The DALI Alliance will host the first-ever Global DALI Summit + Expo, DALI 27, on 23rd – 24th February 2027 at the Supernova area in the Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, the Netherlands. DALI 27 will connect experts from across the lighting, smart buildings, and smart cities sectors to shape the future of digital lighting control. The event will establish a new international forum for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation, bringing together the global DALI ecosystem. DALI 27 will conclude in a gala dinner featuring the 2027 DALI Lighting Awards, which recognize outstanding projects and achievements in DALI-based lighting control.

DALI 27 combines the DALI Alliance General Assembly with a conference and expo for lighting designers, manufacturers, system integrators, and technology providers. The program will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, technical sessions, case studies, and an expo showcasing the latest DALI technologies and solutions. Networking events throughout DALI 27 will provide opportunities for professionals to connect and exchange ideas.

“DALI 27 brings together experts from across the lighting, smart buildings, and smart cities value chains to advance interoperable digital lighting control,” says Paul Drosihn, General Manager of the DALI Alliance. “For the first time, we are bringing the global DALI ecosystem together for a dedicated summit and expo to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and inspire innovation.”

DALI 27 will open on Tuesday morning, 23rd February 2027, at the centrally located venue in Utrecht. Located just 30 minutes by direct train from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and a five-minute walk from Utrecht Centraal Station, the venue provides convenient access for attendees traveling from around the world. Throughout the two-day event, sponsors and partner companies will showcase their latest technologies and solutions in the Expo. The full conference program will be announced in fall 2026, with registration details, ticket options, and participation fees to follow. Companies and industry experts interested in presenting, exhibiting, or sponsoring DALI 27 are encouraged to contact the DALI Alliance.

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Taking place on 8th October at The Minster Building in London, the event will explore the practical steps the lighting industry needs to take, to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. The programme includes keynote presentations, panel discussions, case studies and interactive sessions covering topics such as product design, remanufacturing, reuse, recycling, carbon literacy, and the latest policy and standards developments.

The event is sponsored by Light Projects Evolve (as headline sponsor) and Thorlux, Albis, Fagerhult, WAGO, Lumi Studio, and DRK Lighting Remedies.  Their support means that tickets are free for lighting specifiers.

Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive of Recolight, said: “We are delighted that the list of lighting specifiers already registered to attend reads like a who’s who of leading lighting designers and end users. They include representatives from Aecom, Arup, Buro Happold, CBRE, Hoare Lea, Introba, Michael Grubb Studios, City of London, Max Fordham, Nulty, ORMS, Overbury, Atkins Realis, RD Group, Blackmoon, DPA, Circalume, and 18 degrees.”

Circular Lighting Live host Ray Molony, added: “The circular economy is moving from aspiration to reality within the lighting sector. The programme for Circular Lighting Live reflects that momentum, bringing together some of the industry’s most knowledgeable and influential speakers. Attendees will gain practical insights, hear real-world success stories and have the opportunity to connect with others who are driving change. If your organisation is serious about sustainability and resource efficiency, this is an event not to be missed.”

Tickets are available at https://circularlighting.live/ with a limited number of free lighting designer tickets remaining.

A1 Lighting are proud media partners of Circular Lighting Live.

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Headline sponsors for the event will be lighting manufacturers Ayrton and SGM, which will host the 12^th edition of this popular lighting quadrennial. 

Showlight’s organisers say: “Showlight changes its location with every edition and Granada has been chosen after considerable research into suitable locations. We feel it is a prime setting to continue Showlight’s journey after the immensely successful return of Showlight 2025 in Dijon, France.”

Granada is a very walkable city with squares surrounded by cafes and streets full of tapas bars. In short, just the kind of location, atmosphere and convivial environment that suits Showlight and its delegates.

Taking place once every four years, Showlight offers an eclectic programme of presentations from lighting professionals across many disciplines but delivers much more besides. The schedule is carefully planned to allow plenty of opportunities to network and socialise between sessions, during evening dinners, cultural visits, and at the grand Conference Dinner on the event’s final evening (the location of which is never revealed until the day, and never disappoints!)

Nowhere else can established lighting designers and industry professionals, manufacturers, students and young practitioners mingle and exchange ideas in such a relaxed environment. Come for the presentations, stay for the networking and make new connections.  Student Sponsorship and Emerging Professional bursaries are available. (See the website for more information www.showlight.org/students andwww.showlight.org/bursaries)

Put the dates in your calendar and sign up to the newsletter (www.showlight.org) to receive updates as they are released, including the day registration opens!

If you would like to know more about Showlight and discover what previous editions have offered, visit the Showlight website where speaker presentations from 2025 are constantly being uploaded: www.showlight.org/videos

Image credit: © Tom Podmore via unsplash.com.

