Light + Building 2026 reflects an industry in transition

The markets for lighting and building services technology are undergoing technological transformation. Electrification, digitalisation and energy efficiency are shaping investment decisions worldwide and driving new projects forward. Light + Building, the world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology, will focus on these developments in Frankfurt am Main from 8th – 13th March 2026. Around 2,000 exhibitors will present solutions for energy-efficient buildings, intelligent connectivity and modern lighting concepts. For many companies, international business, strategic partnerships and specific project plans are at the heart of their trade fair presence.

Light + Building is firmly established in the international market for lighting and building services technology. Seventy-five per cent of exhibitors come from outside Germany. In addition to Germany, companies from China, Italy, Türkiye, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Austria and the United Kingdom are particularly well represented. Around 60 per cent of companies operate in the lighting segment, and around 40 per cent are in connected building services technology. The trade fair therefore reflects the growing integration of energy, digitalisation and security, with a focus on building efficiency tailored to individual usage requirements.

“Light + Building 2026 is a realistic reflection of the market, with all its challenges and technological strengths,” says Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Messe Frankfurt. “The fact that around 2,000 exhibitors have made a conscious decision to exhibit in Frankfurt sends a strong signal. In a phase of profound transformation, orientation becomes a decisive added value. Light + Building enables comparability, facilitates dialogue and provides a sound basis for decision-making.”

The motto of Light + Building 2026 is “Be Electrified – Electrifying Places. Illuminating Spaces.” From this, three top themes have emerged, developed jointly with industry representatives, exhibitors and partners. They reflect the issues that are driving the industry now and will continue to do so in the future and form the conceptual framework for the leading trade fair. “Sustainable Transformation” stands for the electrification, decarbonisation and the sustainable modernisation of existing buildings. “Smart Connectivity” focuses on the intelligent networking of systems, trades and data as the basis for efficiency and control. “Living Light” places the quality of light at the centre as an integral component of architecture, workplaces and urban spaces. The three top themes provide the overarching framework for the event programme.

From the industry’s perspective, electrification and digital integration are decisive levers for Germany’s industrial competitiveness. “The energy and building transition can be a major engine for growth,” says Wolfgang Weber, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the German Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI). “Electrifying, digitalising, connecting and automating – these megatrends contain enormous efficiency potential for the building sector. The technologies are already in place. The companies of the German electrical and digital industry offer a wide range of innovative applications and solutions. For these to be deployed on a broad scale, companies and property owners alike need planning and investment security as well as competitive electricity prices.”

A key platform for this debate is the ZVEI Technology Forum. It will be opened on 8th March 2026 at 9.30 a.m. by the Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas, Kaweh Mansoori, together with Wolfgang Marzin, and will serve on all six days of the fair as a platform for professional exchange between industry, skilled trades, planners and policymakers.

The electrical trades also see major economic opportunities in the current transformation. Alexander Neuhäuser, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federation of the German Electrical and Information Technology Installation Trades (ZVEH), emphasises: “The energy transition is an economic opportunity. Electrical engineering is a central field of action within the energy transition. With building systems integration and energy management, we are facing major tasks. We are driving digital networking forward and demonstrating concrete applications for artificial intelligence, process digitalisation and data spaces as infrastructure building blocks of the future. The sector must pick up speed. This applies to the refurbishment of infrastructure as well as to the modernisation of our processes.” The technological transformation can be experienced directly in the ZVEH E-House. The walk-in model demonstrates integrated building technology – from photovoltaics and heat pumps to intelligent control systems working together. On the Agora, the ZVEH hot-air balloon will set a highly visible sign for the electrical trades as key drivers of the energy transition and as a stabilising factor in the transformation process.

The Living Light – light as a living part of everyday life
With “The Living Light”, Light + Building 2026 celebrates a world premiere. For the first time, a special exhibition in Hall 3.1 is comprehensively dedicated to the question of how light shapes living spaces and enhances the quality of experience. The concept was developed by the Berlin-based lighting design studio Lichtvision Design under the direction of Carla Wilkins. In four areas “Home”, “Education”, “Workplace” and “Communication”, it will be demonstrated how light creates orientation, supports productivity and generates atmosphere. Interactive elements and curated lighting effects allow visitors to experience the impact first-hand. Guided tours take place daily at 11.00 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.

Design inspiration
Frankfurt RheinMain is World Design Capital 2026. As a company with strong roots in the city and international appeal, Messe Frankfurt is participating in selected projects during the festival year, for example in the immersive 270° production “Frankfurt: City of WOW!”. Design also plays a central role at Light + Building. The Design Plaza in Hall 3.1 offers, as a curated forum for lectures and discussions, space for current topics from architecture, lighting and building services technology and promotes professional exchange within the international industry community. With the “Young Design” format, the trade fair specifically places young talent in the lighting sector in the spotlight. In the Young Design area in Hall 3.1, designers at the beginning of their professional careers present innovative luminaires. In an inspiring atmosphere, unique pieces are showcased that make the diversity and future of design visible. Further information on participants at: Young Design.

The global Light + Building network
Messe Frankfurt organises a total of 15 trade fairs for the lighting and building services technology sectors in growth markets across Asia as well as in Argentina, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. At the heart of the network is Light + Building in Frankfurt am Main. Further information on the Light + Building trade fairs worldwide can be found at www.light-building.com/brand.

Image courtesy of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera.