Representatives from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and CES gathered Monday to mark the official reopening of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall Grand Lobby, a space now celebrated as “the best convention center in the world.” The ribbon-cutting took place just ahead of CES 2026’s opening, highlighting a $600 million renovation project that began as an idea two decades ago, was delayed by the Great Recession, and finally restarted in 2023.
The modernized Central Hall Grand Lobby features a glass curtain wall for abundant natural light, three massive video screens, and a climate-controlled interior concourse. Additional renovations include a redesigned South Hall entrance, new boardroom and administrative offices, updated interiors with contemporary finishes, improved signage and way-finding technology, expanded food and beverage options, energy-efficient systems, and water-saving features.
CES, which draws attendees from 150 countries, is expected to welcome around 143,000 visitors this year, matching last year’s numbers. The convention, which spans the entire 4.6 million square feet of campus exhibit space, generated a $381.2 million economic impact for Southern Nevada in 2023.
Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Vice Chairman and CEO Gary Shapiro reflected on CES’s long history with Las Vegas, dating back to its first event in the city in 1978. He credited the move to Las Vegas as pivotal in transforming the city’s identity and helping establish it as a premier business and convention destination. Over the years, CTA has pushed for multiple expansions of the Convention Center, including the addition of the South Hall in 2002 and the West Hall in 2021.
Remarkably, during the recent renovations, the Convention Center maintained its full event calendar and did not lose any clients. Sustainability was also a key focus, with CTA President Kinsey Fabrizio announcing a $125,000 grant to support Las Vegas’s citywide tree planting initiative and energy-efficient streetlight upgrades.
The reopening underscores both the city’s and CES’s ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and maintaining Las Vegas’s status as a global leader in conventions and trade shows.