Las Vegas Convention Center Completes $600M Renovation Just in Time for CES 2026
After an extensive and comprehensive $600 million, eight-year renovation, the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall officially reopened on Monday, just in time for today’s start CES 2026.
Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, the trade show is the city’s largest annual convention and was first hosted in Vegas in 1978.
CES 2026, held today, Tuesday, Jan. 6 through Friday, Jan. 9, is taking full advantage of the center’s 2.5 million square feet of indoor exhibit space. Only one other convention center in the nation has more: McCormick Place in Chicago (2.67 million square feet).
The convention’s attendance is expected to be approximately 142,000 visitors, with more than 40% of the attendees coming from outside the U.S. Last year’s convention generated more than $381.2 million in economic impact to Southern Nevada, according to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority.
The Central, North and South Halls (the center’s three oldest halls) were modernized to meet the feel and look of the $1 billion West Hall, which opened within the center five years ago (2021).
The center’s Central Hall was opened in 1971, 12 years after the debut of the center in 1959.
“This milestone signals the next leap for trade shows in Las Vegas, delivering a world-class convention center experience that reflects the scale and ambition of our city,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the LVCVA, in a news release. “It’s fitting to share this moment with CES, the world’s most influential technology show and our long-standing partner. Their continued commitment underscores the future of global events in Las Vegas.”
What’s New at the LVCC
Here are a few of the amenities and upgrades to the new Central Hall renovation:
- Central Hall’s Grand Lobby features a glass curtain wall with an abundance of natural light
- 75-foot-by-42-foot digital screen with two complementary screens
- Climate-controlled interior (between North and South Halls) allows attendees to move throughout the entire complex without exiting the building
- South Hall features a new entrance, a state-of-the-art boardroom, and a new administrative office complex
This year alone, the new LVCC will host up to 48 trade shows and 1.23 million trade show attendees, an increase from about 1.06 million in 2025.
It all starts today.
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