ISE 2026: Show guide

ISE 2026: Show guide

From blockbuster booths and buzzy, new tech zones to bold conversations on what’s next for AV, ISE 2026 is shaping up to be bigger, smarter and more future-focused than ever. Consider this your essential cheat sheet to the show that kickstarts the industry year

Words Verity Butler

At the time of writing, I’ve just returned from the festive break. My inbox is fit to burst with ‘Happy New Years’ and a general sense of readiness to take on whatever 2026 has to offer. However, for anyone who mixes in AV circles, the start of the year marks something far more significant. It is of course the impending return of the industry’s fastest-growing and largest landmark event: Integrated Systems Europe.

Making its grand return to the Fira de Barcelona on 3-6 February, preparations for the show were underway long before the passing of the new year, and for good reason. With a floorplan that comprises around 82,000 sq m of exhibitor space across eight halls and seven expanded technology zones (including 2700 sq m of additional space), it will be the show’s largest configuration to date.

“At ISE, we are dedicated to inspiring the community and exploring what’s possible,” says Mike Blackman, managing director of ISE. “Each year, we aim to deliver an experience that fuels creativity and drives innovation. ISE 2026 will open new horizons, ignite fresh ambition and bring together the global AV and systems integration community for a celebration of innovation.”

Featuring over 1700 exhibitors (323 of which are newbies!), there’s plenty to unpack. Fortunately, LIVE is back with our annual show guide, here to navigate the ever-changing event so that you don’t have to!

The ISE 2026 team has been getting its approximately 82,000 sq m space ready for crowds since before

New to 2026: Confronting industry threats

Every year without fail ISE looks for ways to expand and diversify what it has on offer – to match its fast pace of growth. Something you should watch out for this year is the inaugural Cybersecurity Summit. Its arrival is very timely, after cybersecurity breaches and hacking scandals littered headlines in 2025. The world’s gaze is firmly on the tech industry to come up with answers to this growing problem, and so conversations on the topic at events the scale of ISE are crucial.

As AV systems become increasingly networked and embedded in enterprise, public sector and venue environments, they are directly exposed to the same vulnerabilities as traditional IT infrastructure. At the first-ever ISE Cybersecurity Summit, AV professionals will learn all about safeguarding critical systems, navigating evolving regulations like NIS2 and ISO 27001 and transforming cybersecurity from a vulnerability into a strategic advantage – before it’s too late.

“Cybersecurity is no longer a technical afterthought, it is a business-critical factor,” continues Blackman. “For AV technology users, manufacturers and integrators, it’s essential for accessing public tenders, ensuring regulatory compliance and building long-term trust with clients.”

Summit chair Pere Ferrer i Sastre, who is the former director general of the Catalan Police and also has extensive experience in public security, digital transformation, regulatory frameworks and critical infrastructure management, will facilitate discussions addressing emerging digital threats to the AV and systems integration sectors.

He explains: “Cybersecurity is no longer optional; it lies at the heart of every AV innovation. ISE’s Cybersecurity Summit brings together our industry’s brightest minds to confront today’s digital threats head-on and turn them into strategic advantages. Sharing actionable insights, real-world experience and proven strategies empowers AV professionals to protect critical systems, lead with confidence and build a safer and smarter future for the entire industry.”

The Summit is part of ISE 2026’s overarching theme: Push Beyond. By introducing the Cybersecurity Summit, ISE pushes beyond traditional boundaries to address one of the most urgent and complex issues facing the industry today.

The show’s theme is about pushing beyond today to find tomorrow’s solutions

The show’s theme is about pushing beyond today to find tomorrow’s solutions

2025 success: An investment

Back for yet another year after its resounding success back in 2025, Innovation Park, which is situated in Congress Square, connects investors directly with game-changing start-ups to maximise investment opportunities. Blackman expands: “Whether you’re looking for high-growth investment opportunities or groundbreaking solutions ready for implementation, Innovation Park is where ideas and opportunity meet. We’ve always championed innovation and challenged expectations at ISE, and Innovation Park is the perfect example of how we continue to push beyond today to find tomorrow’s solutions.”

Alongside start-ups and first-time ISE exhibitors, Innovation Park criteria will now include some companies that are returning after an absence of three years or more. To support this expansion, Innovation Park at ISE 2026 will feature 130 exhibition pods.

The Investor Forum will also see its return this year, taking place on the first day of the show, Tuesday 3 February.

“The Investor Forum will spotlight the progressive advancements within pro AV, providing extensive insights for businesses at all stages. A wide range of panels will cover investment types, as well as industry challenges and practical advice for start-ups. Additionally, sessions will explore government funding and highlight experiences from recently funded organisations to support the entire ecosystem,” says Sean Wargo, a conference chair and the principal of Apogee Insight LLC.

This half-day conference offers a unique platform for networking and discovering the next wave of exciting industry opportunities.

This year includes a jam-packed floorplan of company stalls and an exciting programme of events

Back to school!

Another 2025 first-timer will be making its return this year: Connected Classroom, powered by Logitech. This engaging, 120 sq m immersive showcase in Hall 2 features interactive zones each tailored to different educational needs.

“The Connected Classroom began as a chat with Mike Blackman and a shared belief that the AV community could leave a positive and lasting mark on Barcelona and beyond,” explains Jason Whitcomb, founder of Kinetic Culture. “From that conversation grew something greater than a showcase at ISE, it became a bridge between industry innovation and classrooms around the world.”

This year, the Connected Classroom will demonstrate how integrated AV and collaboration technologies directly benefit both teachers and students. From simplifying lesson delivery and enabling hybrid teaching to fostering active, social learning, the showcase highlights how technology can help to enhance the engagement and accessibility potential in every single type of classroom.

