CEATEC 2026 runs 13-16 October at Makuhari Messe, Chiba - Japan's cross-industry digital innovation show, co-located again with Japan Mobility Show Bizweek. Your guide to free registration, what's new, the exhibition areas, who's exhibiting, conference booking and getting there.
| Detail | Info | Detail | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 13-16 October 2026 (Tue-Fri) | 🏛️ Location | Chiba, Japan |
| 💡 Focus | Digital innovation - AI, electronics and components, mobility, smart infrastructure, space, startups | 🏢 Venue | Makuhari Messe (Halls 4-8 + International Conference Hall) |
| 🔁 Frequency | Annual | 🌍 Exhibitors | 810 in 2025 (156 international, 29 countries/regions) |
| 👥 Last attendance | 98,884 registered visitors (2025) | 🎟️ Access | Free, but every visitor must register |
Quick Answer: When is CEATEC 2026 and what is it? CEATEC 2026 runs Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 October 2026 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, from 10:00 to 17:00 each day. It is Japan's cross-industry exhibition of digital innovation, organized by JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association) with co-organizers CIAJ and SAJ. Admission is free, but every visitor must register - pre-registration opened on 27 August and is the fastest way in. The 2026 theme is "Transformation - Where Companies, Industries, and Society Evolve," and for the second time the show runs alongside Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026 in neighboring Halls 2-3, with one registration covering both. The 2025 edition drew 98,884 registered visitors and 810 exhibitors, including 156 international exhibitors from 29 countries and regions.
If you searched "CEATEC 2026," you're probably one of three people: an engineer, product manager or buyer deciding whether four days in Chiba will pay off, an overseas company or startup trying to work out whether CEATEC is a real door into the Japanese market, or someone who remembers CEATEC as "Japan's CES" and wants to know what it actually looks like now. This guide covers all three.
It walks through the 2026 dates and hours, how free registration works, what's new this year, the exhibition areas, who's exhibiting, conference booking, and how to reach Makuhari Messe. For the structured event listing, see our CEATEC 2026 show page.
CEATEC stands for Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies. It was created in 2000, when the Electronics Show merged with the information and communications exhibition COM JAPAN, and it normally takes place each autumn at Makuhari Messe, although the 2020 and 2021 editions were held online. It's organized by JEITA, with the Communications and Information network Association of Japan (CIAJ) and the Software Association of Japan (SAJ) as co-organizers, and run day to day by the CEATEC Management Office at the Japan Electronics Show Association (JESA).
The "Japan's CES" label is out of date, and that matters for how you plan. In 2016, CEATEC stopped being a consumer electronics show and repositioned itself as a CPS/IoT exhibition built around Japan's "Society 5.0" vision, covering everything from core IoT technologies to finished products and services. Today the floor is less about new TVs and cameras and more about how AI, sensors, semiconductors, connectivity and data get deployed in mobility, infrastructure, healthcare, manufacturing and daily life. Japanese tech press covering the 2026 launch summed up the shift as a move from a place to exhibit to a stage for accelerating real-world deployment.
It's also a very different event from the other big autumn show at the same venue. Tokyo Game Show 2026 filled Makuhari Messe less than four weeks earlier with paid public days and screened business days. CEATEC is free, has no public/trade split, and is built around B2B conversations - the audience is engineers, R&D leads, product planners, buyers, investors and a growing number of students rather than fans.
A new theme. The 2026 edition runs under the theme "Transformation - Where Companies, Industries, and Society Evolve," sitting beneath CEATEC's standing slogan, "Innovation for All." In practice, it means exhibits are framed around what a technology changes for a business or a sector, not just what the technology is.
Two new organizer-run pavilions. Coverage of JEITA's September media briefing highlighted two new theme pavilions inside X (Transformation) Park:
They sit alongside the returning Digital Ocean Society Pavilion (maritime AI and IoT, which debuted in 2025) and the DX Pavilion for Everyday Life (smart home and well-being technology).
Japan Mobility Show Bizweek is back alongside. For the second time, after a first pairing in 2024, CEATEC runs concurrently with Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026, organized by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) in Halls 2-3 on the same dates and hours. One free registration gets you into both. CEATEC Executive Producer Kiyoshi Shikano framed the pairing as a way to "further expand our connections with a wide range of industries, including mobility."
The two shows open with a joint special session: JEITA Chairman Takashi Niino and JAMA Chairman Koji Sato in a dialogue titled "Towards Japan's Future Society," on 13 October, 13:00-13:45, in the International Conference Hall. Reservations for it opened on 27 August through the conference reservation page on the official CEATEC site.
A bigger student push. Organizers said at the September briefing that they expect 7,000-8,000 student visitors, backed by a dedicated CEATEC for Students program (see Section 5).
