For many who made the trip to Denver for CEDIA Expo 2026, the most valuable thing they found wasn’t only the 150-plus new products on the show floor. It was the people in the aisles.
Post-show comments from attendees point to an event that still delivers where the custom integration channel needs it most: face-to-face relationships, demos that can’t be recreated in a showroom, and a concentrated look at what’s next.
Putting Faces to Names
For integration business owners who have been coming to the show for years, the core reason to make the trip hasn’t changed much, even as the industry around it has. Kevin Stalings, owner of Prodigal Sight & Sound, says the value has always been the relationships he builds on and around the show floor.
“It’s the connections and networking for my company, and always has been,” Stalings says.
Others described the show as something closer to a professional homecoming. For them, the chance to spend a few days among peers who understand the daily realities of the job matters as much as any product launch. Patrick Mace, technical operations manager at Switch, says that sense of shared experience is what keeps him coming back.
“One of my favorite parts of CEDIA Expo and any conference is simply being surrounded by like-minded individuals that go through the same daily struggles and to learn from each other. CEDIA Expo always kills it there,” Mace says.
For many dealers, much of the year’s vendor communication happens over email and the phone. That makes the in-person meeting a rare chance to strengthen relationships that otherwise exist only at a distance. Rob Waters, owner of Chesapeake Home Theatres, says the show let him do two things at once: meet new partners and finally sit down with familiar ones.
“The combination of meeting new vendors with their opportunities and seeing those whom we only get to talk to on the phone with throughout the year,” Waters says of what made the show memorable.
CEDIA Expo 2026 attendees network at the CE Pro All-Star Band opening party.
Image/Jack Goras
One attendee who asked not to be named echoed that sentiment. The attendee described the show as a place where business relationships that had been built remotely over months finally became personal.
“It was really nice getting to put faces to names in the industry. Getting the chance to meet some of the people we work with through the year and connect is what makes this event so great,” the attendee says.
For some, those reunions stretched back across a decade or more. That speaks to how long many people in the CI channel stay connected to one another through the show. Michele Fredericks, managing member of CT Home Automation LLC, was struck by how well those old connections had held up.
“It was nice to see some familiar faces from 10 years ago and to be remembered by them,” Fredericks says.
Long-time attendees also pointed to the mix of personal and professional rewards that brings them back each year. Eyal Akler, founder and CEO of ATTYWON, says friendships and an early look at new product announcements are both part of the draw.
“Catching up with industry friends and early access to new product announcements continue to draw me to CEDIA Expo year after year,” Akler says.
Manufacturers’ reps, who spend much of the show crisscrossing the floor on behalf of their lines, found value in the after-hours gatherings as well. They also appreciated seeing their partners in full booth setups rather than scaled-down formats.
In some cases, a single booth visit turned into the defining moment of an attendee’s show. It came not from the products alone but from the people standing behind them. Antonio Celiz Gutierrez, owner of BZ Home Automation, describes his time with the Totem team in especially warm terms.
“The connection I was able to make with the team from Totem was amazing, from their passion and love of their product, to the precision of the manufacturing and most especially the relationship they want to build with you,” Celiz Gutierrez says.
That chance to talk directly with the engineers and designers behind a product is hard to replicate through a distributor or a spec sheet. Doug Berky, lead sales engineer at Sound Effects LLC, says it gave him a new perspective on the gear he works with.
“Being able to meet some of the actual people who create the products and talk to them is really eye opening,” Berky says.
Demos That Sell the Dream
If networking was the backbone of the show, demos gave it energy. Attendees repeatedly said that experiencing a well-designed system in person shapes how they think about their own client projects. Jason, owner of Premier Audio and Images, says the demo rooms changed his sense of what is possible.
“The demo rooms really build the excitement and energy to see what is possible to put into our clients’ homes,” he says.
One attendee who asked to remain anonymous singled out the Epson demo room as the high point of the entire show. The attendee credited both the presenter’s expertise and the way the room brought together gear from several leading manufacturers into one carefully tuned experience.
“The Epson demo room was the highlight of the show. Ron the presenter was incredibly knowledgeable, and the content of the demo was spectacular. Only at CEDIA Expo can you see cutting-edge technology, set up perfectly using great audio, video and automation from the top manufacturers,” the attendee says.
That same attendee found extra value in what happened after the lights came up. The room full of fellow professionals turned the demo into a group discussion about what everyone had just seen and heard.
“The bonus was to have a room full of professionals to have an open discussion about what they had just seen during the demo to validate how impactful the demo actually was,” the attendee adds.
Home theater demos are always a big attraction at CEDIA Expo. Image/Jack Goras
Not every standout demo involved a dedicated theater and a rack of high-end electronics. Another anonymous attendee who sat through many large home theater presentations says the most surprising moment came from a compact Sonos soundbar system.
“You expect a full 5.2.2 system driven by a $10k amp and receiver to sound excellent, but when you get the fidelity and simulated Atmos/surround that Sonos has packed into a very small form factor, it truly exceeds your expectations,” the attendee says.
