Stateside with Stephanie
Polishing the keys to more CES success in Las Vegas
Stephanie Selesnick speaks with Consumer Technology Association president Kinsey Fabrizio ahead of the 2027 edition of the‘ Granddaddy’ of US exhibtions.
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ES 2027 comes along
C again this 6-9 January. With 4,100 + exhibiting companies across an anticipated 2.5 million net square feet( 185,800sqm) of exhibit space across 12 venues, and over 148,000 trade visitors expected from 140 countries, it’ s consistently known as the‘ Granddaddy’ of US exhibitions. The 2026 edition had over 7,000 media. It’ s one of the few US trade shows that has engaged in third-party audits – long before they joined UFI.
Kinsey Fabrizio became president & CEO of the Consumer Technology Association( CTA) ® on 1 May, 2026, taking the reins from Gary Shapiro who is now executive chair. The CTA represents more than 1,200 consumer technology companies, and owns and produces CES. In this role, she serves on CTA’ s Executive board and directs strategy and operations across all business units.
I have been to, and written about CES many times, and its continued growth and expansion of the scope of the show year after year is impressive. One of the keys to this expansion is that the CTA regularly partners with other associations and event organisers, allowing them to hold educational conferences during the show. Some even have branded pavilions within the greater show.
I spoke with Kinsey about the new position, CES’ s growth, and ended with advice on recruiting elected and appointed government officials to attend the expo.
Above: Kinsey Fabrizio
SS: What’ s your favourite thing about the new position? KF: For the last 18 years, I’ ve been fortunate to have the best job in the world and want to work here [ CTA ] as long as I can. The people at CTA are smart, funny, engaging, dedicated, and impressive.
SS: What are your top three goals for the next 2-3 years? KF: 1. Build on an amazing foundation started by Gary Shapiro’ s 40 years here, and strengthen CES’ s support of the tech industry, helping innovation financially thrive. 2. Continue to evolve and expand as the industry grows and changes. In terms of AI, we’ re in the most transformational period right now, which we’ ll see activated all over CES 2027. 3. Deepen engagement with our staff and customers, so we may continue to serve the tech industry, and advocate for AI government rules.
SS: This is your first CES at the helm. What new features are you most excited about? KF: There are so many to choose from, including:- The CES Foundry: expands from two days to three days. It features AI, Quantum computing, and Agentic AI companies.- Art Tech Innovation Award( new category of the CES Innovation Awards programme): In a new partnership with Christie’ s Auction House, it celebrates how art and cultural assets are created, experienced, preserved, owned, and exchanged.- Marché du Film( Festival de Cannes) and it’ s Next Cannes partnership: celebrates dedicated filmmaking and distribution advances, with an Innovation Award category, conference programing, and an SME Pavilion( small, medium enterprise) on the expo floor.- Industrial robotics and manufacturing in the LVCC South Hall 3: includes
20 Issue 5 2026 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk