As the global AV and systems integration industry continues to evolve, Integrated Systems Europe occupies a distinct position as the market’s most internationally representative gathering. Drawing manufacturers, integrators, designers, end users, and technology leaders from across Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, ISE offers a uniquely global lens on how audiovisual, control, and smart-space technologies are being developed, specified, and deployed worldwide. The 2026 edition of the show arrives at a moment when scale, cross-border collaboration, and design-driven thinking are increasingly shaping the future of the industry.
In an interview with CE Pro, ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman says ISE 2026 will be the largest edition of the show to date, with growth not only in floor space and exhibitor count, but also in the diversity of audiences and applications represented.
“It’s the biggest ever ISE. We have over 1,700 exhibitors. Our registration is stronger than ever. Our show floor is over 100,000 square meters, which is almost a 10 percent increase,” Blackman says.
That expansion is being driven by sustained interest across commercial, live events, broadcast, and residential technology, alongside rising attendance from corporate end users, architects, and designers seeking early insight into where the market is headed.
ISE Managing Director Mike Blackman delivers remarks at ISE 2025. Image/Integrated Systems Europe
Spark and Innovation Take Center Stage
One of the most visible additions to ISE 2026 is ISE Spark, a four-day creative industries experience launching in Hall 8.1. Blackman says the initiative reflects growing demand from creative agencies, broadcasters, and content producers looking for a platform to demonstrate how AV tools are being used in real-world applications.
“Over the years, we’ve been getting more and more creative companies, broadcasters, and agencies coming on board,” he says. “More and more are coming and saying, ‘We want a platform so we can bring our customers and show them what we can do.’”
Innovation remains another major focus, with the return of the Innovation Park, which will feature 130 curated, subsidized startups designed to help emerging companies gain visibility and traction.
“We really saw the benefit of actually promoting new-to-market companies,” Blackman says. “We want to help companies with a leg up into the market. There’s matchmaking, there’s an investor forum, and we bring the whole ecosystem together for start-ups to find partners, find companies who can help them, and see potential customers.”
Keynotes, Megatrends, and Cybersecurity
ISE 2026 will also expand its thought-leadership programming, beginning with an opening creative keynote from Matt Clark of United Visual Artists, followed by a keynote from Sol Rashidi, widely regarded as the world’s first chief AI officer who helped develop and launch IBM Watson.
The latter, Blackman says, will be especially important as industries across the world grapple with applying and leveraging AI.
“People still want to know more about AI,” Blackman says. “[Rashidi} is going to be doing a little more explanation around the do’s and don’ts, the dangers, and the advantages, so people start to understand what’s behind it.”
In addition to AI, the show’s Megatrends program will explore cybersecurity, robotics, smart spaces, sustainability, and broader industry forces shaping the market. Cybersecurity, in particular, will receive expanded focus through a dedicated summit. This comes as several recent reports have shown that smart home devices are increasingly prone to compromise.
“It’s always been significant, but it’s coming more and more to the forefront,” Blackman says. “With all the hacking that’s been going on in the last 12 months, we want to help people identify what they need to know.”
Smart Spaces, Design, and the Residential Opportunity
For CE Pro readers, ISE’s continued investment in residential technology and design-forward integration remains especially relevant. Blackman emphasizes that CEDIA has been part of ISE since its founding and that the residential category continues to mature, particularly in Europe.
“More and more countries in Europe are starting to look at intelligent homes,” he says. “Architects are paying more significance to it because they see the advantages in being able to offer solutions to their clients.”
Importantly, Blackman says the industry’s language is evolving in ways that better resonate with architects and designers, especially in Europe, where there’s a premium placed on design and aesthetics.
“We shouldn’t be talking about smart homes,” he says. “We should be talking about smart spaces or intelligent spaces, because that’s a reference they will look more at and be more interested in. It’s really about how it’s used and what makes it smart.”
A Global Launchpad for New Technology
ISE’s international reach continues to make it a strategic launch platform for manufacturers, including many U.S. brands with global ambitions.
“We have attendees from 168 different countries,” Blackman says. “More and more companies are changing their R&D cycles to launch at the beginning of the year, when the buying season starts for a lot of integrators and people making financial decisions.”
With that global perspective, Blackman says ISE has evolved beyond reflecting the industry to helping shape its future.
“When we launched ISE, it was more a reflection of what was happening in the industry,” he says. “As it evolved, it became more of a look into the future of what’s going to be happening, rather than just a reflection. We’re now starting to have discussions about not just what the future will be but actually helping to define it.”
An Experience Beyond the Show Floor
Rounding out the ISE 2026 experience will be an outdoor drone show after the show floor closes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, staged at the Fira Gran Via venue, featuring hundreds of synchronized drones, live music, and an opera singer.
“It’s a new form of entertainment,” Blackman says. “Fireworks are going to be passé. Drone shows are going to be the future.”
For integrators, designers, and technology professionals, ISE 2026 promises not just scale, but perspective—offering a global snapshot of where AV, control, and smart-space technologies are headed next.
