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Light + Building 2026, Frankfurt’s premier international trade show for lighting and smart building technology, concluded its March 8–13 run registering 144,767 attendees from 143 countries and 1,927 exhibitors from 49 countries. Despite geopolitical tensions complicating travel from the Middle East, the high international attendance at this year’s show underscores its status as an industry benchmark – a platform for architects, designers, and manufacturers to track current and future trends.
“Light + Building 2026 has again demonstrated how important personal encounters and direct exchange remain,” commented Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of Messe Frankfurt. “Dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas remain essential to the cohesion and continued development of the industry.”
New luminaires, building automation, and systems for increased efficiency – along with automated lighting control, AI, and up-and-coming designers – were among the show’s key themes. THE PLAN presents a selection of highlights from the show floor. The next Light + Building is scheduled for March 5–10, 2028.
BEGA’s new 48 V luminaires combine high output, professional-grade controls, and safety with a compact, flexible design. Their small size makes them a discreet presence, allowing the units to integrate seamlessly into the surrounding architecture. The units feature high-end LED modules and can be integrated into building automation systems, both of which ensure high energy efficiency and a long service life.
BEGA also showcased SolarHub Shade, a self-powered lighting and power system. Its minimalist design, sturdy construction, and discreet technical integration make it ideal for locations without external power connections that need lighting, such as nature reserves and sensitive landscapes.
“Architectural lighting is experienced rather than seen. It establishes hierarchies, defines space, and guides the eye without being intrusive. It provides precision, visual comfort, and control. It’s a design language that complements architecture and highlights its details.” Esse-Ci showcased this philosophy at Light + Building 2026 with a new selection of products centered on precision optics, beam control, and compact housings – features designed to integrate both standard and custom units seamlessly into a range of projects. Highlights include the Teres Garden IP67, a compact and versatile outdoor luminaire designed for high-precision lighting for gardens, pathways, and landscapes. Available in two configurations, the fixture suits a range of applications while maintaining minimalist looks and reliable performance.
Innovation is not just about new products; it also involves rethinking existing materials and systems. JUNG brought this approach to Frankfurt through collaborations with Melon Breakers, Dornbracht, and Signify.
Collaboration with Spanish studio Melon Breakers produced JUNG Unique, a series that transforms switches into vibrant color accents. According to the studio, color is more than just a decorative choice; it is a fundamental communicative tool for creating emotion and psychological impact. Light + Building also saw the first results of the Dornbracht × JUNG collaboration: a collection of coordinated bronze switches and fittings. Featuring a minimalist aesthetic, the series will expand over the coming months, with the next additions to the range to be unveiled at Milano Design Week. Partnership with Signify has produced a range of thermostats – powered by JUNG Home – and remote lighting controls designed to improve energy efficiency.
Titled “Inhabit the Light,” Linea Light’s booth reflected the company’s vision of light as a tool for defining, transforming, and connecting people and spaces. The booth was divided into zones, each exploring a specific interaction between light, architecture, and people, and each representing the group’s three core sectors: urban professional lighting, interior lighting design, and office workspaces. Each zone featured various Linea Light products, including Filray, an outdoor system designed to highlight hedges and small- to medium-sized shrubs. Comprising a ground-mounted pole available in two heights, Filray incorporates a longitudinal groove that houses a diffused light source for soft, uniform illumination. The Agora area – the heart of the booth – featured Peak, a slender, minimalist system designed for seamless integration into contemporary city settings.
A key part of Linea Light Group’s “Inhabit the Light” concept was the Stilnovo Atrium, a space dedicated to the brand’s contemporary approach to lighting. The exhibit showcased reinterpretations of heritage lighting and historic designs interpreted through a modern lens. The 2026 releases reflect the firm’s commitment to technical precision, Italian design heritage, and technological evolution. The show featured several re-editions of iconic Stilnovo designs, including the Cono lamp. Representative of the company’s 1950s designs, the Cono reissue features a painted aluminum body and remains faithful to the original’s geometric precision and minimalist form while incorporating contemporary updates. A new, warmer off-white version joins the existing satin gold and satin black nickel finishes.
