On March 8, 2026, the 13th Light + Building international trade fair for lighting and building technology opened at Messe Frankfurt in Germany.
The core theme of this year's event is "Be Electrified – Electrifying Places. Illuminating Spaces.", focusing on three main pillars: "Sustainable Transformation", "Smart Connectivity", and "Symbiosis of Light and Shadow". This thematic shift marks the evolution of the lighting industry from purely functional lighting towards intelligent, systematic, and emotional comprehensive solutions. Steffen Larbig, Brand Director of the trade fair, stated: "With these three themes, we direct the industry's attention to the most critical current and essential future development trends in the lighting and building technology sectors."Nearly 2,000 companies from around the world participated. Among them, Chinese exhibitors presented a strong lineup, with over 600 participants (including those from Taiwan and Hong Kong regions), ranking second among participating countries, an improvement of one position compared to the previous exhibition.
Chinese strength goes global collectively, covering the entire industry chain
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In this exhibition, Chinese lighting companies demonstrated strong capabilities in expanding overseas, forming a favorable trend of "group expeditions and blossoming in multiple areas." The China Association of Lighting Industry（中国照明电器协会） organized more than 30 companies, including Yuzhong GaoHong, Everfine, Yongdian Lighting, Fangda Intelligent Control, and Shanpu Lighting, to participate as a group. They brought the latest products in smart lighting, commercial lighting, and industrial lighting to Light + Building 2026, showcasing the latest technologies and achievements in the development of China's lighting industry. Gaoyou lighting enterprises such as Longteng Lighting and Jin Guangmang Lighting made a collective appearance, highlighting their latest solutions in smart outdoor lighting, commercial healthy lighting, and products compliant with EU energy efficiency standards. This showcased the strong strength and innovation capabilities of "Gaoyou Manufacturing" in the field of smart lighting, further polishing the golden brand of the "Hometown of Chinese Street Lights". (Image source: Gaoyou Luminaire) The Zhongshan Municipal Government joined forces with 41 local characteristic decorative lighting enterprises to exhibit together. On the opening day, they secured意向 orders worth over ten million yuan, with professional buyer information increasing by 13% compared to the previous edition, demonstrating the international recognition of Chinese lighting products. Notably, this exhibition established a "Green Zone" themed "Green + Sustainable" for Chinese enterprises for the first time, aligning with global sustainable development trends. For example, it exhibited Chinese-made green lighting-related products such as Pros LED high-power filament lamps and solar street lights, Leiguang Decorative Lighting high-power energy-saving floodlights, and Jiwei Lighting lamp bodies made of high thermal conductivity recycled aluminum.
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At this exhibition, Chinese companies covered the entire LED industry chain, from core components to lighting application products, and further to smart lighting control systems and solutions, comprehensively showcasing the strength and style of China's lighting industry. Almost all leading brands were present. Traditional giants such as OPPLE Lighting, Bull Group, Sanan Optoelectronics (subsidiaries Luminus and BrightLED), Foshan Lighting, Unilumin, NationStar Optoelectronics, and Refond Optoelectronics, along with major exporters like Leedarson, Debang Lighting, Yangming Lighting, and Hongyibai, made a collective appearance. Companies focusing on niche markets or specific fields, such as Ocean King, Huapu Yongming, Xinlong Optoelectronics, Xuyu Optoelectronics,紫光照明 (Ziguang Lighting), Yuji Technology, and Shanpu Lighting, also actively participated to showcase their specialized products. In this year's Chinese pavilion, the trend towards branded and professional participation has become increasingly evident, with custom-built displays becoming the mainstream choice.On the platform of Light + Building, more than 60% of the Chinese exhibition area used personalized decoration to build brand image and create immersive experiences,engaging in deep dialogue with global buyers with a more professional demeanor. OPPLE Lighting debuted its design brand OLL in Hall 4.1, with a "Light as Cloud" themed booth designed by Chris van Duijn, partner at OMA Office for Metropolitan Architecture. Centered on the imagery of "clouds," it created an immersive space through the combination of light, shadow, and materials. This marks OPPLE Lighting's fifth appearance at Light + Building, while OLL made its international debut on this occasion. Multiple highly scenario-based product experience rooms were set up on-site, centrally presenting star products such as the Edge series, Bubble series, Tianjing Series Lite, and Tianjing Series Pro. Based on SDL smart spectrum technology, it comprehensively showcased the full-scene lighting product matrix and intelligent solutions. For this exhibition, Foshan Lighting meticulously crafted a product matrix covering multi-dimensional scenarios including home, office, outdoor, and commercial settings. Among them, the Sky Light became the focus of attention thanks to its breakthrough Rayleigh scattering technology, healthy circadian rhythm algorithms, and intelligent mixed-light system. It can highly simulate the full-day light color changes of the natural sky, adapting to high-end home, office, and commercial spaces. In addition, it brought eaves lights and cabinet lights, reflecting its strategic determination to build a full-scene smart lighting ecosystem.
It is worth mentioning that Aero Aero Lighting, as the first Chinese exhibitor to enter International Hall 3.0, broke the previous absence of Chinese participants in this hall. This not only reflects the company's hardcore strength but also marks another upgrade in the penetration of Chinese lighting brands in the global high-end market. Aero presented a light and shadow narrative oriented towards high-end hotel spaces, integrating intelligent technology with emotional design to construct a hotel-level light and shadow space experience (Lightscapes).
