On October 13, 2026, CEATEC—Japan's largest and most influential IT and electronics trade show, often dubbed "Asia's CES"—kicked off its four-day exhibition at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, the gateway to Tokyo. Against the backdrop of accelerating global digital transformation, the 27th edition of the event is themed "Transformation: The Evolution of Companies, Industries, and Society." The organizer, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), used the occasion to put forward a specific proposition: the next phase of industrial progress will focus less on standalone devices and more on cross-sector co-creation centered around robotics, mobility, artificial intelligence, and the digital backbone of daily life. This proposition precisely captures the tech industry's evolving trend toward collaborative ecosystems.
Figures underscore the event's momentum. CEATEC 2026 brings together 821 companies and organizations, up from 810 in 2025, with 338 first-time exhibitors accounting for 41% of the total. Most notably, a record 246 startups and university research institutions have gathered at the show—the highest level since records began in 2014—signaling that the event is increasingly becoming a true launchpad for early-stage deep tech, rather than merely a showcase for industry giants. The influx of startup teams has not only injected fresh innovative vitality but also forged a robust chain for the deep integration of industry, academia, and research.
The event's international profile has also surged. A total of 194 overseas exhibitors from 31 countries and regions have converged at the show, compared to 156 from 29 countries last year. This growth in overseas participation underscores CEATEC's hub status in the global technology landscape. Meanwhile, the organizer anticipates attracting over 110,000 visitors over the four-day event. This massive turnout of trade visitors provides exhibitors with extensive business matching opportunities and reflects the industry's keen interest in cutting-edge technologies.
The exhibition is structured around four distinct zones. The Comprehensive Exhibition Zone (Halls 4-8) brings together established suppliers and technology solutions. The X Zone (Transformation) (Halls 4-6) focuses on societal challenges and industrial transformation, anchored by four organizer-themed pavilions: the Daily Life DX Pavilion, the Digital Ocean Society Pavilion for Unlocking the "Blue Economy" with AI and IoT, the Space Creation Pavilion Linking Private Space Development with Society 5.0 Infrastructure, and the Social Digital Sovereignty Convergence Pavilion. These pavilions translate the concept of transformation into tangible application scenarios. The Next-Generation Zone (Hall 4) serves as a showcase window for startups and exploratory technologies, while the Global Zone (Halls 4-5) features surface technologies from around the world, building a panoramic ecosystem from foundational materials to future concepts.
Co-hosted for the second year with the Japan Mobility Show Biz Week, spearheaded by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), serves as a strategic pillar of this year's event. On opening day, the chairs of JEITA and JAMA held a special dialogue on "Towards Japan's Future Society." This handshake between the digital and automotive industries reflects the increasingly blurred boundaries between the two sectors. In an era of rapid advancement in intelligent connected technologies, such cross-sector synergy provides robust digital support for the intelligent transformation of the automotive industry.
Beyond the exhibition floor, over 200 concurrent conferences are being held, covering topics ranging from solving societal issues to building future societies. The event not only showcases the latest achievements in cutting-edge technology but also provides a platform for in-depth exchange and collaboration among global tech professionals, startups, investors, and policymakers. Through cross-sector integration and innovative dialogue, CEATEC continues to drive the Japanese and global tech industries toward a smarter, more sustainable future, contributing significantly to the realization of future societies.