How to watch the Intel CES 2026 launch event

We are only a few hours away from the start of CES 2026and with that comes Intel Launch Event. The chip giant is expected to provide more details on its AI PC initiative and the new processors powering it: Core Ultra Series 3 (aka Panther Lake) processors are manufactured using an 18A process, or 18A. angstromsor just under 2 nm – and designed to high-end laptops and gaming devices.

For Intel, the stakes at CES are higher than ever. Over the past 12 months, both Nvidia and the American government acquired stakes in the company, helping to nearly double the stock price by the end of the year. But that figure remains down more than 20% since 2021, as competitors like TSMC, Qualcomm, AMD and NVIDIA have taken leadership in chipmaking and AI hardware.

How to watch Intel’s launch event

Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President of Intel’s Client Computing Group, will kick off the launch event on Monday, January 5 at 6 p.m. ET. A live stream will be available on the Intel Newsroom YouTube Channelwhich we will post here when it is live.

What to expect from Intel at CES 2026

As we noted above, Intel has publicly confirmed that it will highlight “the next generation of Intel-powered PCs, the cutting-edge solution and AI experiences enabled by the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors.” We’ll be keen to see if the company can address the profitability concerns that have surrounded these next-generation chips since at least last summer, when published reports reported that yields were still below 50 percent. (In response, Intel told Engadget that he felt “very good” about his trajectory on Panther Lake, even if he didn’t reach the late 2025 release date that he had envisioned at the time.)

Will we have any updates on this NVIDIA partnership? It’s possible. But don’t expect to hear about Intel may be making the chips for this new entry-level MacBook Air, according to rumor. If that happens, the announcement will certainly take place at a time and place of Apple’s choosing.