TYF showcased the MOD series modules, leveraging the Zhaga standard to cover diverse application scenarios: smart dimming and color-tuning modules offer quick switching via three color temperature settings (2700K/4000K/6500K), low flicker design, and high integration, providing a plug-and-play efficient solution for luminaire manufacturers worldwide; ERP modules aid green compliance; commercial modules ensure safe color rendering; full-spectrum modules support healthy lighting.
LT Technology showcased its complete intelligent lighting control product system and one-stop solution, highlighting the native Matter protocol smart home system, Matter smart power supplies and controllers, enabling cross-brand interoperability, while upgrading the Xiao Lei Smart Home series central gateway to cover multi-scenario needs in offices, outdoors, homes, and commerce. Its full product range features LT's 5 black technologies – distributed scene storage technology, T-PWM® million-level ultra-deep dimming, RGBCW wide gamut and wide color temperature adjustable spectrum algorithm, and STAR-Tech interstellar technology.
Yuzhong Gao Hong systematically presented its latest achievements in smart lighting, green technology, and niche market solutions through scenario-based layout and immersive experience. Among them, it highlighted the new generation of main-light-free design concepts, combined with actual application scenarios such as residential, office, and commercial spaces. The new magnetic track products attracted many professional visitors to stop and communicate due to their outstanding performance in energy efficiency, color rendering, or intelligent experience, becoming the focus of the booth.
Inventronics focused on four major application scenarios: commercial, industrial, sports, road and area, showcasing wired and wireless lighting solutions based on open standards, and demonstrating the latest achievements in promoting the standardized application of the DALI protocol. In addition, the HubSense wireless lighting control platform is based on the Bluetooth NLC standard, supports multi-vendor interoperability, and can be seamlessly integrated with building management systems.
MOSO displayed the NS-V series at booth E79 in Hall 8.0, supporting five-in-one dimming: D4i/DMX-RDM/0-10V/PWM/Resistor, with power coverage from 600-1800W and efficiency up to 97.5%. Its PA HF high-efficiency D4i driver features ±1% metering accuracy, becoming the core choice for high-end smart lighting projects.
Aqara showcased its latest "Spatial Intelligence" solution, focusing on lighting control, security, and energy management. It demonstrated how system-level software platforms and professional-grade devices can create smarter, more efficient, and human-centric building spaces. Its core platform, Aqara Studio, supports unified device management, automation logic, and energy management, providing a flexible and scalable system foundation for smart buildings.
Global Giants' Forward-Looking Layout: From Smart Connectivity to Autonomous Buildings
Compared to the pragmatic innovation of Chinese enterprises, international brands focus more on the future layout of "Smart Connectivity" and "Autonomous Buildings," building industry barriers through technological ecosystems. This echoes the core theme of this exhibition, "Empowering the Electrified Future," and confirms the trend that the lighting Industry is integrating into building systems and upgrading into an Industry for human environments.
Signify made its appearance in Hall 5.1 with a fully upgraded brand image. The booth design emphasized natural light simulation technology, restoring daylight effects through innovative solutions. Key displays included its professional lighting and OEM lighting Solutions, covering the NatureConnect natural light lighting Solution, myCreation 3D-printed Luminaires, BrightSites smart poles, Interact smart connected lighting systems, Philips LED Luminaires, as well as full-scenario products and Solutions from smart home brands Philips Hue and WiZ.
ams OSRAM showcased how innovative technologies inject energy, intelligence, and emotion into living, working, and mobile spaces. From smart cities to connected buildings, its advanced LEDs, sensors, and integrated circuits empower Dynamic lighting systems, enhancing safety, efficiency, and comfort. In urban environments, ams OSRAM's Solutions support adaptive Road lighting and modular designs, responding in real-time to environmental changes and user needs; in indoor scenarios, the technology enables responsive lighting systems to seamlessly integrate into human-centric design. Through applications such as enhanced Emergency lighting/smoke and temperature sensing, and UV-C air treatment to improve indoor air quality, the company continues to expand the boundaries of lighting, visualization, and sensing technologies.
Hall 0 is exclusively occupied by the Austrian giant Zumtobel Group, showcasing its brands including Zumtobel, Thorn, and Tridonic. Among them, Tridonic will participate in this exhibition with the core theme of "Opening Up More Visionary Spaces," focusing on three key dimensions: energy efficiency, infrastructure, and data. It will exhibit DC system solutions such as high-voltage DC microgrids, intelligent sensing and digital tools like the airASPECT air quality sensor; and customized lighting solutions covering various scenarios such as outdoors, office buildings, and airports, demonstrating how innovative lighting solutions empower various spaces.
At the booth of the Austrian XAL luminaire brand, the classic magnetic track MOVE IT PRO was a highlight of the display. It features many new innovative functions, supporting suspended, surface-mounted, and recessed installation methods. The track has built-in conductors on both top and bottom, allowing luminaires to be placed in two directions, enabling a mix of indirect and direct lighting effects. While traditional inserts are straight, a new bendable design has been added, available in two diameter specifications of 30 cm and 50 cm, suitable for installation in curved areas. In addition, new products such as wall washers, acoustic panel lights, and wall lights were introduced.
Looking at this Light + Building, although the highlights of Chinese and foreign exhibitors vary, the industry trends reflected behind them are highly consistent. Lighting products themselves are attempting to "retreat" from the visual focus, instead emphasizing the attribute of light as a building material, highlighting the profound transformation of the lighting industry from a "product industry" to a "human environment industry."
