Between 17 November 2026 and 9 January 2027, five major tech conferences follow one another: Microsoft Ignite, AWS re:Invent, SIGGRAPH Asia, GITEX Global and CES. Two of them, Ignite and re:Invent, stream their main sessions online for free. For an SME, then, the real question is not whether to attend, but whether the trip is worth the cost.
Microsoft Ignite: a free digital pass
Microsoft Ignite takes place from 17 to 20 November 2026 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The company’s website lists the main themes: agent-based business applications, agent platform, cloud and AI, Copilot, data, security and the Windows ecosystem. On site, the conference pass costs $2,325 and a pass limited to the Hub (booths, theatre sessions and lunch), from 17 to 19 November, costs $1,625. Certification exams taken on site are free.
The key point for a small business: a free digital pass gives access to the keynotes, the sessions and a large share of the technical content, without travelling. An SME using Microsoft 365 or Azure can follow the announcements that directly concern its tools, then decide whether a trip would have brought more.
AWS re:Invent: 2,200 sessions, some streamed live for free
From 30 November to 4 December, AWS re:Invent brings the Amazon Web Services community together in Las Vegas. The full pass is listed at $2,499, with a 10% discount for ten or more tickets bought together; the early-bird rate expired on 25 August. AWS announces more than 2,200 sessions, 70% of them in an interactive format.
The online stream, free with registration, covers the keynotes and more than 50 sessions, with live Q&A and hands-on workshops. For a company that is an AWS customer, it is the most economical way to keep up with what is new on the platform.
December: Kuala Lumpur and Dubai
From 1 to 4 December, SIGGRAPH Asia sets up at the KLCC convention centre in Kuala Lumpur, a first in Malaysia for this 19th edition. The conference programme runs for four days and the exhibition for three, from 2 December. Devoted to computer graphics and interactive techniques, with strands on games, animation and XR, it is aimed at imaging SMEs far more than at those in business IT.
In Dubai, GITEX Global opens on 7 December with a summit at the Sheikh Maktoum Hall of the Dubai World Trade Centre, followed by an exhibition from 8 to 11 December at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City. It is of most interest to companies targeting the Gulf region. As of 12 November 2026, its home page showed neither prices nor attendance figures for this edition.
CES 2027: register before 30 November
CES opens the year in Las Vegas from 6 to 9 January 2027. The pricing calendar encourages quick action: according to the registration page, the standard pass costs $149 until 30 November, then $349 from 1 December. The premium pass rises from $1,450 to $1,750 on the same dates. A written cancellation received no later than 9 December 2026 is refunded, minus a $50 fee.
The decision grid for an SME
Three questions help make the call. First: does the company depend on a specific vendor? If so, that vendor’s event, followed online, provides most of the useful information. Second: is it looking for customers, distributors or partners? A general trade show such as CES or GITEX, where buyers can be met, justifies the trip more than a vendor conference. Third: is its business in a niche, such as 3D imaging? Then the specialised event wins out over the big show.
- Follow online: Ignite and re:Invent, for Microsoft and AWS customers.
- Travel to sell: CES for consumer electronics, GITEX for Gulf markets.
- Travel to learn and recruit: SIGGRAPH Asia for imaging professions.
The ticket price is only part of the bill: flights, hotels and lost working days often weigh more. It is better to set measurable objectives in advance, such as a number of qualified meetings.
Other AI and cloud conferences punctuate the winter: see the full calendar to compare dates. Journalists who wish to cover these shows can request accreditation.
Frequently asked questions
Can Microsoft Ignite and AWS re:Invent be followed for free?
Yes. Ignite offers a free digital pass for the keynotes and sessions. re:Invent streams its keynotes and more than 50 sessions live for free, with registration.
When should you register for CES 2027 to pay less?
Before 30 November 2026: after that, the standard pass rises from $149 to $349, and the premium pass from $1,450 to $1,750.
What are the dates of GITEX Global 2026?
The summit takes place on 7 December at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and the exhibition from 8 to 11 December at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, in Expo City Dubai.
Sources
- Microsoft Ignite, November 17–20, 2026 in San Francisco — Microsoft, 2026-11-12
- AWS re:Invent 2026 — Amazon Web Services, 2026-11-12
- SIGGRAPH Asia 2026, Kuala Lumpur — SIGGRAPH Asia (Koelnmesse), 2026-11-12
- GITEX Global 2026, 7-11 December — GITEX Global (DWTC), 2026-11-12
- CES 2027 — CES (Consumer Technology Association), 2026-11-12
- CES 2027 Registration Information — CES (Consumer Technology Association), 2026-11-12