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Marking 10 years of GLP UK, the stand will bring together the UK team and international GLP colleagues with some of the latest additions to the GLP range, including the impression FR2, WildBar 8 and TWYN. Alongside them will be the JDC2 IP, supported by a separate programme of dedicated hands-on workshops running away from the bustle of the show floor. And, of course, there will be coffee.

Stand E5 is one of the first stands visitors encounter on the way into the hall, making it an easy meeting point during three busy days, and according to GLP UK, it’s still home to the best coffee at PLASA. No independent verification has been sought.

New toys on stand E5
Making its PLASA debut will be the GLP impression FR2, which combines theatre- and TV-friendly Fresnel quality with a compact format light enough for one person to rig.

Delivering more than twice the output of its FR1 predecessor, FR2 uses GLP’s iQ.Gamut colour technology to ensure consistent colour matching across compatible GLP fixtures. Three additional rings of 32 RGBW LEDs each provide a completely separate creative layer, opening up possibilities for effects and visual accents beyond the fixture’s core Fresnel functionality.

Also making its PLASA appearance is the GLP WildBar 8, the newest and smallest member of the WildBar family. At half the length of the WildBar 16, it uses GLP’s patented seamless pixel pitch technology, continuing a principle that has been featured in every GLP LED bar since the impression X4 Bar. Maintaining exactly the same spacing between pixels both within and between fixtures means WildBar 8 and WildBar 16 units can be mixed freely while still appearing as one continuous line of light, with no visible gaps between fixtures.

Completing the line-up is the GLP TWYN. Still a relatively new addition to the GLP portfolio, TWYN has already gained strong traction by bringing together the DNA of two familiar GLP concepts in one unique dual-face moving head.

One side builds on GLP’s Creos, with a 3×3 array of zoomable RGBL LEDs producing powerful, homogeneous washes. Spin it around and the opposite side takes its inspiration from the JDC Burst 1, combining a white strobe tube with RGBW LED plates for dynamic strobe and colour effects.

They’re two very different lighting concepts in a single fixture. That means less truss space needed and fewer fixtures required. For large productions, that can mean simplifying an already complex rig. And for smaller shows, it means getting significantly more out of the space available.

JDC2 IP: Beyond the Strobe

Away from stand E5, GLP UK is also giving programmers and designers the chance to get properly hands-on with the JDC2 IP.

A substantially updated software platform introduces improved DigiFX, more powerful video integration and a streamlined Canvas, considerably expanding what can be created across multiple JDC2 IP fixtures while making the workflow more straightforward.

Rather than attempting to demonstrate all of that in the middle of a busy exhibition stand, GLP UK is running a programme of dedicated workshops titled “JDC2 IP: Beyond the Strobe” in Workshop Studio, Henley Suite 7.

Led by GLP product specialist René Geissel, the sessions will explore Segment Mapping, DigiFX, Canvas and Fixture Positioning, External NDI, FVP and Pixel Cruncher, together with the new DigiFX Visualizer.

Together, these tools allow designers and programmers to move from fixture-level effects to large-scale visual compositions across multiple JDC2 IP units (including external NDI content) without requiring a separate media server.

Each session lasts 30 minutes and is limited to just six people. That’s intentional. These aren’t presentations from the back of a crowded room. Everyone will have the opportunity to get hands on with the system, to ask questions and to see what it can actually do.

Places on the JDC2 IP workshops can be booked in advance at jdc2plasa2026.netlify.app.

10 years of GLP UK
PLASA also marks a milestone for the UK team, who will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2026.

Over that decade, GLP UK has grown considerably, but the approach has remained reassuringly familiar – good products, good people, close relationships with customers and (wherever possible) not taking itself too seriously.

A few nods to the anniversary will inevitably make their way onto stand E5 throughout the show. Visitors are very welcome to come and help mark the occasion, and no singing of Happy Birthday is required.

Simon Barrett of GLP UK states, “PLASA is always one of those shows where an enormous number of our favourite people end up in the same building, which is probably why we keep coming back.

This year feels particularly special because GLP UK is ten. We’ve got some genuinely exciting new products to show, there’s a huge amount happening with JDC2, and most importantly we’ll have a lot of the people who’ve been part of those ten years in one place.

Come and see us on E5. Have a play with the kit, book yourself into a JDC2 workshop, drink our allegedly excellent coffee and help us celebrate ten years of GLP UK.”

Photo credits: GLP.

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PLASA Show’s buzz and vibes are a perfect setting for Robe to reveal five brand new inventive moving light and LED products, and to showcase its other latest technologies – on Stand A70 – alongside its partner businesses, Avolites, Anolis, LSC Control Systems and Artistic Licence.

Robe products launched at PLASA Show 2026 are the Arianne 4 and Arianne 12 which expand the Arianne multisource LED IP65 series of fixtures following the launch of Arianne 2 and Arianne 6 earlier this year, making a complete family. Features include the 55W RGB Lime LED multichip source that seriously makes the colours pop, keeping everyone fully in the limelight!

