CES 2026: My wishlist and what will grab the spotlight at the world’s biggest tech show in Las Vegas

It’s CES all over again, and as a tech journalist, there’s nothing more exciting than attending the world’s biggest tech show. CES was the first major tech event I attended when I joined the industry, and as a ritual, I will once again be in Las Vegas, running from one corner of the city to another to attend press shows before the main event opens on January 6.

For the past few years, and I admit this with utmost confidence, CES has been losing its relevance. But last year, the world’s biggest and buzziest tech show was revived, giving journalists like us a reason to stay stationed in Vegas for well over a week and to meet insiders and industry executives I would call the real change-makers.

This year, in particular, I am excited about what I have been hearing internally, as well as the things I least expect but could be of interest to consumers. Not everything showcased at CES eventually makes it to the market, but the show offers a clear sense of where the consumer tech industry is headed throughout the year.

Here’s my wish list and expectations from CES, which kicks off on January 6 and ends on January 9: Sure, AI is a headline-grabber, and we have had enough of artificial intelligence (pun intended), but I don’t think the hype will die down anytime soon. In fact, AI will be present at the infrastructure level, deeply embedded in chips, operating systems, sensors, and even the backend. A major focus at CES this year (and I can say this with 100 per cent certainty) is how on-device AI will be everywhere.A few years ago, at a Qualcomm event in Hawaii, I experienced on-device AI on a phone, and I was pretty impressed by the demo. While the on-device AI dream isn’t fully realised yet, it has clear benefits, including privacy, low latency, and offline reliability, opening a market for a new type of product.

Sony’s AIbo is a puppy-sized, AI-infused robot that packs with an array of sensors, cameras, microphones and internet connectivity. (Image credit: Sony)

I wouldn’t be lying if I said I am excited about the robotics space, especially what’s coming into our homes. CES is one place where home robots and humanoids will have a sizeable presence, and I am pumped to see them in person. There’s already a massive wave of ‘humanoids’ in China right now, and for good reason. I believe many more companies and startups will showcase robotics of all types at CES, especially humanoid robots. The reason robotics as a category is suddenly gaining momentum is the convergence of AI, robotics, and IoT. We have already seen robotic vacuum cleaners and mops, but what’s coming next will be practical robots designed to excel at specific tasks. However, one pertinent question around privacy and safety remains.

For years, the concept of a smart home may have looked promising on paper, but its practicality has always been questioned. That, however, may be about to change, with smart homes becoming far more intelligent. At CES, I predict we will see home devices respond to natural commands and use AI to understand users’ moods and activities better. For example, a smart fridge could recommend breakfast ideas on weekends, or lighting could automatically adapt during yoga sessions. While brands will undoubtedly market everything as “AI-powered,” I expect much of the real innovation to come from advances in sensors. The focus will be on smart devices that can run homes more autonomously, reducing the need for manual input.

Samsung has already announced its new lineup of TVs ahead of CES 2026. (Image credit: Samsung)

Ever since I started covering CES, televisions have always grabbed eyeballs at the Las Vegas show. Massive TVs and features such as transparent screens, along with concept and prototype models, have consistently captured my imagination. CES 2026 will be no different. This time, I predict the real innovation will come from display technologies that deliver better visuals and meaningful features, not just at the high end of the market, but also in the mid-range and affordable segments. From brighter OLED panels to advances in micro-LED backlighting, I am far more interested in practical use cases and genuinely improved displays than in admiring invisible TV, to be honest.

I am also excited about the scope of innovation coming in smart glasses. The Meta Ray-Ban Display were a great prototype smart glasses, and I hope what others are doing in this space. CES 2026 is the best place to showcase concept devices and early prototypes. Expect many companies to launch new smart glasses with diverse features and use cases.

Another area that’s improving rapidly is wearables and health. While the world has moved mainly beyond basic smartwatches, last year was all about discreet fitness bands focused on continuous monitoring and early detection. This year, I am looking forward to modular designs and devices that combine new health sensors with AI and layered services to enable deeper, more meaningful health monitoring.

New laptops are also coming to the market, and CES 2026 will be the launch pad. I am looking forward to experiencing PCs powered by Intel’s Panther Lake, Qualcomm’s X2, and AMD processors on the show floor. All major PC makers will be present.