Robots took centre stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 6, as the annual technology show opened to the public. CES is being held in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9.

The bots roamed the exhibition floors as symbols of how artificial intelligence is moving from screens into physical space. From humanoid assistants and service robots to machines designed for healthcare, logistics and everyday tasks, CES offers a glimpse into a future where robots are no longer experimental curiosities but working companions.

This photo essay documents the machines, their makers and the moments of interaction that reveal how near that future may be.

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Header image: StarBot’s “Shadow“, a hotel and restaurant service robot, is on display at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 6, 2026. — Patrick T. Fallon / AFP