Other new re-editions include the Saliscendi, an iconic design by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni from 1957. In 2026, the range is further expanding with new matte white and matte black finishes, with the latter on show at Light + Building.
Reflecting an awareness that the role of light is changing, Simes’ participation in the Frankfurt fair centered on the evolving relationship between lighting and contemporary architecture. Much more than a technical element, the firm increasingly sees lighting as a tool for interacting with the complexities of the surrounding environment. New releases showcased at the event included the Any-Way and Bronzo collections.
Any‑Way is a family of high‑performance outdoor bollards and post‑top fixtures with an asymmetric optic, designed to provide efficient lighting for paths, bike lanes, and urban spaces. It also projects light deep into the site, allowing each fixture to cover long distances, thereby reducing the number of units needed to maintain uniform illumination and improving energy efficiency.
By contrast, the Bronzo collection features an interplay of design, engineering, and material culture. Each fixture is machined from solid Bral, a bronze–aluminum alloy selected for its exceptional resistance to weathering and the most demanding outdoor conditions. The warm, natural color of the bronze complements black anodized‑aluminum details, creating a balanced, almost sculptural lighting element.
Innovation, sustainability, and design take center stage in Vimar’s vision for the future of architecture. At Light + Building 2026, the firm unveiled a range of more efficient, more sustainable customizable systems for automating, controlling, and monitoring environments, with each product remaining true to the firm’s design language. The exhibition space was conceived as a place where attendees could explore the main application areas in the residential, commercial, hospitality, and marine sectors, with several new products on display and ample room dedicated to the company’s wiring devices. An example was the international configuration of the Linea series and its smart‑home XT platform – available for By‑me Plus and KNX Secure. Together, they reflect the firm’s approach to sustainability as a driver of innovation. Special finishes and materials, numerous color combinations for plates and keys, custom symbols for controls, and laser‑engraved logos offer extensive possibilities for creating customized projects and giving each space its own character.
At its first appearance at Light + Building, WAC Group announced the launch of WAC Architectural, a new division dedicated to high‑quality lighting for architectural, engineering, and design applications. Its goal is to help shape space and visual experience through light. Each product is purpose‑designed to integrate seamlessly into the architecture while meeting the technical, logistical, and operational demands of contemporary projects.
“Good lighting design starts with collaboration and thoughtful innovation,” said Thomas Wang, head of global development at WAC Group. “WAC Architectural is founded on four core strengths: a New York–based headquarters, precision manufacturing at our state-of-the-art facility in Thailand, technology developed in close partnership with designers and built for project-driven applications, and a strong commitment to sustainable, long-term performance.”
The theme of XAL’s participation was the integration of light, architecture, and acoustics. The Austrian company, which specializes in next-generation lighting, also focused on sustainability as the guiding principle behind its exhibition design. The booth translated the themes of sustainability and aesthetics into an immersive architectural installation, combining technology, design, and atmosphere into a holistic experience.
Among the product highlights was Enviva, XAL’s first product to receive Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze,underscoring the company’s move toward a more sustainable, circular future. Enviva saves energy, reduces costs and CO₂emissions, and is made from recyclable components.
At Light + Building, Zumtobel unveiled a range of innovative modular and miniaturized light‑source designs that open the doors to new applications and approaches. It also announced a new strategic partnership with German startup All Purpose Lighting (APL), whose products fully embody the slogan, “Small product, big impact.” This entails the responsible use of materials, essential designs, and high lighting performance. APL’s designs also complement Zumtobel’s holistic approach to lighting. Central to the partnership is a commitment to sustainability, which translates into durable products engineered for circular design and minimal environmental impact.
“We believe it’s our responsibility for the future to adopt relevant innovations, apply them in practical contexts, and make them available on the market,” commented Alfred Felder, CEO of the Zumtobel Group. “The partnership with APL enriches our portfolio with a new resource‑efficient approach that significantly expands our existing offerings.”