Also launched is the LEDBeam 400, the iT10 Profile and the mySVOPATT – a new version of the unique SVOPATT luminaire – now with pan and tilt.

Also new

Robe’s new multifunctional laser source GigaPointe makes its first appearance at PLASA Show having had a great run of summer festivals all across Europe – and other product news for PLASA Show is that Robe has implemented its AERIS^TM patented technology to the entire LT series of luminaires.

Originally this started with the iPAINTE LTM which is a PLASA Innovation Award entry this year.

AERIS™ (Airborne Emission Removal In-head System) technology instantly filters and scrubs air in the moving light head compartment, preventing airborne residues (like oil and other volatile organic compounds) from settling on optical elements such as lenses, prisms, gobos, and dichroic filters. AERIS™ keeps the surfaces pristine extending service intervals and significantly reducing service and maintenance costs.

Beyond Reflection

A new Robe live show concept will be launched at PLASA Show 2026 titled, “A World Beyond Reflection – Where Light Reveals All”

A typically high-energy show narrative is framed in a hyper-stylized, high-tech anime world, where AI has taken control of everything that people see and hear, stifling emotions and preventing human imagination and creativity from functioning.

The audience will take a journey across a wide spectrum of musical genres, powered live by an incendiary 10-piece drum and brass band.

Playing rogue robotic musicians, the performers stumble onto the stage and activate an energy surge that rips through their instruments allowing them to manipulate the surrounding lighting. The burning question is can they arrest control from the bots … and forge a new path towards true human-based creativity?

The show will feature around 200 Robe lighting fixtures including all the launched products plus GigaPointes, Arianne 2 and Arianne 6s, Tetra2’s, iFORTE LTX’s, iESPRITE LTMs, PAINTE LTLs, iBOLTS, WTF!s and Footsies.

Each batch of different Robe products are integrated into the show to illustrate their capabilities in situ in a real-world show environment which will be relatable to PLASA Show visitors from all disciplines.

Lighting is programmed and controlled on an Avolites D9-215, a D7-215, utilizing two TITAN net Processors with media running on an Avo Q3 Pro Ai Server running the latest version of Prism.

The first show will be at 11 a.m. and it will play four times a day every two hours for the first two days, finishing on Tuesday with the 3 p.m. performance. It will be interspersed with informative ‘Voice-of-God’ product presentations

The stand will contain several demonstration areas where people can get more in-depth with all the products and chat to the Robe team.

On the left of Robe’s main stage is the Avolites booth, and to the right is Anolis, Artistic License and LSC.

Avolites

Lighting and visual control manufacturer Avolites highlights its complete console line-up at PLASA Show on Stand C28!

The culmination of the company’s Avo50 50^th year anniversary celebrations will be happening on the stand at 2.30 p.m. on Monday 7^th September, when the whole world will discover who wins a very special Golden Console to mark this landmark achievement.

After eight months of tantalising clues, intense leaderboard watching, and fierce competition, the Avo50 competition ends with one of the top 50 entrants being picked out of a hat and taking home the totally unique Golden Console.

There will be a huge toast to the winner and everyone who took part.

On the product front, from Avolites compact, portable ‘Travel Collection’ through to the flagship D9, the exhibition will offer visitors hands-on access to the full range in one place. Whether running a small touring rig or programming visuals for the biggest stages, there’s a console on the stand built for the task.

Avolites will be running the first Prism – media control platform and software – training sessions since the product’s launch, alongside free Titan training throughout the show, so people can see the software in action and talk directly to the Avo team about its optimisation for shows. Visitors can also see how Prism integrates with the full console range, getting a clear picture of how lighting and visual media can work simultaneously and harmoniously together as one system.

The R&D and product teams will be on hand throughout PLASA Show to answer questions, take feedback, and talk through what’s coming next from Avolites.

Anolis

Anolis will showcase a selection of architectural LED luminaires designed to bring precision, flexibility and durability to a wide range of applications. The booth display will highlight solutions for linear, façade, accent and in-ground lighting, demonstrating the versatility of the Anolis portfolio across different architectural environments.

Visitors will be able to explore Lamari™, a compact linear luminaire offering a wide range of beam angles for versatile architectural lighting, alongside the compact yet powerful Appoli™ for spot, accent and flood applications.

Also on display will be Agame™, creating a uniform line of light with a 180° beam angle to accentuate architectural features, and the in-ground Lyrae™, offering a variety of optical distributions and remote tilt adjustment up to 25° for precise surface illumination.

Together, the featured luminaires demonstrate Anolis’ focus on precise optical control, installation flexibility and robust design, providing adaptable lighting solutions for diverse architectural projects.