CEATEC 2026 keeps a simple four-day format with the same hours every day:
| Day | Date | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tuesday 13 October | 10:00-17:00 | Opening-day CEATEC x Japan Mobility Show dialogue at 13:00 |
| Day 2 | Wednesday 14 October | 10:00-17:00 | |
| Day 3 | Thursday 15 October | 10:00-17:00 | |
| Day 4 | Friday 16 October | 10:00-17:00 | Busiest day in 2025 |
The registration counter opens at 9:30, doors open at 10:00, and last entry is 16:50.
How registration works:
Pick your day with the crowd pattern in mind. In 2025, registered visitors climbed every day of the show: 20,474 on Tuesday, 23,433 on Wednesday, 24,601 on Thursday and 30,376 on Friday - nearly 50% more on the final day than the first. If you want unhurried booth conversations, Tuesday and Wednesday are the better bet. Save Friday for anything you only need to see, not discuss.
CEATEC's conference is a large part of the show - the 2025 edition ran 222 conferences and sessions - and in 2026 it's organized around five themes: Solving Social Issues, Creating the Future, Exploring Technology, Discovering Global Trends, and Supporting the Next Generation. Sessions take place in the International Conference Hall, with some exhibitor presentations on stages inside the halls.
Reserve the sessions you care about. Advance conference reservations are strongly recommended. After completing visitor registration, you can reserve individual sessions through My Page. Visitors without reservations may be admitted after reserved attendees if seats remain. Booking opened alongside visitor registration on 27 August, so the most popular sessions, including the opening-day chairmen's dialogue, are worth reserving now rather than the week of the show.
Some content is online. An online session program opens on 15 September, with some content remaining available until 30 October 2026, although the viewing period varies by program.
The CEATEC AWARD 2026, now in its 16th edition since 2011, recognizes exhibits across Innovation, Transformation, Global Innovation, Next Generation and Mobility Innovation categories, plus minister's awards from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Digital Agency. Judging is by a committee drawn from academic societies and specialist media. Winners are due to be announced on 6 October, a week before the show opens, and once the results are out, award-winning booths make a useful shortlist if your time on the floor is limited.
CEATEC is spread across Exhibition Halls 4-8 plus the International Conference Hall, with Japan Mobility Show Bizweek next door in Halls 2-3. The floor is split into distinct areas:
| Area | Where | What you'll find |
|---|---|---|
| General Exhibits | Halls 4-8 | The core of the show - technologies, products and solutions from established companies |
| X (Transformation) Park | Halls 4-6 | Eight themes (AI, co-creation, well-being, social infrastructure, R&D/strategy, industrial transformation, entertainment, sustainability) plus the four organizer pavilions |
| Next Generation Park | Hall 4 | Startups, universities, research institutions and corporate new-business teams, with a pitch stage and an open communication lounge |
| Global Park | Halls 4-5 | Overseas companies exhibiting in country and region pavilions organized by embassies and public institutions, with pitch sessions and international exchange events |
| Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026 | Halls 2-3 | JAMA's cross-industry mobility business event, same registration |
Next Generation Park is a major growth area for the show. Startup, university and research institution exhibitors rose from 188 in 2024 to 232 in 2025, and the park's pitch stage is the quickest way to see a lot of early-stage technology in a short time.
International visitors should start with the country and regional presences, which are spread across more than one area:
CEATEC for Students points students toward Next Generation Park and X Park, recommends sessions such as "The Semiconductor Industry: Gaining Momentum" (14 October) and a KOSEN x Semiconductor Engineer Career Session (16 October), and hosts the Blue-Shrimp Summit, where student teams present ideas on ocean sustainability. Schools can book group visits with badges issued in advance; the group application deadline is 1 October, 17:00.
CEATEC 2025 had 810 exhibitors, 318 of them first-timers (a 39% new-exhibitor rate), and 98,884 registered visitors. As of 14 September 2026, the official searchable exhibitor list showed 756 entries for this year, and it's still being updated.
Names on the 2026 list include Fujitsu, Hitachi, Panasonic, Sharp, NEC, Mitsubishi Electric, Denso, Renesas Electronics, ROHM, Oki Electric Industry, Ricoh, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage, Honda R&D, NTT and Amazon Web Services Japan. Some of these appear as co-exhibitors within industry pavilions or consortium booths rather than with a standalone stand, so check the listing detail if a particular company is the reason you're going.
