some of the manufacturers and innovators of the world of technology present their latest novelties. The show started in 1967 in New York and was held twice a year until the late 1990s. In recent years, the show, once ephemeral, has moved to Las Vegas, usually at the Las Vegas Convention Center and other nearby hotels.

The breakdown during Covid-19

The only interruption in this long series of fairs occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, since CES 2021 was held for the first time in its history in the form of an exclusively digital event. CES 2020 took place a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the world and was a successful event with about 140,000 participants.

The event became a physical event again in 2022. But concerns over rising COVID-19 infection rates led many exhibitors to cancel their attendance at the event, which ended a day earlier than originally planned. CES 2022 welcomed only 45,000 participants, a striking contrast compared to the pre-pandemic era.

Return to normal in 2023

In 2023, CES reached its full capacity, hosting major announcements from companies such as Samsung, Acer, Asus, HTC, Lenovo, and many others. CES 2023 welcomed approximately 115,000 participants and vendors from 174 countries, spread over 41 distinct technology zones.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) plans to welcome about 130,000 people for CES 2024.

The West Hall of the CES during the previous year’s convention. CTA

Where will CES 2024 take place?

CES 2024 will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian Expo and the Aria Resort & Casino. The CTA offers free transportation from select participating Las Vegas hotels via the Tech Express and C Space shuttles.

Technology companies also organize exclusive meetings in the suites of various hotels during CES, but these meetings in hotel rooms are usually reserved for members of the press.

CNET/Sarah Tew

When will CES 2024 take place?

CES 2024 officially takes place from Tuesday, January 9 to Friday, January 12. On January 7 and 8, there will be two press days, open exclusively to members of the press.

You can expect many exhibitors to make most of their announcements when the show opens on Tuesday.

Is CES 2024 open to the public?

No, the CES is not open to the public. The CTA describes the CES as an “event reserved for people aged 18 or over and affiliated with the consumer technology industry”.

All participants must belong to one of the following three categories :

industry participants
media
exhibitors

Participants must prove that they belong to one of these categories. Proof of eligibility can be a business card or proof of employment in an eligible company for industry participants, a list of published articles for a media participant, or other forms of proof.

All the details concerning the eligible persons and how they can prove their eligibility are available on the CES registration page.

RYO Alexander / Shutterstock

Is it difficult to get into CES?

The difficulty of accessing CES depends on whether or not you are employed by an industry player, whether it is an exhibitor, an industry company or a media outlet.

For those who do not belong to any of the aforementioned categories, it is still possible to attend CES if the person in question is at least related to the consumer electronics sector in some way.

This connection can be as vague as having been cited in an article on the field of technology or verifying that the person has been cited as an “industry professional” in the past year.

This is just a small sample of this year’s exhibitors. THESE

Who is participating in CES 2024?

Although the list of CES exhibitors is too long to be included here, the CTA has 311 Fortune Global 500 companies and 38 of the world’s largest suppliers registered to participate in the event. The CES offers a complete directory of exhibitors on its website.

Most of the large consumer electronics companies participating in CES are presenting new technologies and new products, but even some companies that are not launching new products will be present.

CES 2024 will host chip manufacturers such as Intel, AMD and Nvidia, mobile and home electronics companies such as Samsung, Google, LG and Amazon, PC manufacturers such as Asus and HP, and even many car manufacturers such as BMW.

How much are the tickets for CES 2024?

As mentioned above, registration for any CES 2024 ticket has specific eligibility requirements. If you are eligible, there are two levels of tickets:

The Exhibits Plus Pass – $350: includes everything included in the Digital-Only pass, as well as access to all CES face-to-face programs. Face-to-face access includes the exhibition hall, the opening speeches, the “Great Minds” sessions and some conference programs.
The Pass Deluxe – $1,700: This pass includes everything included in the Exhibits Plus pass, as well as four days of CES conference programming, including more than 100 sessions, and all the partners’ programming.

Registrants can also add certain additional passes on the CTA website, such as show visits, individual conferences, and obtain the Inside CES 2024: Trends and Takeaways report.

Source: “ZDNet.com “