LSC Control Systems

LSC Control Systems will showcase its latest products, APSX and GENX. This advanced power distribution and dimming systems feature Ethernet connectivity to integrate seamlessly with modern control, monitoring, and automation workflows.

Also, on LSC’s display is the NEXEN range, the new Ethernet/DMX converter designed for rock-solid, reliable data control and distribution, enabling smooth conversion of entertainment-industry protocols, including ArtNet, sACN, DMX, RDM, and ArtRDM.

New for 2026, the NEXEN range adds a 4- and 8-port rackmount, a 2-port portable, and, for the installation markets, a 2-port wall mount version.

Visitors can also experience the award-winning UNITOUR portable power solution and the versatile UNITY dimming and power control cabinet installation system. With these product highlights, LSC Control Systems continues to deliver reliable and innovative solutions for the global entertainment industry.

Artistic License

Artistic Licence will be hard to miss at PLASA Show 2026, with new technology, hands-on demonstrations and expert insight offered across the event.

At the Cybersecurity Pavilion on stand K66, visitors can explore artPlay, while DMX Protect Extreme has been entered for a PLASA Award for Innovation. The team will also demonstrate the latest cueLumen developments, including the first outing for Composer – a free configuration utility designed to make system deployment faster and more efficient for installers and integrators.

Product Application Specialist Tim Smith will present “Getting Started with Sig-Net” on Monday 7^th September at 10.30am in the Lighting & Staging Theatre, introducing the next-generation lighting control protocol and its relevance to emerging cybersecurity requirements.

Visitors can meet the Artistic Licence team on stand A70+, experience the technology first-hand and discuss how its latest developments could support their next control projects.

The whole Robe team is looking forward to an amazing time at PLASA Show 2026!

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Sponsored for the first time by Dante, the free-to-attend programme will explore the forces reshaping entertainment technology, from sustainability, skills and the future workforce to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and increasingly connected production environments.

Across three days, visitors will hear directly from the people behind high-profile live productions, landmark venues and developing technologies, alongside practical technical and creative masterclasses from specialists working across lighting, audio, AV, staging and business.

Dante joins as seminar programme sponsor

New programme sponsor, Dante, will deliver two sessions examining the changing role of networked technology in live production.

The Economics of Convergence – When Shared Networks Make Sense in Live Sound and When They Don’t will offer a practical framework for deciding when bringing audio, video, lighting and control onto one shared network delivers genuine value – and when it could introduce additional cost and complexity.

A second session, 2 Million People, One Network – Dante at Festival Scale, will explore the latest tools and workflows available for building and managing live systems, drawing on applications ranging from touring productions to vast outdoor concerts.

Dante comments on the sponsorship, “We are really pleased to return to PLASA London this year to support our many OEM and channel partners on the show floor, and, for the first time as sponsors of the Seminar Programme, to be at the heart of important conversations around the technology, welfare and advancement of the live entertainment industry.”

Inside some of entertainment’s most ambitious projects

Major case studies will take audiences behind the scenes of productions spanning broadcast entertainment, immersive experiences, theatre, aerial performance and one of the world’s largest televised music events.

Celestial’s John ‘JP’ Partridge will chart the rapid development of drone light shows in From Titanic To Britain’s Got Talent – Creating The UK’s Biggest Drone Shows.

Drawing on projects including Celestial’s internationally recognised Titanic display and the company’s journey to becoming a Britain’s Got Talent 2026 runner-up, Partridge will explore the creative, technical and operational work behind aerial spectacles watched by audiences numbering in the millions.

Norbert Tripp, global technical director at Area Four Industries, will provide an inside look at the design, engineering and installation of the ground support structure for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel (see LSi June 2026).The Gateway To The Greatest Show – Insight Into The Ground Support Of Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will follow the project from its earliest planning stages through to delivery on site, examining the close collaboration required between the manufacturer, structural engineers and installation teams.

Visitors can also discover how one of television’s most recognisable formats was transformed into an immersive attraction in The Traitors – From TV to Live Experience. The session will examine how creative, lighting, sound and show-control teams built a scalable experience in which performers themselves trigger the technical elements, allowing eight simultaneous Round Tables to operate under the supervision of just one show controller.

LSi brings industry stories to the stage

LSi has curated a stream of sessions throughout all three days, combining production insight with stories from some of the industry’s most influential venues, designers and technologies.

Award-winning lighting designer Aideen Malone will discuss the collaboration and creative challenges involved in lighting the current acclaimed revival of Into The Woods, which she will cover in Lighting ‘Into The Woods’: From Concept to Stage (see LSi March 2026). Meanwhile, Vari-Lite pioneers Jim Bornhorst and Tom Littrell will mark 40 years since the launch of the Series 200 range in Vari-Lite – The Lights That Changed Our World.

