November 9, 2026 (Monday)｜Digital MICE（デジタル マイス）
CES 2027 Innovation Awards, coming soon!
What is the next technology the world is watching? Decoding the changes in CES from the record of over 3,600 entries
In 2027, CES will celebrate its 60th anniversary. I think it is quite remarkable that a single event has continued for 60 years. Moreover, throughout its long history, CES has continuously incorporated new technologies and industries, and it continues to evolve today.
Prior to the event, I look forward to the “CES Innovation Awards” every year.
The winning companies and products for CES 2027 are scheduled to be announced on November 9, 2026, US time.
For me, the Innovation Awards are not just a list of winning companies. They are essential material for previewing the next CES, helping me understand what global companies are developing and what kind of technology is being recognized.
Starting with this article, I will introduce key points to watch for ahead of the CES 2027 Innovation Awards announcement over the next five installments, including past performance, new categories, public relations strategies, and trends by country.
What kind of award is the Innovation Awards?
The CES Innovation Awards is an awards program operated by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organizer of CES.
Every year, experts judge products and services submitted by companies from around the world based on technical originality, functionality, and design.
There are two main categories for evaluation.
“Honoree” is given to products that meet certain judging criteria in each category.
On the other hand, “Best of Innovation” is awarded to products that have received particularly high praise among them.
However, it does not mean that a Best of Innovation is selected in every category.
What to keep in mind here is that the Innovation Awards is not a system that evaluates product sales or market share. High technical evaluation and business success are not necessarily the same thing.
Also, the CTA does not conduct its own performance tests or endorse products based on the awards.
It would be premature to judge that a product will succeed in the market just because it won an award. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting system for understanding what kind of technology global companies are proposing and in which fields they are receiving high recognition.
CES 2026 saw a record-high of over 3,600 entries
At the previous CES 2026 Innovation Awards, there were over 3,600 entries, the highest number ever.
There were 36 target categories. The fields with the most entries were AI, Digital Health, and Sustainability & Energy.
On the other hand, looking at the growth rate of entries from the previous year, AI increased by 29%, Robotics by 32%, and Drones by 32%.
These figures are based on an official press release issued by CES organizer CTA on November 5, 2025.
Source: CTA “CTA Announces CES Innovation Awards 2026 Honorees” (November 5, 2025)
https://www.ces.tech/press-releases/cta-announces-ces-innovation-awards-2026-honorees
How should we interpret these numbers? First, it suggests that AI continues to be utilized across a wide range of industries. Furthermore, it seems that challenges in new products and applications are expanding in the fields of robotics and drones. However, an increase in the number of entries does not directly indicate an expansion of the market size. The numbers also change due to the creation or reorganization of categories and the application policies of companies. The important thing is not just to look at the numbers, but to check what kind of products were actually evaluated.
I also want to pay attention to the technology of Japanese companies
At CES 2026, “ORPHE INSOLE,” developed by the Japanese company ORPHE, was selected as a Best of Innovation honoree in the Sports & Fitness category.
This initiative combines sensor technology with the familiar product of shoe insoles to capture walking and body movement as data.
What I find interesting is not just the technology itself, but the perspective of how that technology is applied to everyday life. While new semiconductor and AI technologies are certainly important, I believe that transforming them into products and services that are easy for consumers to use is also a crucial element of innovation.
At CES, not only large-scale research and development by major corporations but also creative initiatives by startups and small to medium-sized enterprises are recognized.
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of technology Japanese companies will use to demonstrate their presence this year as well.
Looking beyond the number of winning companies to the category as a whole
When the Innovation Awards are announced, it is easy to focus on the winners from famous companies or the Best of Innovation products. Of course, that is important information.
However, another thing I would like to pay attention to is the composition of the categories themselves.
Have new categories been established?
Has the scope of existing categories been expanded?
And which industries are increasing their presence at CES?
I feel that these changes reflect the direction in which CES intends to focus its efforts in the future.
In fact, at CES 2026, five new categories were established: Education, Enterprise Tech, Film Production, Logistics, and Travel & Tourism were newly established.
CES is no longer just an event for showcasing home appliances and digital devices.
The areas that technology touches, such as corporate activities, social infrastructure, health, culture, and quality of life, are expanding more and more.
For CES 2027, a new category called “Art Tech” has also been established. I would like to cover this theme in more detail in a future installment.
CES begins before you even arrive in Las Vegas
CES 2027 will be held in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9, 2027. However, gathering information for CES is not something you start after arriving on-site.
Check the Innovation Awards announcement in November, research the companies and technologies you are interested in, and verify whether they will actually be exhibiting at CES. Based on that, think about what you want to see and who you want to talk to at the venue. This preparation leads to making effective use of your limited time on-site.
Furthermore, it is important to note that Innovation Awards winners do not necessarily exhibit at CES. The entry process is separate. You should check the award information and exhibition information separately.
What kind of technology will be evaluated at the CES 2027 Innovation Awards? Where is CES, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, heading from here?
First, I look forward to the announcement on November 9.
Next Issue Preview
7 days from award notification to announcement!
CES Innovation Awards: Where PR professionals show their skills
From the award notification on November 2 to the public announcement on November 9, the preparation period is only one week. How should companies leverage the valuable opportunity of winning an award for information dissemination and marketing?
I will consider this from the perspective of a PR professional, covering news releases, English-language dissemination, management of information embargoes, and the system for postponing announcements until the new year.
