Before the pandemic, the Consumer Electronics Show brought in crowds of nearly 200,000—since then, it has struggled to reach the same numbers.
Key Details
- Attendance at CES 2023 was higher than projected numbers, with nearly 115,000 attendees arriving.
- This year’s event featured 3,200 tech displays and 200 conference sessions available to guests.
- Before the event, the Consumer Technology Association, which organizes the event, estimated that attendance would be around 100,000.
- Crowds peaked at CES 2019 when more than 182,000 people attended the show.
Why it’s news
CES has been essential in the technology industry for over 50 years. At this event, consumers glimpsed brand-new products in the works, and industry insiders learned what trends would likely dominate the market in the coming year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CES struggled to maintain the same attendance numbers it had drawn in previous years. January 2020 was the last time the show brought in massive numbers—around 171,000. The following year, however, event organizers were forced to take the show virtual as concerns about the Omnicron varient caused many companies to withdraw from the in-person event.
In 2022, the show saw some of the lowest attendance numbers in decades—bringing in only 45,000 people. Many companies chose not to have in-person displays at the event and opted for online options instead.
CES’s high attendance rate this year surprised event organizers, who expected around 100,000 attendees. The crowds of approximately 115,000 are a signal that CES is making a comeback.
Backing up a bit
This year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas unveiled several new technologies, including robotics, virtual reality, and AI advancements.
The CES is an opportunity for companies to showcase their latest technologies and give consumers a glimpse into what the companies will be working on in the future.
New gadgets covered a range of categories, including self-driving strollers, electric boats, and stationary bike desks that charge your laptop.
Virtual reality gadgets were one focus of the event, though real-world tools like the self-driving stroller still captivated audiences. Some of the devices displayed are just concepts or ideas that may never come to fruition, but the show still gives attendees a glimpse at what is possible.