The National Theatre’s 50th anniversary will provide the focus for another major panel in The National Theatre At Fifty – Five Decades Of Technology In Support Of Theatre. Paul Handley, Matt Drury and Andrew Grant will be joined by David Bertenshaw and Anne Valentino to explore five decades of technology in support of theatre, from the venue’s original power-flying systems and Lightboard consoles to video projection, LED lighting and modern Eos control.

The team from the Royal Ballet and Opera will also share how it completed a full renovation of the Royal Opera House’s auditorium lighting without closing for a single evening (see LSi June 2026). Rachael O’Sullivan, Alex Gardner and George Townsend will be joined by Push The Button’s Ben Noble for The Royal Opera House – In A New Light.

Audio takes centre stage in Douze Points: How The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest Set Triumphant New Standards For Audio. The session will bring together key figures behind the audio delivery for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, exploring how the team served the live audience, performers, broadcasters and online viewers while introducing new techniques and technologies for one of the world’s biggest live events.

Elsewhere, Avatar Advancements – The New Frontier Of Live Performance will explore Unit1Studio’s work to transport audiences into performances by legendary artists (see LSi February 2026). The discussion will look at how expertise from Unit1Studio, Brompton Technology, ROE Visual, Woodroffe Bassett Design and sound designer Richard Brooker has contributed to the next generation of avatar-based concert experiences.

Sustainability moves from ambition to action

PLASA will host a dedicated trio of sustainability discussions addressing product information, the wider climate landscape and the gap between industry messaging and meaningful action.

Digital Product Passports – A Headache Or Opportunity For Our Industry will examine how changing product-data expectations could affect entertainment technology businesses.

Big Picture – Global Impact On Our Industry will cut through climate jargon to consider how extreme weather, global economics, politics and supply-chain pressures could affect the sector over the next 25 years.

Elsewhere, Sustainability Reality Check – Where Does Our Industry Really Stand? will invite industry professionals to speak candidly about where sustainable practices have delivered a genuine advantage, where they continue to be overlooked and whether action is matching the sector’s public commitments.

Preparing for AI, cybersecurity and the next generation

Technology and talent will intersect throughout the programme, with the “next generation” theme encompassing both emerging tools and the people who will use them.

Sessions will explore skills development, training, career pathways and the challenge of attracting and retaining new talent, while also addressing the opportunities and responsibilities created by AI and connected products.

In How To Get Real Value From AI, Jon Hole and Wayne Howell will join Dr Sacha Krstulovic, founder of Understand-AI.today, and lighting designer and educator Tad Trylski to discuss applications extending beyond press releases and image generation. The panel will consider how AI could support creative work, business processes and product development across the entertainment industry.

Wayne Howell will also present with Roland Hemming on Cybersecurity, CRA And How It Affects You, offering an industry-specific update on the EU Cyber Resilience Act, the steps businesses should be taking now and developing tools intended to support compliance and secure product design.

The wider programme will feature contributions from exhibiting companies including ETC, d&b, Artistic Licence, PROLYTE, Robe, Polar Audio and Visualisation. Industry organisations taking part include AVIXA, Backup Tech, The Power of Events, Bectu, the ALPD, the ASDP, WIL, the HSE and HELA, among others.

Beyond the seminar theatres

Beyond the seminar theatres, visitors can experience the latest audio, AV and projection technology in dedicated demo spaces from AbsenLive, Barco, KV2 Audio, and RCF and TT+ Audio.

ChamSys will also run bookable training sessions on 6 and 7 September, covering MagicQ programming, MediaMaster 26, advanced show-file workflows and guest lighting designer sessions. Demo rooms are walk-in, while advance registration is required for training.

Explore all sessions and register free

Sophie Atkinson, Head of Events at PLASA, comments: “The 2026 programme brings together the conversations our industry needs to be having with the projects and technical stories people want to hear. From Eurovision, The Traitors and Celestial’s drone shows to sustainability, AI, cybersecurity and the future workforce, it offers a genuinely broad view of where entertainment technology is heading.

We are also delighted to welcome Dante as our new seminar programme sponsor and to see so many exhibitors, organisations and working professionals sharing their knowledge with the PLASA Show community.”

Visitors can use the official PLASA Show app to browse the programme and bookmark their favourite sessions, making it easy to plan their time at the show.

All seminars are free to attend with a PLASA Show entry badge and operate on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis.

Register for a complimentary ticket* and explore the programme at: www.plasashow.com/programme

*Ticket price increases to £15 +VAT from 1st – 5th September 2026/£20 +VAT from 6th – 8th September 2026.

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PLASA Show has announced the launch of The PLASA Lab, a new live lighting demonstration making its debut at Olympia, London from 6th – 8th September 2026.

Independently facilitated by lighting professional James Simpson, The PLASA Lab will give lighting professionals, venue and production teams, specifiers and students a rare opportunity to examine how fixtures behave in a controlled, real-world stage environment.

