What to Expect From Jensen Huang's CES 2026 Keynote
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang takes the stage Monday to outline 2026 strategy, with analysts expecting major announcements on physical AI, robotics, and Cosmos foundation models.
Jensen Huang will do what Jensen Huang does best on Monday: put on a show.
The Nvidia CEO delivers his 90-minute keynote address at CES 2026 on January 5 at 4 PM Eastern. It's the most anticipated tech presentation of the year, and Wall Street expects major announcements on robotics, physical AI, and the company's Cosmos foundation model platform.
Nvidia shares rose more than 1% on Friday in anticipation. The stock has become a bellwether for AI sentiment, and Huang's keynotes tend to move markets.
What Analysts Expect
Wedbush's Dan Ives calls 2026 "a critical year for Nvidia's AI strategy" and expects Huang to focus on four areas: data centers, physical AI, robotics, and autonomous technology.
Physical AI—machines that interact with the real world rather than just process text and images—represents the next frontier for Nvidia's platform. The company has been building toward this moment, developing chips and software for robots, self-driving vehicles, and industrial automation.
Ives expects discussion of Nvidia's Cosmos foundation model platform, designed to accelerate how AI systems are built and deployed. Cosmos would let developers train robots and autonomous vehicles in simulation before deploying them in the real world.
The announcement would position Nvidia as more than a chip company. It would make them an AI infrastructure provider across the full stack—from silicon to software to simulation.
Robotics Takes Center Stage
CES organizers have signaled that robotics will dominate this year's conference. "Robotics is going to be talked about big time," one industry executive told CNBC.
Nvidia is prepared for that theme. The company has spent years positioning itself as the go-to computing platform for robots and autonomous systems. Its Jetson modules power robots from warehouse AGVs to surgical systems. Its Drive platform runs autonomous vehicle development at most major automakers.
The question is whether Huang will announce new partnerships, new products, or both. Past CES keynotes have featured surprise collaborations with companies like Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai. Expect something similar this year.
A session titled "Physical AI and the Big Bang of Robotics" features Nvidia's Head of Robotics Ecosystem alongside executives from Accenture and autonomous trucking startup Waabi. That framing suggests Nvidia sees 2026 as the inflection point for real-world AI deployment.
CES 2025 Redux
Last year's keynote introduced RTX 5000-series graphics cards and Project Digits (later renamed Spark), a desktop supercomputer for AI development. Both announcements moved the stock.
The consumer gaming focus last year surprised some analysts who expected more data center news. But Nvidia used the gaming announcements to demonstrate that its AI capabilities extend beyond enterprise use cases.
This year may reverse that balance. With CES shifting its emphasis toward industrial and professional applications, Huang has room to focus on enterprise themes without seeming off-topic.
The Stock Setup
Nvidia shares closed Friday at around $185, up roughly 40% from a year ago but off October highs near $210. The stock has consolidated for months as investors digest the AI buildout and look for the next catalyst.
A strong CES keynote could provide that catalyst. Huang has a track record of under-promising and over-delivering—the same pattern that Barclays highlighted in its Vertiv upgrade this week. When he takes the stage, he typically has announcements ready that exceed expectations.
The semiconductor rally that opened 2026 showed the market remains hungry for AI leadership. Micron jumped 10%, ASML rose 9%, and the sector broadly outperformed on the first trading day of the year.
Nvidia's CES performance could extend that momentum or cool it depending on how Huang frames 2026. If he signals acceleration in data center demand and credible paths to new markets like robotics, the stock has room to run. If the announcements disappoint, the consolidation continues.
How to Watch
The keynote streams live at 4 PM Eastern on January 5 via Nvidia's website and YouTube. Nvidia typically posts presentation materials afterward for those who miss the live event.
For traders, the action will be in after-hours and Tuesday's open. CES keynotes land outside regular trading hours, giving the market overnight to digest the news.
The Groq licensing deal showed Nvidia isn't shy about making big moves. Huang has the stage Monday night. History suggests he'll use it.