Key Takeaways
- CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 is taking place September 1 – 4 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo.
- New updates to the show include revamped programming, new awards, skills challenges and after hours activities.
- Registration for the show is now open.
CEDIA Expo and CIX are back for their 2026 outing, and with registration having officially opened up, we figured we’d get this news hub established before the news cycle really starts to take off.
Taking place September 1 – 4 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo., CEDIA Expo/CIX is the largest tradeshow in North America for the custom integration (CI) industry. The event spans four days and multiple conferences that aim to deliver plenty of educational and networking opportunities in addition to hosting hundreds of exhibitors and dozens of live demo spaces for attendees to view, test and interact with the products growing system depth in the field.
Showrunners have already introduced multiple updates and changes to the 2026 show programming and activities compared to previous years, with CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 shaping up to be one of the most transformative years for the event in quite some time.
As in prior years, the show will also play host to CE Pro‘s BEST Product and Home of the Year Awards, with registrations for both those programs opening soon, so stay tuned if you are a manufacturer or integrator looking to have your product or project (respectively) recognized as the best the industry has to offer this year.
This CEDIA Expo/CIX news hub will play host to all the awards, discussions, updates, announcements and general news surrounding the show. If you’re watching from afar or planning on keeping up to date to make the most of your show attendance, this is the hub for you.
Update: Registration for CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 is now open with early bird rates now active for both CEDIA and non-CEDIA members.
Kaleidescape Launches Strato K 8K Movie Player
Photo courtesy of Kaleidescape
Kaleidescape has announced the Strato K, a new flagship movie player capable of playing 8K content and introducing a new video format the company calls 4K Cinematic.
According to Kaleidescape, the Strato K is designed to deliver higher-fidelity video playback through increased processing power, enabling support for both native 8K content and a new 4K Cinematic mode that features full chroma reproduction of up to 4:4:4 and higher bitrates than traditional 4K formats. Kaleidescape also says the Strato K is the first movie player to receive certification from the 8K Association, meeting performance and interoperability requirements established by the organization’s Technical Working Group.
Josh.ai Officially Releases AI X OS
Image courtesy of Josh.ai
Josh.ai has officially launched AI X OS, following what the company says has been a successful early access program. The early access was open to Josh.ai dealers to provide feedback and learn about the evolving user experience.
Broadly speaking, the launch of AI X OS expands the integration of AI across Josh’s control ecosystem, adding new capabilities to device control, interface customization and automation capabilities. The new OS introduces a reimagined home page—customizable for each client—alongside a new navigation bar and reimagined voice interface. There’s also a means of accessing any active music or video session from anywhere in the Josh app to resume viewing or listening in other areas of the home.
While novel now, the ability for homeowners to tailor their control and automation system experiences to their own custom needs through intuitive interactions will likely become a mandatory feature across all control platforms as time moves on.
URC Now Accepting Entries for 12th Annual Unsurpassed Awards
URC is now seeking entries for its 12th annual Unsurpassed Awards. In URC’s own words, “the annual competition celebrates excellence, innovative system design, and outstanding programming creativity among systems integration professionals.”
The awards program recognizes the best and most unique residential and commercial installations featuring URC technology.
The Case for a Home Integration Professional
Image courtesy of CEDIA Expo
Rising energy costs, the widespread increase in work from home (WFH) and the rise in subscription-based entertainment, among much more, are changing how much time Americans are spending in and around the home. As such, many are saying that the profession of “home integrator” has become as important as a plumber, electrician or HVAC technician.
The role of a home integration professional has evolved considerably in recent years from audio-visual systems integration to now also include security systems and access control integration, IT/WIFI optimization, shading systems, lighting, backup energy and more.
The areas within home featuring technology addressable by these professionals have extended beyond a home theater in luxury homes to now include outdoor entertainment areas, multi-use zones, home offices, bedrooms, home gyms and garages, with the homes serviced having broadened to new demographic groups and new neighborhoods.
ZION to Make Its North American Debut at CEDIA Expo 2026
The ZION Horizon Series. Images courtesy of ZION
ZION is making its big debut at CEDIA Expo 2026. After having struck a distribution deal with Selective Design in February 2026, the company will be making its first in-person appearance at a North American tradeshow September 1 – 4 in Denver, Colorado, showcasing its outdoor microLED video walls.
It’s one of two major European display manufacturers that have made the crossover into U.S. markets so far this year (the other being Loewe, though they happen to focus more on OLED TVs, in addition to other luxury electronics).
CE Pro Podcast: Inside CEDIA Expo 2026 Education: AI, Lighting, Wellness & the Future of Smart Homes
As the custom integration industry continues to evolve beyond traditional AV installation, CEDIA Expo 2026’s education program is placing a major emphasis on AI, lighting and shading, cybersecurity, wellness, design-build collaboration, and operational maturity.
In a recent conversation with CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau, CEDIA Senior Conference Strategy Manager Evan West and Vice President of Education & Training Paul Dolenc outlined how this year’s conference programming reflects an industry that is becoming increasingly consultative, collaborative, and technically sophisticated.