Inside a dedicated, blacked-out space in Olympia’s West Hall, comparable fixtures will be grouped by type and taken through a carefully designed series of pre-programmed lighting states. The demonstrations will explore a range of technical characteristics, helping visitors look beyond headline specifications and understand the nuances of each product.

Rather than producing an overall score or declaring a winner, The PLASA Lab will demonstrate how different fixtures can excel in different areas and suit different creative or technical applications.

James Simpson comments: “The PLASA Lab gives visitors the rare chance to compare how products actually behave side by side – without marketing language, sales pitches or brand bias. You leave the business cards at the door and simply experience the light.

Each one-hour session will take visitors through a series of pre-programmed lighting states, designed to make meaningful comparisons between fixtures. We’ll add the relevant technical context as we go, then reveal the products at the end.”

Participating products and brands will remain hidden throughout each demonstration, keeping visitors’ attention firmly on the light itself. Their identities will only be unveiled at the end of the session, with those in the room encouraged to keep the reveals under wraps until the show has finished, preserving the experience for later audiences.

Following the reveal, visitors will be able to access the consoles and put individual fixtures through their own tests, supported by student volunteers. They can then speak directly with the participating manufacturers, ask technical questions and explore the products in greater depth.

Investing in a more hands-on show experience

The PLASA Lab forms part of PLASA Show’s continued investment in creating more opportunities for visitors to experience technology beyond the exhibition stand.

PLASA’s Managing Director comments: “Trade shows have always been an important place to discover new products, but visitors increasingly want to do more than simply see technology displayed on a stand. They want to experience it working, understand the differences between products and get hands-on in an environment that reflects how that technology might actually be used.

We’re investing in The PLASA Lab because we believe it adds genuine value to the visitor experience. It gives people another reason to come to the show, spend time exploring the technology and have more informed conversations with manufacturers afterwards.

Lighting is a natural place for us to start, but we’re really excited by the potential of the concept. If it resonates with visitors and exhibitors, there is plenty of scope to explore how a similar approach could work across other areas of entertainment technology at future PLASA Shows.”

The programme will cover five fixture categories: High Output Spot, Low Output Spot, Beam, Big Wash and Small Wash, with each explored through criteria relevant to that type of fixture.

The PLASA Lab is also supported by LSi, which will provide editorial and media support around the project, including post-show coverage.

Simpson continues: “I’ve loved the response from manufacturers. They believe in their engineering, but they are also confident and curious enough to see how it performs alongside competitors in a fair, carefully designed environment. That says a lot about the spirit of this industry.

Ultimately, The PLASA Lab is for anyone who cares about entertainment lighting. Our industry creates extraordinary technology, and this is a new way to see the best of it properly – in action, on equal terms, and without the usual noise around it.”

The PLASA Lab will run across all three days of PLASA Show. Exact demonstration timings will be announced nearer the event.

Register for free

PLASA Show 2026 takes place at Olympia, London from 6th – 8th September 2026.

The PLASA Lab experience is included with a PLASA Show ticket. Registration is free until 31st August. From 1st – 5th September, visitor registration will cost £15 + VAT, with on-the-door registration priced at £20 + VAT from 6th – 8th September.

Find out more and register for your free badge: https://www.plasashow.com/plasa-lab

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Taking place on The Gallery (stand K62), the popular feature will bring together a collection of historic lighting and production technology with an extensive display of rare audio equipment from CH Vintage Audio, led by Chris Hewitt.

Named after the long-running Classic Gear column for LSi magazine, the feature places landmark technology from across the decades alongside the latest innovations being launched at PLASA Show.

Celebrating 50 years of the National Theatre

This year, Classic Gear Live will mark 50 years since the opening of the National Theatre on London’s South Bank.

At the time of its opening, the National embraced new technology in a way no other British theatre had, introducing power flying, the famous Olivier Drum Revolve stage, the pioneering Lightboard lighting console and much more.

Visitors will be able to explore an array of lighting control systems used throughout the building’s history, from Lightboard and Galaxy to the Strand 500-series and an original ETC Eos running the version 1.0 software from its 2006 debut.

Also on display will be the original automation console from the Olivier Theatre and the prototype model of the Drum Revolve. A dedicated photo gallery on neighbouring stand K60 will offer a rare behind-the-scenes view of the National Theatre across the decades.

Rare Vari-Lite technology and industry pioneers

Classic Gear Live will also celebrate 40 years since the launch of Vari-Lite’s Series 200 system.

The display will include the mighty Artisan control console and a range of fixtures including the VL2, VL4 and VL5, alongside the now incredibly rare VL3 and VL6.

