CES 2021: How to follow the year's biggest tech conference

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CES 2020 — CES is typically held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the event online this year.
ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

CES 2021, the largest annual tech industry conference, will run from January 11 to January 14 using an online-only format due to COVID-19.
CES 2021 will deliver major announcements from hundreds of leading tech companies, including Microsoft, Samsung, Intel, AMD, and Verizon.
Keynote speakers include Microsoft President Brad Smith, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, and AMD President and CEO Lisa Su, and they'll be streamed online for free.
We'll be keeping track of the biggest announcements from CES 2021, including the top products we've seen at the conference.
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The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021 is now underway, with the year's largest technology conference using an all-digital format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) welcomes more than 150,000 attendees to Las Vegas for a week-long event marked by keynote speakers, world premiere announcements, and hands-on demonstrations.

CES 2021 will run from January 11 to January 14, and we've already seen major announcements from industry leaders like Intel, AMD, Samsung, LG, and Sony. The biggest keynote addresses from CES 2021 will be streamed online for free, and you can expect a steady stream of announcements as the conference continues.

CES is a trade show, so you need to be working within the technology industry or a member of the media to participate in the event. Thousands of vendors participate in CES, providing demonstrations and in-depth breakdowns of the latest technology to members of the industry and the media.

This year's digital format has made things a bit different, but we've already rounded up some of the biggest news from day one of CES 2021. Through the week, we'll also be creating a list of the best new technology we saw at CES and our most anticipated products coming this year.

When is CES 2021?

CES 2021 began on January 11 and will continue through January 14. You can find the full schedule, including the keynote speakers on the CES website.

When CTA announced the shift to an online format for CES 2021, it said it plans to return the conference to Las Vegas in 2022. Based on the CES website, CES 2022 is scheduled for January 5 to January 8, 2022.

How to watch CES 2021

CES 2021 presentations are split across a few different online channels, and some are exclusive to attendees, but CTA is providing a free livestream of the biggest keynotes and general coverage of major CES announcements on YouTube.

Upcoming keynote speakers include Microsoft President Brad Smith, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, and AMD President and CEO Lisa Su.

If you're looking for a constant stream of CES 2021 product announcements, media outlets like CNET and Wired are also hosting liveblogs with lots of details.

Is CES 2021 free and can I still register?

Tech industry professionals and media can pay $499 to register for CES 2021. Prior to January 7, registration was $149, but remained exclusive to members of the tech industry.

Those who register for CES 2021 will be able to access the digital venue until February 15, allowing them to rewatch conference programming. and message other attendees for one month after the event ends.

What does CES stand for?

CES was once an abbreviation for Consumer Electronics Show, but the initials CES are now the event's official name. The event has taken many shapes and forms through the years with origins dating back to 1967 in New York City.