The 2021 Edition of CES will be a Virtual Affair

Organisers of one of the world’s biggest gatherings CES have announced that the 2021 edition will be an online-only event.

Las Vegas plays host to the event in January and attracts many of the world’s biggest technology companies. The event is seen by many as a curtain-raiser to a year in tech.

Growing concerns about the length of time it will take the coronavirus pandemic to abate have forced the organizers to make the 2021 “an all-digital experience”.

It said it was “not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people”.

In a statement, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organises CES, said it was “reimagining how to connect exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media from around the world while prioritising health and safety”.

The CES has now joined a list of other high-profile technology conferences in going virtual – including Web Summit in November and both this year’s and the 2021 TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) conference.

Online conferences are both greener and cheaper, but delegates often complain that they miss out on making connections with others.

CTA said that, alongside traditional keynote talks and conferences, it would enable meetings and networking in a “highly personalised experience”.

Mobile analyst Ben Wood, who has attended nine CES conferences, said that it was little surprise that organisers had opted for a virtual format.

“The insurmountable logistical challenges of delivering an in-person event were clear given the global pandemic.

“The decision to hold CES as a digital-only event will send shockwaves through the events world. When one of the largest consumer electronics shows in the world says it is not viable to have a physical event, it sends a strong signal that these types of events will be near-impossible to hold in the coming months.”