Joining the stand on Sunday and Monday will be two key members of the team behind the technology: Vari-Lite lead designer Jim Bornhorst, who received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering alongside his team, and Tom Littrell, who helped establish the role of the Vari-Lite programmer on productions including the Genesis Abacab tour.

Their appearance offers visitors a unique opportunity to hear the history of moving lights directly from two of the field’s pioneers.

Legendary touring mixers from CH Vintage Audio

Representing the evolution of live sound, CH Vintage Audio will present an exceptional collection of rare mixing consoles connected to some of the biggest artists and productions of the 1970s.

Highlights will include:

• The mixer used on David Bowie’s 1973 Ziggy Stardust tour

• Pink Floyd’s quadraphonic mixer from The Dark Side of the Moon and Live at Pompeii

• The Who’s 1970s Mavis quadraphonic mixer

• Slade’s 1970s WEM Stereomaster 24-channel touring mixer

• A 1970s Kelsey mixer used by Soft Machine

These will be joined by further rare audio artefacts from the CH Vintage Audio collection, offering visitors a close-up look at the equipment behind a defining period of touring and recording history.

Betty returns

The feature will also mark 70 years since the debut of Betty, the Strand System CD lighting console that ran productions at London’s Palace Theatre from 1956 until 1980.

Following the attention she received at last year’s show, Betty will return as one of Classic Gear Live’s most tactile attractions. Visitors who missed her in 2025 – or simply want another opportunity to experience this remarkable piece of control history – will be able to see her in action throughout the show.

Classic Gear Live in the seminar programme

Beyond the equipment itself, Classic Gear Live gives visitors the chance to meet some of the people who originally designed, built, sold and operated these groundbreaking technologies.

The feature will also contribute to two sessions in the PLASA Show seminar programme.

On Sunday 6 September at 2.30pm, Vari-Lite: The Lights That Changed Our World will feature Vari-Lite pioneers Jim Bornhorst and Tom Littrell discussing the history of the company’s groundbreaking moving-light technology. Bornhorst was Vari-Lite’s lead designer and, alongside his team, received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering, while Littrell helped establish the role of the Vari-Lite programmer on productions including Genesis’ Abacab tour.

On Monday 7 September at 2.30pm, The National Theatre At Fifty – Five Decades Of Technology In Support Of Theatre will explore how the National Theatre has continued to pioneer entertainment technology throughout its history. Paul Handley, Matt Drury and Andrew Grant from the National Theatre will be joined by David Bertenshaw of Strand, who helped develop the Lightboard console, and Anne Valentino of ETC, who led the team behind the Eos console family.

Together, they will discuss the technical demands of complex productions and the ways in which entertainment technology has evolved to meet them.

Classic Gear Live offers the chance to experience entertainment technology history up close.

The vintage collection can be found together upstairs on The Gallery –  stand K62 at PLASA Show 2026, with the National Theatre Gallery located next door on stand K60.

PLASA Show takes place at Olympia London from 6th – 8th September 2026.

Register for a complimentary ticket* here: https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/2mac233r7ozem?actioncode=EM23

*Ticket price increases to £15 +VAT from 1st – 5th September 2026/£20 +VAT from 6th – 8th September 2026.

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LiGHT 26, the UK’s only trade show dedicated to high-end lighting specification, returns to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on the 18th and 19th of November 2026, bringing together the lighting and design community for two days of product discovery, expert insight and valuable industry connection.

Whether specifying an upcoming project, searching for new suppliers, discovering the latest technologies or simply looking to stay ahead of emerging trends, LiGHT 26 provides a unique opportunity to explore the very best of the lighting industry – all under one roof.

Since launching in 2022, LiGHT has quickly established itself as a key date in the calendar for architects, interior designers, lighting designers, engineers, consultants and specifiers, offering a dedicated platform to discover new products, meet leading manufacturers and connect with the people behind some of the most innovative lighting projects.

For two days, the Business Design Centre will become a hub of creativity, collaboration and conversation, with hundreds of leading architectural and decorative lighting brands showcasing the latest products, technologies and solutions. From cutting-edge lighting systems and controls to decorative fittings, technical innovations and smart building technologies, visitors will have the chance to experience new ideas first-hand and discover products before they are specified on future projects.

Returning for LiGHT 26, the Technical Zone will provide a dedicated area for brands specialising in lighting controls, emergency lighting, OEM components, lamps, gear, connected technologies and more. Reflecting the growing importance of intelligent and integrated lighting solutions, the zone offers visitors the chance to explore the technologies driving the future of sustainable and efficient design.

Beyond the exhibition floor, LiGHT 26 will deliver an inspiring programme of talks and discussions, bringing together influential voices from across the lighting, architecture and design communities. Curated by [d]arc media, the [d]arc thoughts talk programme will explore the latest challenges, opportunities and ideas shaping the future of lighting, with speaker announcements for this and the splinter talks programme in the Associations Lounge to follow.