Former Disney Executive Duncan Wardle to Deliver CEDIA Expo 2026 Keynote
Image/CEDIA
CEDIA has announced that former Disney executive Duncan Wardle will deliver the keynote presentation at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 on Sept. 2 at 8 a.m. in the Mile High Ballroom.
According to CEDIA, Wardle’s keynote will focus on innovation, creativity and design thinking, with an emphasis on how custom integration businesses can adapt to evolving technologies and changing client expectations in an increasingly AI-driven market.
Designers, Architects More Frequently Turn to CEDIA Expo/CIX for Understanding CI
New research from the NKBA and CEDIA is putting to form the disconnect between design-build professionals and custom integrators today. Rather than being a disconnect in the understanding of core functions, however, it’s a disconnect on where the other can be found when needed on a project.
The findings highlight that more than one-third (35%) of NKBA members report needing an integrator but not knowing who to engage. This is occurring as 68% of members say demand for integrated technology, from lighting to automation to wellness systems, is increasing in their projects.
An Open Letter From CEDIA’s Global President & CEO Daryl Friedman
Daryl Friedman speaking at the annual CEDIA Town Hall, CEDIA Expo 2025. Photo by PWP Studio Photogrophy
CEDIA’s Global President and CEO Daryl Friedman last week wrote an open letter to the CEDIA community, reflecting on his impending retirement, the organization’s planned education initiatives and advocacy, and news regarding the parent company of CEDIA Expo/CIX and CE Pro.
Here is Friedman’s letter in full.
Day of Discovery 2026 Now to Span Two Full Days
The full details for this year’s Day of Discovery have officially been released, and according to Technology Designer Magazine, the organizers of the program, this year’s outing is set to have a significant expansion. In a first for the Day of Discovery, architects, designers and builders will all be able to join in for free in a move that Technology Designer says is meant to remove any barriers to participation for the design-build community.
Submissions for the 2026 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards Are Now Open
Submissions are now open for the 2026 Home of the Year Awards, so if you have a project you think might represent the best the custom integration (CI) industry has to offer, now’s the time to showcase your handiwork and seize the opportunity to have your work seen by partners and peers alike on the grand stage of CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026.
This year’s expanded categories span three core areas—Spaces, Functions, and Features—giving integrators more opportunities to showcase their work across the full scope of modern projects. Whether you’ve delivered a multimillion-dollar smart home, engineered a rock-solid infrastructure backbone or created a seamless, intuitive user experience, there’s a category built to recognize that achievement.
CEDIA Research Division to Present First Findings at 2026 Town Hall
CEDIA has announced the launch of an in-house research division with initial findings from the 2026 US Smart Home Technology Market Assessment to be presented during the 5th annual CEDIA Town Hall at CEDIA Expo 2026. The session will also preview upcoming research initiatives and outline CEDIA’s long-term strategy for its newly established research function, led by newly appointed Director of Research, Ryan Bardach.
The new division represents a significant evolution of CEDIA’s offerings within the industry, especially as it comes following the formation of a dedicated design/build outreach division at the association.
How the CE Pro Editors Help Curate the Smart Stage
From left to right: Zachary Comeau, Executive Editor of CE Pro; Daryl Friedman, Global President and CEO of CEDIA; Chris Whitley, Executive Director of Ellipsys; Hank Alexander, Director of Oasys, Nationwide Marketing Group; Jon Robbins, Executive Director of HTSA; Jim Pearce, President of ProSource; and Patrick McCarthy, Executive Director of Azione, during the “State of the Industry” panel at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025. Image/Emerald
As the executive editor of CE Pro, one of my chief duties come CEDIA Expo season (which, if you haven’t noticed, is starting early this year) is to develop content for the Smart Stage. For the unaccustomed, the Smart Stage is the show floor forum to discuss trends, new technologies, industry initiatives, highlight innovative products, showcase the most outstanding projects in the industry, and highlight the people that make a difference in our unique industry.
In many ways, the Smart Stage sessions are a product of the CE Pro and CEDIA Expo/CIX staff simply listening to all of you. Our days are spent having conversations with and interviewing integrators, manufacturers, industry groups, distributors, and more about just what they’re seeing and hearing on the ground. Those conversations inform our content decisions, and we bring that same process to the Smart Stage.
2026 CE Pro BEST Product Awards Now Accepting Submissions
Submissions for the 2026 BEST Product Awards have officially opened, with early bird pricing now active. CE Pro‘s BEST (Best Electronic Systems Technologies) Awards is the most prestigious award program for the professional AV and smart home installation market, recognizing the best technologies, products, and services for the custom integration (CI) industry.
Does your product solve problems and make work easier for installers? Then this is the program for you!
What Brings an Interior Designer to a CI Tradeshow?
Image: EmeraldX/2025 PWP Studio Corporate Event Photographers
As smart home technology becomes a more integral part of residential and multi-family design, events like CEDIA Expo/CIX are drawing increased interest from interior designers looking to better understand how these systems fit into their projects. For interior designer Natasa Obradovic, the show represents an opportunity to connect design intent with rapidly evolving technology.
