CES 2027: The After-Parties Worth Your Badge
Jonathan Barlow
The Reality
CES attracts 100,000+ attendees to Las Vegas every January. The expo floor is overwhelming — miles of booths, demos, and press conferences. But the deals, the connections, and the ideas that actually move the industry happen at dinner, at after-parties, and in hotel lobby bars at 1 AM.
The Events Worth Attending
Showstoppers
The press event that feels like a party. Curated exhibitors, open bar, and a crowd of journalists, analysts, and executives. This is where startups get their first coverage.
CTA After-Party
The Consumer Technology Association's official party is invitation-based but worth the effort. The venue changes yearly — past locations include Drai's, Hakkasan, and the Brooklyn Bowl.
DigitalMedia Summit
Smaller, more focused, and the networking density is unmatched. Media executives, content creators, and platform leaders in one room.
The Restaurants
How to Do CES Right
1. Skip the keynotes. Watch them later. 2. Book dinners, not booth tours. 3. Stay at the Wynn or Encore — walkable to everything that matters. 4. Sleep is not optional, it is strategic. Pick two nights to go late.
CES is not a tech show. It is a city takeover. Plan for the city, not just the convention.