Adding another creative dimension to the show, planning is already well underway for the LiGHT 26 Art Installation, which will once again bring together lighting, creativity and design to create a memorable centrepiece for visitors to experience during the exhibition. Further details will be revealed in the coming months, with visitors invited to experience this unique feature during the show.

Networking remains at the heart of the LiGHT experience. From conversations with exhibitors and industry experts to informal catch-ups with peers, the event provides the perfect environment to build relationships, exchange ideas and discover new opportunities. The popular late-night drinks reception will also return, offering visitors and exhibitors the chance to continue conversations in a more relaxed social setting after the first day of the show.

LiGHT 26 also marks the first edition of the exhibition under the ownership of Messe Frankfurt UK, following the acquisition of LiGHT Expo London. Now part of Messe Frankfurt’s internationally recognised portfolio, the exhibition will continue to build on the strong foundations established since its launch, while retaining the community-focused identity that has made LiGHT such a valued event within the lighting industry. [d]arc media will continue to support the exhibition through promotional activity and the curation of its content programme.

Simon Albert, CEO of Messe Frankfurt UK, said: “LiGHT has become one of the most important meeting places for the UK lighting specification community, and we’re delighted to welcome the industry back this November. As the first edition under Messe Frankfurt UK, LiGHT 26 will continue to deliver what visitors and exhibitors value most – exceptional brands, inspiring content and meaningful connections – while benefiting from the international reach and expertise of the wider Light + Building portfolio.”

With thousands of professionals expected to attend, LiGHT 26 is set to once again bring together the brands, ideas and individuals shaping the future of lighting. Completely free to attend, it offers an unmissable opportunity to discover new products, gain fresh inspiration and connect with the wider lighting community.

If lighting plays a role in your projects, LiGHT 26 should be in your diary.

Register now for free and be part of the UK’s leading event dedicated to lighting specification.

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Organised by Recolight, Circular Lighting Live 2026 is the event where those questions get answered. Taking place on 8th October at The Minster Building in the City of London, the conference brings together designers, specifiers, manufacturers, and supply chain professionals to explore the practical realities of a low-carbon future. Alongside the multitrack conference programme is an exhibition of sustainable lighting innovation.

Keynotes
The day opens with Vision 2040, in which John McRae, director of Orms, pictures a lighting industry beyond the take-make-use-waste model. A second keynote, Beyond Fast Lighting, sees Sabine De Schutter, founder of Studio De Schutter, argue for upcycling as design strategy.

Following the keynote presentation, delegates can choose from six specially curated sessions to get the most out of the day.

Data & Compliance: Alexander Flekler (WAGO) and Flavie Lowres (Recolight) unpack what EPDs mean for the supply chain; Neil McLean (Lutron Electronics) uncovers the tidal wave of circular economy legislation from Europe.

Innovation & Material: Niclas Thulin (Fagerhult) and Dean Skira examine how material choices and AI-driven design are cutting embodied carbon in new products.

Disruptive Design, the Role of Designers: Explores how independent lighting designers are shifting specification habits in response to regulation and client demand.

Projects Uncovered, Real World Lessons: Ryan Bean (CBRE) and John Bowden & Brendon Airey (Light Projects Evolve) present the remanufacture of Leadenhall Market’s historic fittings, offering lessons in heritage-sensitive circular practice.

Carbon Literacy: Sojan Johny (The Carbon Literacy Project) introduces the Carbon Literacy framework; Chris Newman (Albis) surveys the latest low-carbon and bio-based polycarbonates.

Confronting Cat A, Six Ways to Cut Waste: examines leasing models and design-for-reuse approaches to reduce waste from Cat A fit-outs.

The day also hosts the Build Back Better Awards 2026, celebrating creativity, innovation and environmental leadership in lighting.

Early Bird rate for manufacturers ends on 31st July
Manufacturer tickets are available at a reduced price, with an early bird rate available to end of July, plus a further discount for Recolight WEEE Compliance Scheme Members. Manufacturers are urged to secure their place now before the early bird deadline passes.

Free places for specifiers
Support from event sponsors means attendance is free for lighting specifiers. This includes independent lighting designers, architects, consulting engineers, wholesalers, and end-users. Specifiers are encouraged to reserve their complimentary delegate place as spaces are limited.

Circular Lighting Live 2026 is a timely opportunity for the whole lighting supply chain, specifiers, end users, manufacturers, remanufacturers, distributors, and contractors to understand the forces reshaping the products being made, stocked and specified, and the companies that supply them, as the industry moves toward a low-carbon, circular economy.

Book your place at www.circularlighting.live.

The conference is sponsored by Light Projects Evolve, Albis, Fagerhult, Thorlux Lighting, and WAGO.

A1 Lighting magazine are proud media supporters of Circular Lighting Live.

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