Top CES 2018 Parties & Networking Events
We’re quickly heading into the new year and everyone knows what that means…CES!
The Consumer Electronic Show will bring together over 180,000 attendees and 4,000 exhibitors running the gamut of industries and titles under the bright lights of Las Vegas, January 9–12, 2018. Along with the product announcements and industry insights comes the opportunity to foster relations with current prospects and clients while networking with new individuals at some of the biggest parties of the year.
At CES, parties are as much business as they are pleasure. Everyone who has ever attended CES knows that some of the best networking happens at the brand parties, cocktail hours, and other mini-events within the larger trade show. These events provide a great opportunity to connect with the brands hosting them while soaking in the serendipity of networking with other attendees. As you make your way to CES, Make sure you have plenty of business cards, an easy way to collect their information, and a plan to follow-up with everyone you meet.
Okay, okay…
Here’s what you’ve all been waiting for — the top CES Parties going down this year.
Hosting a party and want to add it to this list? Comment below or DM us on Twitter.
Please note, we in no way guarantee access to any of the events on this list and RSVP or invites are generally required.
Sunday, January 7
CES Unveiled LAS VEGAS
5:00 –8:30 p.m.
“This annual press event draws more than 1,500 influential media from around the world and will feature the CES 2018 Best of Innovation Awards Honorees and tabletop displays from more than 100 local and global tech companies.”
🆕 CoinAgenda Opening Party 🆕
8:00 –11:00 p.m.
While this event is technically part of CoinAgenda Summit, it’s well known that many CES attendees are cross-pollinating. Hosted at the beautiful Aureole in Mandalay Bay, this is a top networking event for those in cryptocurrency.
Monday, January 8
🆕 Baidu World 🆕
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Baidu is leading China’s innovation in AI, and this event is sure not to disappoint. Discover the new technology they’re working on and connect with other CES attendees. Tickets are selling fast, so register quickly!
🆕 Nokia’s Lights Out: The CES Party of Your Dreams 🆕
9:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.
Nokia’s event is something we’ve never seen before — which really excites us! They invite all CES attendees to grab some sleep swag from their booth, head into your hotel early, and catch some much needed ZZZ’s. The event technically occurs every night so we suggest taking a look at the event page for more details and activities throughout the event.
C Space Party
10:30 p.m.–1:00 a.m.
Hosted at Las Vegas’ newest nightclub, JEWEL, brings together media, marketing, and entertainment folks all under one roof for an unforgettable night. The first 500 CES attendees will enjoy complimentary admission and a complimentary drink ticket until 1 a.m.
Pepcom’s Digital Experience!
7:00–10:00 p.m.
If you’re looking for press (let’s be honest, who isn’t?) this is the event for you. Pepcom’s Digital Experience is going down this year at the Mirage Hotel and will bring together hundreds of media and press folks all under one roof. Described as “a complete upscale “walking” dinner buffet, including open bars” between exhibitor booths, this non-affiliated event comes with a pretty price tag. For press only: rsvp@pepcom.com
Silicon Valley Pitchfest
9:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m.
This unaffiliated event is great for startups looking get a leg up on garnering press attention. Startups can pitch, demo, or simply network with other startup founders and VCs in a relaxed environment not too far from the main action of CES.
NPD Group’s Cocktail Reception
7:00–9:30 p.m.
Hosted at the Mirage Hotel and Casino’s 1OAK, this event is a delightful start to CES. Bringing together technology industry leaders from the world’s top brands, NPD presents exclusive insights and follows-up post-event with even more knowledge to get your 2018 off to the right start.
PSFK Member Drinks
6:00–9:00 p.m.
This members-only event brings together creative professionals across industries. It’s not too late to get in though — gain access to this top 2018 CES event by purchasing a membership before the big day.
Tuesday, January 9
Idean CES Opening Party
5:00–10:00 p.m.
This exclusive event is sure to get the party started before the biggest event of the week. Join the Idean team and Capgemini for an open bar, delicious appetizers, and great views over Las Vegas — but you’ll have to get an invite first.
🆕 Landmark Ventures’ Dealmakers VIP Meetups 🆕
Varied times
Landmark Ventures is hosting several different events, all of which require invitations. Reserved for the elite, their events never disappoint.
Petnet’s Launch Party
7:00– 9:00 p.m.
If you’re looking for revolutionary #pettech, this event is for you. Plus, the first 50 guests will receive one of their new SmartFeeders.