Visitors will never be bored at this year’s show

Visitors will never be bored at this year’s show

AI trailblazer for keynote

Widely known for her groundbreaking work in the field of business innovation and technology, Sol Rashidi’s career has spanned four C-suite roles across Fortune 500 companies. As the world’s first chief AI officer for enterprise in 2016, she led AI and data initiatives at Sony Music, Merck and Estée Lauder, before moving to Amazon as the company’s tech executive. She holds ten patents and is the best-selling author of Your AI Survival Guide: Scraped Knees, Bruised Elbows and Lessons Learned from Real-World AI Deployments, which is listed as one of the top books on AI by various leading voices in the field. Voted Forbes’ ‘AI Maverick and Visionary of the 21st Century’, Rashidi has participated in three Tedx speaker sessions to date, with accumulated views of over a million.

Rashidi said that, “The challenge isn’t adopting AI; it’s leading with it. I look forward to this year’s ISE to show how separating hype from fact, implementing strong governance and integrating cybersecurity makes all the difference.”

Use this guide as a cheat sheet to the renowned ISE 2026 show

Best of booths

The beating heart of every trade show is its bustling show floor. Here are the stands we’ll be stopping by at this year’s show:

Blackmagic Design – 4R500

Appropriately located in the buzzing broadcast AV area of the show, we will be heading over to this stand to check out Blackmagic’s renowned, cost-effective and high-performance workflows that span cameras, routing and switchers. Its tightly integrated ecosystems are ideal for broadcasters, live events and corporate AV decision-makers seeking scalable quality.

AV Stumpfl – 3A500

A must-see for premium projection surfaces, media servers and modular screen systems, we’re excited to catch up with the talented AV Stumpfl team, who excel in precision engineering and flexible solutions, tailored to staging, touring and high-end corporate installations.

Christie Digital – 3K500

Christie Digital delivers cutting-edge projection, LED and processing for demanding venues. We’ll be dropping by its stand to explore its market-leading brightness, colour accuracy and reliability.

Hive – 5G700

Although fairly new on the scene, HIVE has been making major waves in the media server scene. Ideal for AV pros who are seeking flexible playback and seamless integration across projection, LED and complex show environments, the buzz around this company is not without reason.

Roe Visual – 3C500

Known and loved for its premium LED display solutions, Roe Visual is essential viewing for anyone specifying high-res, colour-accurate LED. We’ll be swinging by its stand to try out the products most trusted by touring, broadcast and virtual production professionals worldwide.

Disguise – 4P500

Disguise leads in real-time 3D visualisation, content management and playback. We’ll be visiting this company’s stand to see how its platforms can power immersive live experiences, virtual production and broadcast graphics with unmatched flexibility and creative control.

Lawo AG – 5H700

A key destination for anyone who works in advanced IP-based broadcast and audio infrastructure, Lawo AG will be demonstrating its future-proof workflows, software-defined platforms and pristine audio quality for large-scale AV operations and broadcasters at ISE 2026.

Ross Video – 4K500

Another visitor from our broadcasting buddies, Ross Video offers complete production ecosystems that span switching, graphics and much more. Make sure to go and say hi, and discover its practical solutions that bring broadcast tools to AV scenarios in highly sophisticated ways.

Riedel Communications – 5E100

Riedel’s flagship offerings are potentially one of live production’s most essential components: communication. Explore intercoms, IP solutions and managed services that are trusted for mission-critical broadcast, such as various sport and live event environments.

DirectOut – 7C710

We’ll be stopping by the DirectOut booth to see how one of pro audio’s quiet innovators is redefining signal management. From the Prodigy series to the Maven platform, DirectOut delivers flexible, future-proof audio networking that thrives in the most demanding real-world production environments.

Infiled – 3B900

We’ll also be heading to the Infiled stand to see how one ofthe LED industry’s heavyweights continues to push visual boundaries With hundreds of patents and installations worldwide, Infiled’s displays are shaping immersive environments across the globe.

Astera – 6J700

You’ll find Astera over in Hall 6, where we’ll be heading over to explore the latest in truly wireless lighting innovation. Known for robust, battery-powered LED fixtures, Astera continues to set the benchmark for flexible and reliable lighting tools.

There will be informative talks and panels to attend, like the one pictured above

Event highlights

As always at ISE, you can find a whole host of speakers, summits and panels scattered across the show floor. Here are our top picks for the coming year’s event:

Smart Building Summit

Wednesday 4 February

8:30-12:00 | CC5.1

This summit addresses the ways in which home owners, tenants and landlords can leverage integrated technologies and data analytics to reduce costs, extend equipment life and increase property value.

Control Rooms Summit

Wednesday 4 February

14:00-18:00 | CC5.1

Turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities for mission-critical control centres across all sectors.

Broadcast AV Summit

Thursday 5 February

14:00-18:00 | CC5.1

As we emerge from the era of broadcast-AV convergence, we enter the exciting new economies of creator, experience and streaming.

Megatrends Sessions

Tuesday 3 To Thursday 5 February | CC5.3

From Tuesday to Thursday, there are approximately 14 hours of expert sessions on six industry megatrends. The core trends to be discussed are AI, cybersecurity, robotics, smart spaces and sustainability, plus the tradescape megatrend.

Pitching Stage

Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 february all day | CS300

Managed by the early-stage venture capital experts, Plug and Play, the Innovation Park Pitching Stage will put on an inspiring programme of different business pitches and start-up success stories.

For more, see what happened at last year's event.

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