Registration for CES 2027 is officially open. The show runs from 6 to 9 January 2027 in Las Vegas, and if you’re in the tech industry, that date should already be circled on your calendar. After attending CES around eight times over more than a decade, I can tell you with complete confidence: this is the one show where the scale, the access, and the sheer concentration of what’s happening in technology genuinely justifies the trip. With over 4,100 exhibiting companies and roughly 148,000 trade visitors expected, CES 2027 is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.
What You Need to Know Before You Register
First things first: CES is not a public event. You need to demonstrate a genuine affiliation with the consumer technology industry to get through the door. That means a verifiable company, an active website that clearly shows what you do, and credentials that check out. The Consumer Technology Association takes this seriously, and registration can be rejected if things don’t add up. Also worth knowing: Maritz is the only official registration vendor for CES 2027. There are scam services out there that will happily take your money for nothing. Go directly to ces.tech and nowhere else.
On pricing, it’s worth being clear. Registration is not free across the board. The Standard Pass gives you access to the exhibit floors, keynotes, and select programming. If you’re a verified journalist or credentialled media creator, your registration is free through the media portal, and that’s what I use. For everyone else, pass costs vary depending on what you need, and early-bird pricing is typically available until around October. After that, prices jump sharply in November and December. Register now, pay less. It really is that simple. Head to ces.tech for confirmed 2027 pricing, as official GBP figures aren’t yet published.
For anyone travelling from the UK, it’s also worth double-checking your visa situation before you commit. A US ESTA is standard for most British passport holders, but CES does flag that international attendees should review requirements before registering.
Why I Cannot Recommend This Show Highly Enough
I’ve written before about how CES predictions play out in the real world , and the honest answer is that for all the hype that surrounds individual products, the show itself consistently delivers. Walking the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian Expo, and Aria in a single week gives you a view of the tech landscape that no amount of reading or watching videos at home can replicate. You see where the industry is actually heading, not where the press releases say it’s heading.
If you’re in tech, whether you’re a developer, a product manager, a journalist, a startup founder, or someone who works in the supply chain, CES gives you competitive intelligence, face-to-face access to companies you’d normally only email, and the kind of conversations that genuinely change how you think about your work. I’ve come back from the show with ideas and contacts that shaped months of work. It’s a proper investment in staying sharp. The UK presence at CES has also grown significantly , which makes it an even more relevant trip if you’re building something here.
Sort Your Hotel and Flights Now, Not Later
This is the part where I’ll be firm with you: do not leave accommodation until December. CES week is the single highest-demand week of the Las Vegas hotel year. Rooms near the main venues sell out months in advance and prices at that point are painful.
The Venetian is the standout choice if you want CES on your doorstep. The Venetian Expo is one of the official show venues, so you can walk from your room to the show floor without stepping outside. For the full experience with convenient access, nothing beats it.
If you want a mix of the show and Las Vegas nightlife, hotels like the Bellagio and Planet Hollywood are options worth considering. They’re Strip hotels though, not close to the convention venues, so factor in travel time and rideshare costs each day. It’s a genuine trade-off. Great for evenings, less convenient for mornings when you’re trying to make a 9am keynote. I’ve done both approaches over the years and the right answer depends entirely on what you want from the trip.
For flights, CES has partner airline deals with carriers including Southwest and Delta. Book as soon as your dates are confirmed. January transatlantic fares climb steadily from now onwards, and by November you’ll be paying significantly more for the same seat. I fly from Heathrow or Gatwick depending on the deal, and getting in a day early to shake off the jet lag before the show starts is genuinely worth it. There’s more detail on organising the trip from the UK here if you need it.
onPeak is the only official housing agent for CES 2027, so use them for any CES hotel bookings to avoid third-party markups or scams.
My Verdict
If you work in tech and you’ve never been to CES, this is the year to fix that. I’ve been going for over a decade and I still find it genuinely energising. Yes, it’s expensive once you factor in flights, hotels, and the pass itself. Yes, Las Vegas in January is a bit of a sensory overload. But the return on that investment, in terms of knowledge, contacts, and perspective, is real. Register now while early-bird pricing holds, book your hotel this week, and sort your flights before the autumn is out.
What to Do Right Now
Go to ces.tech , verify your eligibility, and register today. Then open a new tab and book your hotel. The Venetian if convenience is your priority, a Strip hotel if nightlife matters more. Either way, do it now rather than in three months when your options will cost twice as much.
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