The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has long been where hardware reveals meet the business of storytelling and audience attention. For industry executives, marketers and creators making the trip in January 2026, the week is as much about curated, sector-specific gatherings as it is about exhibition halls , a concentrated schedule of panels, salons and invite-only suites that map where media, advertising, streaming and creator economics are moving next. According to the original report, this short guide highlights the must-attend content and meeting rooms that matter. [1]
Kicking off the week is Digital Hollywood at CES on January 5 at the ARIA Resort & Casino, an event included with a CES badge but requiring registration. The programme foregrounds AI’s impact on film and television and the economics of the creator ecosystem; one highlighted session, "The Creator Economy & Unique Vision: Algos, Analytics & Monetization," runs 1:00–1:40pm PT and features industry figures including Adrienne Lahens and Julia Moonves. The forum is positioned as the practical starting point for anyone tracking how platform-driven creators are reshaping traditional entertainment. [1][2]
Brand-side strategists will find the Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Summit , running January 5–8 at the ARIA , especially useful. The multi-day agenda revisits themes central to contemporary marketing: AI-driven campaigns, attention modelling and data-led creativity, building on lessons preached at prior editions about emotional connection at scale and "AI for Good" approaches. For CMOs and head-of-marketing attendees, it’s designed as a concentrated leadership programme rather than a product fair. [1][3]
Future Decoded, presented by MediaLink and UTA and scheduled for January 6 at the ARIA C Space, remains one of CES’s anchor conferences. Industry leaders from platforms, agencies and measurement firms gather to debate where data, creativity and marketing transformation intersect; organisers and past line-ups position it as one of the highest-calibre content programmes available during CES week. Expect strategy-level conversation about measurement, monetisation and the shifting role of creative in an AI-enabled marketplace. [1][4]
For a more relaxed but content-rich presence, ADWEEK House (January 6–8 at the ARIA Orovada Rooms) serves as a clubhouse for commerce media and creator/brand partnerships, offering programming alongside workspace and informal networking. Nearby, Mediaocean’s Ski Lodge at The Cosmopolitan (January 6–8) provides an invite-focused setting with curated talks and a standout fireside chat on January 7 featuring Ari Paparo, Brian O’Kelley and Bill Wise , useful for senior buyers and technologists looking for candid conversations away from exhibition noise. [1][5][6]
The calendar also includes the Variety Entertainment Summit on January 7, which convenes executives from Netflix, Disney, NBCU, TelevisaUnivision and Vizio to discuss the "new business of entertainment" , streaming economics, ad formats and audience fragmentation , while smaller, high-value social gatherings such as the TiVo + Comscore Neon Noir happy hour and Shelly Palmer’s succinct industry briefing give attendees efficient ways to absorb signals and connect with measurement and CTV insiders. For those focused on deals and product discussions, booking meetings with companies running dedicated suites , from Chase Media Solutions and Equativ to Amagi, Stingray and iSpot , is where conversations about retail media, FAST channels, music-driven ad strategies and cross-platform attribution happen. [1][7]
Official CES panels on streaming and CTV remain complementary to the private programmes, with sessions on standards in viewing and the personalization of entertainment via AI appearing across the CES schedule. Industry data shows the week functions as both a marketplace for vendor announcements and a rare concentration of senior commercial and creative decision-makers; attendees should plan a mix of public sessions, invitation-only events and booked meetings to maximise value. Registration is required for many sessions and many hospitality programmes are invite-only, so rationalising objectives before arrival will pay dividends. [1]
##Reference Map:
- [1] (Uproxx) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 5, Paragraph 6, Paragraph 7
- [2] (Digital Hollywood) - Paragraph 2
- [3] (Brand Innovators) - Paragraph 3
- [4] (Future Decoded / UTA) - Paragraph 4
- [5] (Adweek Events) - Paragraph 5
- [6] (Mediaocean) - Paragraph 5
- [7] (Variety Events) - Paragraph 6
Source: Noah Wire Services