CES 2027 Registration Is Open. Is Your Exhibit Ready?
CES 2027 registration is officially open. And with the show less than four months away, January will be here before you know it.
CES 2027 takes place January 6–9, 2027, in Las Vegas, bringing together some of the world’s biggest brands, emerging innovators, technology leaders, decision-makers and media.
For exhibitors, though, registering is only one item on a much bigger CES checklist.
If your brand is exhibiting at CES 2027 and your booth plans aren’t finalized, September is the time to get moving.
Whether you’re building a new custom exhibit, refreshing an existing booth or looking for a new exhibit partner to bring everything together, the decisions you make now can set the stage for a much smoother path to show open.
Is It Too Late to Start Planning for CES 2027?
Not necessarily, but now is the time to get moving.
With CES less than four months away, what’s realistic will depend on the size, complexity and current status of your exhibit program.
A completely new custom exhibit requires a different timeline than refreshing an existing booth, updating graphics or adapting current assets for a new footprint. That’s why one of the most valuable things exhibitors can do in September is define the scope of the project and start conversations with potential exhibit partners.
The sooner your team aligns on your goals, budget, booth space and creative direction, the more options you’ll have as the show approaches.
And at a show as competitive as CES, those decisions matter.
Your exhibit isn’t just a physical space. It’s where prospects experience your brand, products come to life, conversations happen and months of pre-show marketing turn into face-to-face opportunities.
What Should CES 2027 Exhibitors Be Planning Right Now?
If CES is on your 2027 trade show calendar, here are five areas your team should be thinking about now.
1. Start With What You Need Your CES Exhibit to Accomplish
Before jumping into booth design, define what success looks like.
Are you launching a new product? Generating qualified leads? Scheduling meetings with customers and prospects? Hosting live demonstrations? Creating media opportunities? Building brand awareness?
Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above.
Your objectives should help determine how the space is designed and where you invest your budget.
A CES booth designed primarily for product demonstrations should function differently from one focused on private meetings. A brand introducing something new may prioritize visibility and storytelling, while another may need hospitality space for conversations with existing customers.
Start with the outcome, then design the experience around it.
2. Design for the Person Walking the Show Floor
CES attendees are surrounded by competing brands, screens, demonstrations and messages.
Your exhibit needs to communicate quickly.
Someone approaching your booth should be able to understand:
Who are you? What do you do? Why should I stop?
That doesn’t necessarily mean making your exhibit louder or adding more technology. It means being intentional about hierarchy, messaging, sightlines, traffic flow and the overall attendee journey.
Strong CES exhibit design balances impact with function.
Think about what attendees see from the aisle, what draws them into the space and what you want them to do once they’re there.
3. Think Beyond the Booth Structure
Your CES presence is more than walls, counters and graphics.
It’s a brand experience.
Depending on your objectives, that experience might incorporate:
- Product demonstrations and displays
- Interactive technology
- LED and digital content
- Experiential activations
- Meeting and hospitality spaces
- Lead capture
- Branded giveaways or sampling
- Photography and video opportunities
- Pre-show and post-show marketing
The key isn’t adding more for the sake of adding more. Every element should have a reason for being there and support the experience you’re trying to create.
4. Don’t Forget What Happens Behind the Scenes
The attendee sees the finished exhibit.
Your exhibit partner sees everything required to get it there.
CES planning can involve exhibit engineering and fabrication, graphics, shipping, material handling, electrical, installation and dismantle, show services, storage, labor coordination and on-site support.
These operational details may not be the exciting part of planning your CES presence, but they’re critical to executing it successfully.
Working with a partner that can connect strategy, creative, production and logistics can also reduce the number of moving pieces your internal team has to manage.
5. Think Beyond CES
Before investing in a booth solely for one week in Las Vegas, ask another question:
Where else could these assets work?
If CES is part of a larger trade show program, your exhibit can be designed with future shows in mind.
Modular components, adaptable graphics and flexible configurations can allow elements to be reconfigured for different footprints throughout the year.
Instead of thinking about a CES booth, think about building a trade show program that starts with CES.
That shift can create greater consistency across events and help you get more long-term value from your exhibit investment.
What Should You Look for in a CES Exhibit Partner?
The right CES exhibit partner should understand more than how to build a booth.
Look for a team that asks questions about your business objectives, audience, brand, show strategy and larger event program before jumping to a design solution.
Your exhibit partner should also be able to help connect the creative vision with the operational realities of bringing it to life.
At MSM Inc., that’s how we approach trade shows.
We’re a woman-owned, WBENC-certified experiential and exhibit agency that brings strategy, creative, exhibit design, graphic design, fabrication, production and program management together under one roof.
From custom exhibits and portable programs to experiential activations and branded environments, our team creates experiences that are designed to look great and work hard for the brands behind them.
Because the best booth isn’t simply the one that gets attention.
It’s the one that helps accomplish what you came to the show to do.
Not sure where to start with your exhibit planning? Try our guided project kickoff.
CES 2027 Exhibitor Planning: Frequently Asked Questions
- When is CES 2027?
- CES 2027 takes place January 6–9, 2027, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Is CES 2027 registration open?
- Yes. CES 2027 registration is now open. Exhibitors and attendees can visit the official CES website for current registration information, deadlines and event details.
- When should I start planning my CES 2027 booth?
- As soon as possible. By mid-September, CES is less than four months away. Your ideal timeline depends on the size and complexity of your exhibit, whether you’re starting from scratch and how much custom fabrication is required.
- If your plans aren’t finalized, that doesn’t automatically mean you’re too late. It does mean it’s a good time to determine what’s realistic and get your project moving.
- Is September too late to find a CES exhibit partner?
- Not necessarily. The answer depends on your booth size, design requirements, existing assets and production needs. An experienced exhibit partner can evaluate where your project currently stands and help determine the best path forward.
- What should be included in a CES exhibit plan?
- A comprehensive CES exhibit plan can include:
- Business objectives and KPIs
- Budget and booth footprint
- Exhibit strategy and design
- Brand messaging and graphics
- Product displays and demonstrations
- Technology and interactive experiences
- Meeting and hospitality needs
- Lead capture
- Shipping and logistics
- Show services
- Installation and dismantle
- On-site support
- Post-show asset strategy
- A comprehensive CES exhibit plan can include:
- How can I get more value from my CES exhibit investment?
- Consider how the exhibit and its individual components can support your broader trade show calendar. Designing with modularity, reuse and multiple booth configurations in mind can help extend the value of your assets beyond CES.
CES Is Coming. Let’s Start Planning.
CES is where some of the world’s most innovative companies go to show what’s next.
The experience surrounding your brand should feel just as forward-thinking.
If you’re exhibiting at CES 2027 and still finalizing your plans, you don’t need to have every answer before reaching out.
That’s exactly why we created MSM’s Guided Project Kickoff.
Tell us what you know so far, including your show, booth size, goals, budget, challenges and vision. Our team can take it from there and help determine the right next step.
CES 2027 is less than four months away. Let’s make those months count.
Ready to Get Started?
Complete MSM’s Guided Project Kickoff to tell us about your project and start the conversation.