The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), once the world’s premier launchpad for next-generation technologies, is facing mounting questions over its relevance. Ahead of CES 2026, scheduled for 6-9 January in Las Vegas, participation by South Korean companies is expected to fall sharply, with multiple conglomerates scaling back or skipping the show altogether. The pullback highlights a broader reassessment by large corporations of the cost, impact, and strategic value of global tech exhibitions.