“I was initially introduced to CEDIA Expo/CIX through NKBA and KBIS and attended out of curiosity, but it quickly became clear that it is an essential resource for expanding my knowledge as a designer,” Obradovic says.
Battle of the Bands Added to CEDIA Expo’s Opening Night Party
The CE Pro All-Star Band (performing here at CEDIA Expo 2025) will be headlining the new Battle of the Bands competition on Sept. 2, 2026.
CEDIA Expo/CIX is shaking up its usual Opening Party formula, introducing an all-new Battle of the Bands competition and CE Pro All-Star Band performance that aims to infuse fresh energy into the entire CEDIA Expo/CIX experience.
This special event will feature live performances from industry bands, culminating in a crowd-selected Battle of the Bands champion. Then, the CE Pro All-Star Band will bring us home as the evening’s headliner.
A New Education Track for the 2026 CEDIA Conference
For 2026 the CEDIA Education Conference will host six tracks centered around modern-day business challenges and functions as well as emerging topics and trends.
“We’ve built the 2026 CEDIA Education Conference to reflect the diversity of our industry,” said Paul Dolenc, Vice President of Education at CEDIA. “Whether your focus is technical excellence, business growth, or design collaboration, you will be sure to find targeted, high-impact learning in the halls of the Colorado Convention Center.”
CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 Registration Opens
Photo courtesy of Emerald
This year, CEDIA Expo will be adjusting its schedule to accommodate Labor Day weekend to give attendees more flexibility to enjoy the holiday. As such, the Exhibit Hall will be open from Wednesday, September 2nd, through Friday, September 4th.
The show is expected to bring in over 300 exhibiting brands across lighting, security, audio, video, smart home technology and design. Twenty dedicated Sound Rooms have already been confirmed, with product demonstrations and in-depth Manufacturer Product Training sessions planned as well, creating what showrunners are describing as “a highly practical environment for learning, product evaluation and connection.”
All the New Updates to CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 Integrators Need to Know
The CEDIA Expo/CIX team (of which CE Pro is a part) is working hard to make the 2026 edition of the event the best in recent memory, and they’re introducing a series of updates aimed at improving attendee flexibility, expanding educational opportunities, and enhancing engagement across both the residential and commercial integration markets.
There are several important changes that attendees won’t want to miss, so make sure you’re in the know.
Home Security is Becoming a Category Integrators Can’t Ignore
Image by metamorworks – stock.adobe.com
Security is a fast-growing segment of custom integration (CI) not commonly talked about due to the unique technology and nuances within the systems that have allowed it to stand as its own separate business outside of the smart home, though, in recent years, client interest in security systems has seen in become more ubiquitous on projects.
Homeowners increasingly expect security to be fully integrated into their smart home ecosystems. Cameras, doorbells, environmental sensors and access control systems are now expected to work seamlessly with automation platforms, and those platform providers are ensuring just that, interweaving security functionality into core smart home aspects.
What Caught the CE Pro Editors’ Attention on the Smart Stage
The full Smart Stage schedule for CEDIA Expo 2026 is now live with the official programming for the stage highlighting sessions surrounding AI-enhanced control platforms, device protection on the home grid and scaling a light commercial business model, in addition to a new awards series being introduced to this year’s show.
Beyond core educational programming and business strategy, the 2026 Smart Stage also will play host to the BEST and Home of the Year awards, however, this year, the show is introducing a new series of booth awards aimed at highlighting the most creative and visually impressive exhibits presented on this year’s show floor.
We’re Calling It: AI is Going to Be Everywhere at CEDIA Expo 2026
Sonance CEO Ari Supran talks shop on AI tools for business at a smart stage session in 2025 that saw standing room only for crowds interested in learning more. Photo courtesy of Brand Definition
AI’s continued profusion of the professional smart home is getting a substantial nod as CEDIA Expo, the largest North American tradeshow for the channel, has announced more educational and hands-on opportunities to see AI in action will be present at the 2026 edition of the show.
“AI is clearly one of the biggest forces shaping the future of smart homes and integrated technology, and it will be a major focus of programming at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026,” said Jason McGraw, Group Vice President and Show Director of CEDIA Expo and CIX.
The Design/Tech Trends Driving Business in 2026
Technology is fast incorporating itself as an integral component of residential and commercial design, greatly accelerating adoption of “integrated design” philosophies on projects.
“Smart technology has entered the next phase of adoption,” McGraw adds. “Whether it’s new build or retrofits, home and business owners now expect enhanced connectivity and control. This expectation underpins each of these significant trends we’re seeing in 2026.”
American Homes Set to Declare Energy Independence
Image created by Gemini
Energy independence for homes really hit its stride in 2025, becoming a more tangible reality (and desire) from homeowners. From smart monitoring services helping shape consumption behaviors to smart energy management systems helping run net-zero homes, innovations in energy and power are reshaping what a home can do.
For context, when we say “energy independence,” we’re talking about a home’s ability to produce, manage and store its own energy in a way that minimizes dependence on the electrical grid, ideally allowing it to disconnect from the grid entirely, but those remain rare cases.
