The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is returning to Las Vegas after an all-online exhibition in 2021.
With an announcement on Wednesday, the Consumer Technology Association made it official. The next CES will be held from January 5–8, 2022, with media days on January 3–4. According to the CTA, a quadruple-digit number of companies, including Amazon, Sony, and Lenovo, have committed to showcasing their upcoming products at the event, which is a positive sign given the online show’s relatively limited selection in 2021.
CES could return to being an in-person event, but the CTA is incorporating some of this year’s online energy into next year’s event. Some keynotes and announcements will be streamed live to viewers at home, which is a godsend for both average people curious about what’s coming in tech and media representatives who may not feel comfortable attending a conference in January.
You may be wondering how an in-person CES would function while maintaining COVID protection. Even with recent concerns regarding vaccine hesitancy, more than half of all adults in the United States have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and that figure is only expected to rise between now and January. Even so, precautions could be needed by then. Here’s what the CTA had to say about it in its entirety:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for coronavirus protection measures, as well as state and local guidelines, will be reviewed by CTA. CTA will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, modifying CES plans as required, and informing its audiences of any changes.
In other words, we have no idea how COVID would impact CES 2022 in-person attendance. Attendees will be required to wear masks. Perhaps they won’t. It’s possible that attendance will be limited at a lower level than average, but it’s also possible that it won’t. It’s a precarious situation. Regardless, if you missed spending a few sleepless nights in Vegas in January of this year, you can look forward to doing so again next year.
