First-Time Exhibitor's Guide to CES: What to Know Before You Book Space
FEATURED
7/6/20264 min read
CES 2027 runs January 6–9 in Las Vegas. If you've exhibited at other tradeshows before but never at CES, some of what you know will transfer — and some of it won't. The scale, the cost structure, and the audience expectations are different enough that it's worth going in with a clear picture before you commit to floor space.
Here's what you need to know.
CES moves faster than most exhibitors expect. If you're targeting CES 2027 in January, here's where you should be:
Now (mid-2026):
Confirm CTA membership and apply for exhibit space. Brief your exhibit design and fabrication partner. Hotel booking should already be underway.
August–September 2026:
Exhibit design finalized. Production begins. Shipping deadlines from your fabricator should be on your calendar.
October–November 2026:
Materials shipped to the advance warehouse. Exhibitor personnel registration completed through the Exhibitor Dashboard.
December 2026:
Final logistics confirmed. On-site setup runs January 3–5 before the show opens January 6.
The earlier you start, the more options you have — on location, on design, and on cost.
Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images
What CES Actually Is
CES is a trade-only event, not open to the general public. The 140,000+ attendees walking the floor are tech industry professionals: C-suite executives, engineers, investors, media, and buyers who are there to evaluate products and make decisions. At CES 2025, 305 Fortune 500 companies attended, and 53% of attendees held senior-level positions. The media footprint is equally significant: 6,900+ global press and content creators produced over 254,000 published articles from the show.
The audience is sophisticated and fast-moving. They've seen a lot. Your exhibit needs to earn their stop.
Photo: Courtesy of CZARNOWSKI COLLECTIVE
The Venue Situation
CES spans multiple venues across Las Vegas — the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the Venetian Expo, ARIA, Wynn, Park MGM, and others. Venues are assigned by product category, not by preference. If you're in consumer electronics, you'll likely end up at the LVCC or Venetian. If you're a startup, Eureka Park at the Venetian is your default starting point (more on that below).
This matters for logistics: if your team is split across venues, or if your key press meetings are at a different hotel than your booth, you'll be spending a lot of time on the CES shuttle. Build that into your schedule.
Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Tew/CNET
How to Register as an Exhibitor
Exhibitor space is sold directly through CES. Registration for CES 2027 is currently open.
To exhibit, you must be a member of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) — CES's organizing body. Membership starts at around $1,000 annually for smaller companies and is a prerequisite for securing space. (Source: lasvegastrade.com)
Once you're a CTA member, you apply for exhibit space through the CES exhibitor portal at ces.tech. Returning exhibitors get first pick of floor space, so as a first-timer, apply early to maximize your location options.
→ Start here: ces.tech/exhibitor-sales/ces-exhibit
If You're a Startup: Start in Eureka Park
Eureka Park is CES's dedicated startup pavilion, located in the Venetian Expo. It offers subsidized space and turnkey booth packages starting around $1,000 for qualified companies — a significantly lower barrier to entry than the main show floor.
Eureka Park also gets strong media attention. Journalists specifically walk the pavilion looking for emerging companies and new technologies. If you're testing CES for the first time and your budget is limited, this is the right place to start.
Apply directly through the CES startup program at ces.tech.
What the CES Audience Expects from an Exhibit
This is where CES differs most from other tradeshows. The audience is tech-forward by default. They expect interactive experiences, live demos, touchscreens, and a clear product story they can absorb quickly. A booth that relies on printed banners and brochures will read as unprepared in this environment.
Think about what your exhibit looks like on camera as much as in person. With 6,900+ media on-site, a demo-worthy moment and a visually distinct setup can generate press coverage worth multiples of your booth investment. Design for the photo as well as the conversation.
Photo: Courtesy of Exhibitor Online
The Timeline
Ready to Exhibit at CES?
VBRANDIN designs and fabricates exhibits for consumer technology brands at CES and major shows across 50+ countries. If CES 2027 is on your calendar and you're working through the brief, we'd love to hear about it. [Get in touch →]
VBRANDIN is a global tradeshow and events company headquartered in Las Vegas and Guangzhou, with offices and production capabilities across 50+ countries.
Photo: Courtesy of Ethan Miller/Getty Images