Two things to set expectations, especially if you're traveling from outside Japan:
It's a Japan-first show. International exhibitors made up 156 of 810 companies in 2025, and overseas visitors accounted for 1,932 of 92,807 registered visitors in 2024, about 2%. Expect many booths and conversations to prioritize Japanese, although international pavilions and some exhibitors provide English-language support - the official exhibitor list shows booth-language information where exhibitors have provided it, so it is worth checking before you plan your route. That's exactly the point if you want to sell into, source from or partner with Japanese electronics and industrial companies, but it's a different experience from a CES-style global launch event.
Don't assume a brand is there. Several companies that were CEATEC fixtures in its consumer electronics era now pick and choose, and the list has kept moving since exhibitor applications opened in February. Search the official exhibitor list for any company you plan your trip around.
If CEATEC's dates clash with your plans, note that the Korea Electronics Show (KES) 2026 runs in Seoul on exactly the same four days, so East Asia's two national electronics showcases compete for the same week. For electronic components specifically, electronica 2026 in Munich follows in November, and our October 2026 trade show calendar covers the rest of the month.
The 2026 roster is effectively set. Exhibitor applications for the General Exhibits, X (Transformation) Park and Next Generation Park opened on 12 February 2026, with an early deadline at the end of April, so this section is mainly for planning ahead to CEATEC 2027.
A few things worth knowing if you're considering it:
Exhibitor information and inquiries run through the CEATEC call for exhibits site.
Makuhari Messe is at 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, and is well connected to central Tokyo by rail.
By train (best option). Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line is about a 5-minute walk from the venue. From Tokyo Station, the trip takes as little as 24 minutes by limited express.
By bus. From Makuharihongo Station (JR Sobu Line / Keisei Line), buses reach the venue in about 15 minutes.
From the airports. Express buses run from both Haneda and Narita airports, with some routes stopping directly at Makuhari Messe Chuo.
Show shuttles. The organizer plans direct buses during the show from locations including Tokyo Station and Yokohama Station, with details due in mid-September - check the official access page closer to your trip.
By car. The venue is about 5 minutes from Wangan-Narashino IC (Higashi-Kanto Expressway) or Makuhari IC (Keiyo Road). Parking is managed by Makuhari Messe, and rail is the less stressful option on a busy show day.
Allow time on site. CEATEC uses Halls 4-8 and the International Conference Hall, and if you're also visiting Japan Mobility Show Bizweek in Halls 2-3 or heading to a session, you'll cover a lot of ground on foot. Comfortable shoes are the organizer's own advice.
When and where is CEATEC 2026? CEATEC 2026 runs Tuesday 13 to Friday 16 October 2026 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, from 10:00 to 17:00 each day (last entry 16:50).
Is CEATEC 2026 free to attend? Yes. Admission is free, but every visitor must register. Pre-registration opened on 27 August 2026 on the official CEATEC website, each person needs their own registration with their own email address, and one registration covers all four days.
Can I register on site at CEATEC? Yes. Registration PCs at the counter by the entrance, which opens at 9:30, let unregistered visitors sign up on the day. Pre-registering is the better option: you can print your admission ticket at home or have your badge printed at the pickup counter by showing your QR code, and avoid the registration queue.
How big is CEATEC? CEATEC 2025 drew 98,884 registered visitors over four days and 810 exhibitors, including 318 first-time exhibitors, 232 startups, universities and research institutions (up from 188 in 2024), and 156 international exhibitors from 29 countries and regions.
What's new at CEATEC 2026? The 2026 theme is Transformation - Where Companies, Industries, and Society Evolve. New organizer pavilions for space co-creation and digital mobility join the ocean and everyday-life DX pavilions, the show is co-located with Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026 for the second time, and organizers expect 7,000-8,000 student visitors.
Does CEATEC registration include Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026? Yes. Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026 runs on the same dates and hours in Halls 2-3 of Makuhari Messe, and one free registration covers both shows.
Who is exhibiting at CEATEC 2026? As of 14 September 2026, the official exhibitor list showed 756 entries, including Fujitsu, Hitachi, Panasonic, Sharp, NEC, Mitsubishi Electric, Denso, Renesas Electronics, ROHM, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage, Honda R&D, NTT and Amazon Web Services Japan. International presences include an EU Pavilion, the UAE, Latvia and a Ukraine IT Pavilion in Global Park, plus Taiwan Excellence, South Korea's Global Digital Innovation Network and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in General Exhibits.
Do I need to book CEATEC conference sessions? Advance reservations are strongly recommended. After completing visitor registration, you can reserve individual sessions through My Page. Visitors without reservations may be admitted after reserved attendees if seats remain. An online session program opens on 15 September, with some content available until 30 October 2026.
How do I get to Makuhari Messe for CEATEC? Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line is about a 5-minute walk from the venue and as little as 24 minutes from Tokyo Station by limited express. Buses from Makuharihongo Station take about 15 minutes, and express buses connect Haneda and Narita airports to the venue.
