Nvidia GTC 2026: What you need to know about Nvidia's most significant annual event

Nvidia GTC 2026: Key Highlights and Anticipated Announcements

Nvidia’s flagship event, GTC 2026, is set to begin in San Jose, California, with CEO Jensen Huang delivering the opening keynote. The presentation, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at the SAP Center, will offer developers, analysts, and media a glimpse into Nvidia’s plans for the upcoming year.

Jensen Huang, known for his signature leather jacket, typically uses his keynote to unveil a range of new products and updates, and this year is expected to follow suit. In recent months, Nvidia has been actively forming partnerships with both hardware and software companies, and the event will likely shed light on how these collaborations are shaping the company’s AI chip offerings.

One notable partnership from the past year is Nvidia’s nonexclusive deal to utilize Groq’s inferencing technology, announced in December. Alongside this agreement, Nvidia brought on board Groq’s founder Jonathan Ross, president Sunny Madra, and several other key executives.

Groq specializes in creating language processing units (LPUs), chips optimized for running AI models. The company asserts that its processors can execute large language and AI models with up to ten times the efficiency of traditional GPUs.

As the AI industry shifts focus from training models to inferencing, there is growing demand for chips that can efficiently run AI applications at a lower cost. While Nvidia’s GPUs are known for their performance, integrating Groq’s technology or introducing a dedicated inference chip could address concerns that customers might turn to more specialized processors in the future.

Potential New Laptop CPUs

There is also speculation that Nvidia may introduce its long-awaited laptop CPUs at GTC. Reports suggest that two new chips, the N1 and N1X, are in development to power Windows laptops. These processors will be based on Arm architecture, similar to Qualcomm’s offerings, but are expected to be tailored for gaming performance. Given Nvidia’s strong reputation among gamers for its GPUs, a dedicated CPU could quickly gain popularity.

Nvidia’s technology already powers Nintendo’s Switch consoles and has been used in various computers, so expanding into laptop CPUs would be a logical step. This move would also help Nvidia maintain its connection with the gaming community as it increasingly focuses on data center solutions.

However, it’s important to note that these new CPUs are unlikely to match the revenue generated by Nvidia’s core GPU and networking products. In 2025, the company’s gaming division reported $22.5 billion in sales, while its data center segment reached $193.5 billion.

Looking Ahead: AI Platforms and Software Innovations

Beyond hardware, Jensen Huang is expected to share more about Nvidia’s upcoming Vera Rubin AI platform and the Vera Ultra, which is planned for release in the second half of 2027. Additional insights into the future Feynman GPU, set for 2028, may also be revealed.

On the software front, Nvidia may introduce its own platform for deploying AI agents, known as NemoClaw. This service would enable businesses to implement AI agents throughout their systems.

Nvidia frequently highlights its expertise in software, showcasing open-source AI models that range from simulating real-world physics to advancing autonomous vehicle technologies. Launching an AI agent platform would be a strategic move as interest in AI agents continues to rise across the industry.

Attendees can also expect a variety of other software announcements, including developments in physical AI and robotics—a sector that Huang believes could become a multi-trillion-dollar market.

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