Light + Building 2026: A stage for lighting, design and building technology

Where innovation and design meet, new perspectives emerge at Light + Building 2026, companies, planners and creative minds will present the future of lighting and building technology in Frankfurt am Main from 8th to 13th March 2026. The diverse event programme, featuring forums, special exhibitions and guided tours, will address the topics that are driving the industry – from sustainable energy and smart networking to visionary design. This is where knowledge and inspiration come together to set ideas in motion.

Under the motto ‘Be Electrified – Electrifying Places. Illuminating Spaces.’, the world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology will present innovations, trends and visions that show how technology and design interact to create sustainable, connected and vibrant spaces.

With its three key themes of ‘Sustainable Transformation’, ‘Smart Connectivity’ and ‘Living Light’, Light + Building 2026 will cover the current and future developments in the industry. They form the common thread for a diverse event programme that combines knowledge, inspiration and practice. This highlights key aspects of design, architecture, craftsmanship and technology, making the world’s leading trade fair a platform for exchange, innovation and sustainable future strategies.

Light & Design

The Living Light – Light as a living part of everyday experience 

With the new special exhibition ‘The Living Light’, Light + Building shows how light shapes everyday life and brings rooms to life. The concept was developed by the Berlin-based lighting design office Lichtvision Design under the direction of Carla Wilkins. The area in Hall 3.1 consists of four zones: ‘Home’, ‘Education’, ‘Workplace’ and ‘Communication’ and highlights how light provides orientation, creates atmosphere and facilitates encounters. A central, green pathway connects the zones and symbolises growth, change and the close relationship between people and the environment. Different lighting moods, interactive elements and natural materials demonstrate how light goes beyond its pure function and becomes a living part of everyday life.

IALD Awards – Excellent lighting design in the international spotlight

The IALD International Lighting Design Awards are among the world’s most prestigious awards for architectural lighting design. Presented by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), they recognise projects that impress with their creative design, technical precision and atmospheric effect. In March 2026, the 43rd awards ceremony will take place for the first time in cooperation with Light + Building in Frankfurt am Main as a festive evening event at ‘Depot 1899’ parallel to the trade fair. This will give the topic of lighting design new prominence at the world’s leading trade fair and bring the creative dimension of light even more into focus.

Design Plaza – A stage for design, knowledge and inspiration

When Light + Building 2026 explores light in all its facets, the Design Plaza in Hall 3.1 will be an unmissable destination. It forms the heart of the events in the eastern section of the fairground and serves as the central meeting point for experts from the fields of architecture, planning, design, and lighting. In daily trend lectures, the style agency bora.herke.palmisano will present the colours, shapes, and materials that will define lighting design for 2026/27. A special highlight will be the presentation of the Designplus Awards by Light + Building on Sunday, 8 March. In cooperation with Stylepark, Messe Frankfurt will honour products and concepts that combine design quality, technical innovation and future-oriented thinking. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Women in Lighting initiative will also use the stage to highlight female perspectives in lighting design.

The programme includes Talks by World-Architects, which shed light on current projects and developments and are recognised with continuing education credits for architects. Also part of the programme are the Design Talks by Architonic, which bring together perspectives from architecture and product design. The ZVEI Lighting Association is organising the programme on the Wednesday of the fair with specialist lectures and industry dialogues. New this year is the cooperation with the Virtual Lighting Design Community (VLDC), which will bring together international lighting designers on Thursday with lectures and dialogue formats.

Guided Tours – Orientation and inspiration at the trade fair

The guided tours of Light + Building 2026 start right at the Design Plaza in Hall 3.1. They offer visitors exclusive insights into the innovations and trends at this industry gathering and are accompanied by internationally renowned lighting designers. The Guided Tours by World-Architects take place from Sunday to Wednesday (8 to 11 March 2026) and combine compact presentations with tours to selected exhibitors. The guides include Carla Wilkins (Lichtvision Design, Berlin), Jonas Godehardt (Reflexion, Zurich), Jan Nielsen (CONCEPTLICHT, Traunstein) and Andreas Schulz (Licht Kunst Licht, Bonn). Registration will be possible from December 2025.

Building technology & skilled trades

AI Lounge – Hands-on artificial intelligence

The AI Lounge is a practical forum for the future for all experts from the electrical trade and industry. In cooperation with handwerk.live, it shows how artificial intelligence can make daily work easier for specialist companies. Visitors can try out digital tools for time recording, planning software, process automation and smart customer communication and take them back to their own businesses. Every day, compact keynote speeches explain how AI creates real added value – in a way that is understandable, implementable and practical.

ZVEH E-House – Smart, efficient and networked thinking

The E-House of the Central Association of German Electrical and Information Technology Trades (ZVEH) shows what sustainable building technologies already look like today. The walk-in model house brings to life how intelligent applications and energy-efficient systems will shape the way we live and work in the future – from smart home controls and photovoltaics to heat pump solutions.

BTGA – Focus on digital planning

The German Industrial Association for Building Services and Technical Installations (BTGA) Lounge in Hall 9.0 D80 will become a meeting point for building services professionals at Light + Building 2026. In concise formats, it will provide practical insights into digital planning processes and demonstrate how modern tools and methods can make technical building equipment more efficient, transparent, and future-oriented.

Exhibitor Stage – First-hand innovations

On the stages in the building area in Hall 9.0 and in the lighting area in Hall 4.1, exhibitors will present the latest developments, products and solutions in lighting and building technology. Specialist talks and presentations will provide direct insights into trends and applications – compact, informative and practical.

ZVEI Technology Forum – Industry in dialogue

The German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) is hosting the Technology Forum which offers daily discussions, presentations and exchanges on topics that are important to the industry during Light + Building (Hall 12.1, Stand D 86). In 2026, the programme will focus on building type E, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and energy management systems. Details will be available soon at zvei.org.

IEECB&SC’26 and European ESCO Conference 2026 – Focus on energy efficiency

The IEECB Conference will take place on 11 and 12 March in the Portalhaus, Level Via, Room Frequenz, and is organised in cooperation with the EU Commission Joint Research Centre. With this conference, Light + Building once again provides an international expert forum where professionals from research, industry and politics exchange ideas on strategies and technologies to improve energy efficiency in non-residential buildings. 

ZVEH hot air balloon – A highlight at the Agora

A special eye-catcher awaits visitors on the Agora: the ZVEH hot-air balloon rises several times a day on a rope above the exhibition grounds, before gently returning to earth – a striking symbol of renewal and energy in the skilled trades.

House of Energy – Congress on the future of energy

Parallel to Light + Building 2026, the House of Energy Congress will take place in Frankfurt – with specialist presentations and discussions on the future of energy. 

Young Talent – A Stage for Fresh Ideas and Innovation

Light + Building 2026 puts the spotlight on the next generation. Plans include a Young Design section, and a University Area organised by the German Society for Lighting Technology and Lighting Design (LiTG). These spaces are intended to provide students and emerging designers opportunities for creative expression, networking, and exchange of ideas.

For more information, visit: www.light-building.com

Image courtesy of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera.