[Reportage] Two Days Before CES 2026 Opens: A Glimpse of the Future City as Home Appliances, Automotive Electronics, and Mobility Gather

Busy Preparations at the Venue Ahead of the Official Opening
Global Companies from the US, China, and Korea Gather in One Place
Showcasing Flagship Products and Spectacular Displays
From Trams to the Vegas Loop, a Glimpse of a Futuristic Ci

On January 4, 2026 (local time), two days before the official opening of the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, CES 2026, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), both inside and out, was bustling with final preparations to welcome visitors. Global home appliance, automotive electronics, and IT companies from the United States, China, South Korea, and other countries gathered in one place, moving busily to set up large-scale booths and showcase their latest product lineups.

Two days before the official opening of the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition, CES 2026, on the 4th (local time), a dedicated tram is operating around the main exhibition hall, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). Photo by Park Juni.

On the morning of January 4, when the reporter visited the LVCC in Las Vegas, Nevada, the final installation of exhibits was underway both inside and outside the venue. Until the previous day, access to the indoor exhibition halls and parking lots had been restricted for outsiders, but starting that day, the number of industry insiders, exhibitors, and some attendees entering the venue gradually increased.

The entrance of the West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the main exhibition hall, two days before the official opening of the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, CES 2026, on the 4th (local time). Photo by Park Jun.

Through the various exhibition facilities, displays, and product lineups being set up, the outline of this year’s exhibition was gradually taking shape. In particular, in the Central Hall, the main exhibition area of the LVCC, booths were being set up by major home appliance companies such as LG Electronics, Panasonic, Sony, Hisense, TCL, and Bosch.

Home appliance companies like LG Electronics, Hisense, and TCL prominently displayed their flagship TVs and display products. LG Electronics plans to welcome visitors with a massive installation made of 38 units of its wireless wallpaper TV, the 'LG OLED Evo AI W6', suspended from the ceiling as a centerpiece for this exhibition.

Two days before the official opening of the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition, CES 2026, on the 4th (local time), the LG Electronics booth is being set up inside the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the main exhibition venue. Photo by Park Junyi.

Notably, at this year's CES, Samsung Electronics moved out of the Central Hall, where it had exhibited until last year, and set up an independent exhibition hall, allowing Chinese home appliance companies to take over that space. Across from the LVCC, the Wynn Hotel, where Samsung Electronics has set up its exhibition hall, and the Fontainebleau Hotel, where companies like Nvidia are exhibiting, could also be seen. In the very center of the Central Hall, Hisense and TCL were setting up large-scale display booths, where they are expected to showcase their flagship TVs. Booths of other Chinese home appliance companies, such as Changhong and Dreame, also stood out.

Two days before the official opening of the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition, CES 2026, on the 4th (local time), the TCL booth is being set up in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the main exhibition venue. Photo by Jun Park.

About a 10-minute walk from the Central Hall, in the West Hall, exhibition spaces for Korean companies were spotted. Not only were domestic companies in the mobility and automotive electronics sectors, such as Doosan, Hyundai Motor, and LG Display, preparing their booths, but global mobility tech companies like Qualcomm, Waymo, and Amazon were also setting up their exhibition spaces. Various innovative products, such as automobiles and robots, were on display throughout these halls, and they are expected to attract the attention of visitors in the coming days.

On the 4th, two days before the official opening of the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, CES 2026, visitors can ride the Tesla 'Vegas Loop' around the main exhibition hall, the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). Photo by Park Joonyi.

Given the considerable physical distance between exhibition halls, Tesla's 'Vegas Loop' helped visitors move around the venue. While it would take about 20 to 30 minutes to walk between exhibition halls, taking the Vegas Loop through the underground tunnel reduced the travel time to about three minutes. On the surface, dedicated tram roads were also installed to facilitate movement between halls, creating a scene reminiscent of a city of the future.

In addition, each exhibition hall was preparing a variety of attractions, such as snack corners and interactive experiences, giving a sense of the increasingly vibrant atmosphere on site.