Enter the expansive Central Hall grand lobby of the renovated Las Vegas Convention Center and you’ll be blinded by the light, a stark contrast to the dark and gloomy corridor that welcomed guests in the past.
It’s a focal point of the $600 million convention center renovation that was completed in time for CES, the enormous tradeshow that spotlights the latest and greatest inventions in consumer electronics.
The show, which runs Jan. 6-9 at LVCC, augmented by various events at a dozen Strip hotels, deservedly punctuates the renovation milestone.
“CES has been such a great partner with us over the years,” says Steve Hill, president and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority, at a press conference hyping the convention center and show. “Really, they’ve become part of the Las Vegas brand.”
CES will occupy 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space this year, up from 2.4 million square feet a year ago, according to Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, producer of CES. He’s projecting upwards of 140,000 attendance and some 4,000 exhibitors.
CES 2026 promises to be an exciting show with the latest in AI, robotics, digital products and immersive entertainment. It’s where innovators show up to connect, forge partnerships and do business on a global scale. About 40 percent of visitors arrive from outside the United States, Shapiro notes.
“Las Vegas is the No. 1 business destination for technology innovation in the world,” he affirms. “Nothing else in the United States gets as much international travel as CES.”
The show is a top customer for Las Vegas. It fills hotel rooms, packs restaurants, benefits taxi and ride-share drivers. Shapiro cites nearly half a billion dollars in direct visitor spending during the week the show is in town; LVCVA places the figure at $380 million.
CES demands the best in hospitality and logistical precision, and Las Vegas delivers better than any other location, Shapiro says. He describes the upgraded Las Vegas Convention Center not as a renovation, but as a brand new, world-class facility. “This is, I would say, the best convention center in the world,” Shapiro exclaims. “Las Vegas is our home, and I expect it will forever be our home.”
With a shaky 2025 in the rear-view mirror, Las Vegas needs a kick start to the new year. Key drivers of the economy – visitor numbers, airport passengers and gambling revenue – suffered a slight slump in 2025.
Convention business has held steady with about 6 million attendees in 2024, according to the authority. Hill felt the latest renovation was well past due, having been delayed by the recession and COVID pandemic.
The Central Hall was built in 1959, originally known as the “Rotunda,” famous for hosting the Beatles concert in 1964, championship boxing matches featuring Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, and UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball.
The renovation project by Hunt-Penta Building Group extends the signature architectural ribbon and contemporary design of LVCC’s West Hall, a $1 billion expansion that opened in 2021 with World of Concrete.
The North and Central halls have been upgraded with LED lighting, digital screens, new carpet and escalators, a modernized grand lobby, and “back of house” improvements. An interior concourse between the North and South halls saves convention-goers from having to walk outside during the blazing Las Vegas summers.
The South Hall has been redesigned to accommodate a new entrance on the east side of the building, along with a state-of-the-art boardroom and new administrative offices. Guests can take the Vegas Loop, an underground tunnel built by The Boring Co., from the South Hall station to the other halls in a matter of minutes, free of charge.
“When I walked in here this morning, I could see how this reflects everything we’d hoped for,” LVCVA Chairman Jim Gibson adds at the press conference. “This renovation shows how Las Vegas remains competitive. The benefits of meetings and conventions extend beyond the Strip, from vendors and suppliers to ride-share drivers.”