🆕 IQmetric’s Cocktail Hour 🆕
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Join the IQmetric team at Centrifuge in the MGM for a cocktail reception. Space is limited and RSVP is required.
🆕 Nomad CES Party 🆕
7:00 p.m.–1:30 a.m.
Nomad’s exclusive party at the Encore Penthouse is invite only.
CES Opening Party
10:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.
The premiere event of CES is at OMNIA Nightclub and features some of the top DJs on the strip. Signature events like this require a clear plan of action beforehand — meet up with some existing partners and network the night away or bring that stack of business cards and don’t stop ’til you drop. Oh, and did somebody say open bar from 10–11 p.m.?
Want to say updated as we add new parties to this list? Sign up for updates below (or keep scrolling, up to you).
Wednesday, January 10
OMD’s Innovation Cocktails
4:30–7:30 p.m.
Always one of the top CES parties, OMD’s Innovation Cocktails continues to delight this year by bringing together more sponsors and startups to provide a unique event experience and prime networking opportunities. You’ll definitely want to RSVP.
Made By Google Featuring John Legend
5:00–9:00 p.m.
A few exclusive guests get to be serenaded by the sweet songs of John Legend at this invite-only event.
Monster’s CES 2018 Concert
8:00–11:00 p.m.
Monster’s big event features Iggy Azalea at Omnia nightclub this year. This top CES event is invite-only.
🆕 Hardware Massive’s CES 2018 Bash 🆕
5:00–9:00 p.m.
If you’ve ever seen the movie “The Hangover”, you’ll want to attend this event as it is hosted in the same suite both this film and “Rain Man” were originally shot. RSVP is required.
🆕 Make in LA + UPS: Tech Invaders Party 🆕
6:00–9:00 p.m.
Hosted at Commonwealth in the newly renovated downtown area of Las Vegas, this event is sure to be a hit. We’re excited for the great cocktails and the interesting lineup of sponsors bringing this experiential event together.
Amazon Seller CES 2018 Cocktail Reception by Agent Zebra
6:00–10:00 p.m.
Hosted at the Parasol Down at Wynn Las Vegas, this event is great for those just getting into selling their products on Amazon. Get into the details of your Amazon strategy and network with other sellers, and you can win an Amazon Dot.
🆕 Lisnr + Splash’s The Soundhouse Party 🆕
10:30 p.m.– ???
No doubt about it, this is going to be one of the top events at CES. Featuring Rick Ross and other surprise guests (seriously, you’ll want to stay until at least midnight for this one), it’s going to be massive. Request access at the link above and get ready to “network your face off” — as our CTO Justin likes to say.
Weird Science Cocktail Party
7:00–11:00 p.m.
Hosted by FutureBrand Speck (previously Speck Design), this event is sure to bring out the fun side of networking events at CES. Make sure you RSVP and check out the other events they’re hosting.
ICOFest & LaunchFEST Demo Showcase and Cocktail Party
8:00–10:00 p.m.
This event will feature several sponsors showcasing their new products while networking. The event already has over 450 registered attendees, so it’s a great opportunity to connect with your fellow CES attendees, especially if you’re in crypto or a startup.
CES 2018 — Best High-End Soundbar Battle
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
This event could seriously only take place at CES. Attendees blind vote on which soundbar (a speaker for the non-audio enthusiasts) has the best audio quality in this throwdown event described as a “fun-filled sonic experience that includes an open feedback/sharing session, networking with fellow audio enthusiasts, food & drinks.” Oh, and you can win a really epic soundbar.
Thursday, January 11
Season 4: VR FEST
12:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m.
VR Fest is a multi-day event featuring some of the coolest brands in VR. Seriously, check out all of the cool events, workshops, and parties they’re hosting! We chose to feature their events on January 11 including VR workshops, the semi-finals of the Extreme Tech Challenge, and a huge party at Hakkasan featuring DJ Tiesto.
🆕 MDC + iHeartRadio VIP Cocktails 🆕
6:00–9:00 p.m.
This exclusive event will feature at least one top musical performer, but we’re not quite sure who. RSVPs are required at this top event.
KeyShot Designer Night
7:00–10:00 p.m.
If you’re looking to network with other designers and creatives, check out KeyShot’s event at The Otheroom in Caesar’s Palace. Make sure you RSVP.
Turning Pleasure Into Business
The parties and networking events at CES aren’t just for popping bottles and celebrating, they’re about building real business relationships. If you’re looking to maximize your event marketing budget at CES, take a look at our complete guide to measuring event ROI.
