AV crystal ball for 2026

New year, new industry? Experts share their 2026 AV predictions

Words Katie Kasperson

Let’s cut to the chase: 2025 was a tumultuous year. In the live AV industry alone, AI became an even bigger talking point, while immersive experiences – powered by augmented and virtual reality and spatial audio – grew in quantity and quality. Brands focused on sustainability and accessibility, while companies embraced hybrid, cloud-based workflows and AV-over-IP models for remote production.

As the new year starts, we’re keeping a finger on the pulse of live AV. Read on for our check-in with industry experts, who share the products, trends and standards they expect to see in 2026.

Adapting and expanding

Chris Scheck

Head of marketing content, Lawo

Most industry figures agree that the rise of IP in pro AV is well underway, and that IPMX is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Mixed with server-based processing – where the same computer hardware can be employed for vastly different audio and video tasks – the number and nature of processing resources has become intuitive enough to adapt to actual requirements.

Credit-based subscriptions will lead to efficient infrastructure management and less packing time because processing apps can be ‘moved’ to servers in different locations. Finally, granular connectivity solutions will have a positive effect on time-efficient deployment.

Grégoire Deminière

Business development manager for live production, Blackmagic Design

Looking ahead, SMPTE ST 2110 is likely to be a much bigger part of everyday conversations. It offers the familiarity and reliability people expect from SDI – but with some added flexibility that makes systems easier to adapt and expand over time. As costs to implement continue to fall, more users will be able to introduce ST 2110 without having to overhaul everything.

Additionally, live production and post are moving closer together. Replay workflows are no longer just about live output, they are also about creating highlights, feeding social channels and enabling faster collaboration, whether teams are working on site or remotely.

LEDs and projections

Erik Baum

Business development, Roe Visual Europe

Marina Prak

Marketing manager, Roe Visual Europe

As the live events industry looks toward 2026, expectations of radical new trends should be tempered. From Roe Visual’s perspective, shaped by ongoing conversations across the industry, the year ahead points to continuity rather than disruption. Short-term assignments, rising costs, capped budgets and competition, particularly in the rental and outdoor markets, remain defining factors.

At the same time, long-delayed investments are starting to move forward. Venues, rental companies and producers are prioritising proven, adaptable technologies that deliver reliable performance under real-world touring and installation conditions. There is also a strong drive to stand out through distinctive visual identities, with growing demand for LED solutions that move beyond flat screens and become integral design elements, such as our recently launched Vanish Air.

One area with genuine long-term impact is the convergence of physical and digital performance. Avatar-led and hybrid productions are expanding the definition of ‘live’, placing greater emphasis on LED systems that deliver precision, colour accuracy and consistency to support realism and audience immersion.

Joseph Conover

Director of live events, immersive entertainment & virtual production, Christie

While LED has made significant inroads in live AV, projection remains the primary display technology for many live events. However, we’re seeing a movement away from the traditional approach of hanging projectors from the rafters without considering the total cost involved. Investors, integrators and live event professionals now look for long-term solutions that include display solutions, processors, software and service support.

Performance with purpose

Danny Castree

Head of commercial, Universal Pixels

In 2026, we’ll see artists responding more directly to a world shaped by conflicts and a geopolitical landscape that is creating uncertainty and division. Performances are becoming platforms for activism, with content that can be localised, language-specific and tuned to the realities of different audiences. Video and visual storytelling are now more adaptable than ever, allowing artists to communicate meaningfully with people in the places they are performing, rather than delivering a single, fixed narrative.

At the same time, we’ll begin to feel the impact of the groundwork laid over recent years by artists, promoters, venues and festivals around sustainability. What has until now been policy and principle is starting to translate into practical change on the ground, reshaping live events.

This feature was first published in the Spring 2026 issue of LIVE.