Still, the large-scale theater experiences left a lasting mark on attendees who design those spaces for a living. For some, the demos raised the bar for their own work. One anonymous attendee says hearing a properly engineered room in person sent their team home with bigger ambitions.
“Seeing and hearing what’s possible in a truly well-designed theater inspired us to push our own theater projects even further,” the attendee says.
Display technology drew particular praise from attendees, who found that the latest panels and projection systems had to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. One anonymous attendee says Sony’s showing alone justified the trip.
“The SONY displays were most impressive, seeing the results of their technological breakthroughs and latest product lineup made it worth the visit!” the attendee says.
Another anonymous attendee who caught a presentation from Quantum Media came away impressed by the image quality of the company’s very large display. The attendee noted its uniformity across the full width of the screen.
“They had their 20′ wide DCI Compliant display and the physical and color uniformity was very good,” the attendee says.
Some of the most memorable demos took place outside the exhibit hall entirely. Mike Oborny, president of Focus Design, says the CE Pro 100 event gave him his first look at a lighting solution from two well-known brands working together.
“The CE Pro 100 event where we could experience the Coastal Source and Lutron partnership – that is a game changer in lighting solutions. Never before was that available as a solution,” Oborny says.
Video walls were another recurring favorite among attendees who wanted to see the newest large-format display technology in action. Michael Colley, tech advisor and consultant at Electronic Life, says the walls on display stood out.
“Loved all the video wall demos – fantastic technology,” Colley says.
For some attendees, the appeal of the live demos needed very little explanation. Ben Bruton, owner of Electrical Connections, summed up his experience in a single sentence.
“I loved the live demos,” Bruton says.
The demos also reached attendees well beyond the integrator community, including builders and designers who work alongside AV contractors on new homes. Kellie Bernstein, designer, specifier and purchasing lead for new residential construction at Crestwood Construction, attended with her AV contractor, Cinegration. She went to see Sonance, the Lutron experience and Ted Bradley Studio, but found the show offered far more than she had planned for.
“We saw so much more! The sound experiences were incredible and the new TV technology is mind blowing,” Bernstein says.
Discovery on the Show Floor
For many attendees, the show floor was a place to find something they did not know they were looking for. That kind of discovery is difficult to replicate through online research alone. Kevin Crook, estimator at Lu-Tek, says that was exactly his experience.
“I learned about a new product that I would not have known about,” Crook says.
Discovery was not limited to products. Some attendees came away with a better understanding of the standards and platforms shaping the smart home. One anonymous attendee says the show introduced them to an interoperability standard that is gaining ground across the industry.
“I was not aware of the ‘Matter’ protocol for home automation until I attended CEDIA Expo,” the attendee says.
For other attendees, the payoff was more immediate and practical. One anonymous attendee summed up the most memorable result of the show in just four words.
“Found a new supplier,” the attendee says.
That discovery works in both directions on the show floor. Reps use the show to put their lines in front of dealers and to scout new partners of their own. Michael Katzman, president of Pacific Coast Rep Group, says the show helped on both counts.
“Was able to show lines to dealers and did bring on a new vendor due to the show,” Katzman says.
Several attendees gave credit to the exhibitors themselves, saying the energy and openness in the booths made learning easy. Justin Smith, project manager at Boone Media Designs, Inc., says the experience left him wanting to attend more events like it.
“Every vendor was very engaging and shared information about their products amazingly. This experience makes me want to come to all of these events to learn about every advancement as they release them,” Smith says.
CEDIA Expo is always full of new products that manufacturers are eager to show off. Image/Jack Goras
The floor itself also exceeded some attendees’ expectations, both in the range of new technology on display and in the amount of traffic moving through the aisles. One anonymous attendee was pleasantly surprised on both fronts.
“Really great floor! Lots of interesting new products. Busier than I had expected,” the attendee says.
For business owners weighing the cost of time away from the shop, the combination of new contacts and new ideas made the trip pay off. Tim, CEO of Zen Theater Systems, says those benefits added up.
“Just making new contacts, learning about new products, methods, and ideas made it worth it,” he says.
Others framed the show as a training opportunity as much as a buying one. They valued the chance to sharpen skills alongside learning about new gear. Connor Bloomer, VP at Reed Audio Video, highlighted that side of the experience.
“Great opportunity to learn valuable industry skills/tools, and products,” Bloomer says.
Some attendees were enthusiastic enough to offer an unqualified endorsement. Norma, a tech with Metro City Solutions, says the show consistently delivers new tools and technology at a level of quality and value that keeps her coming back.
“I love going to this expo because I find lots of new technology and useful work tools at great prices and excellent quality. I recommend it 100%,” she says.
Programming, Perks and Pickleball
Beyond the booths, attendees praised the breadth of programming that filled the show’s schedule from the opening sessions through the awards. Barbara Haberman, sales specialist at Bloomingdale’s, rattled off a list of highlights.
“Excellent, engaging programming, from the Town Hall to the Keynote, panel discussions, exhibitor tours, the Smart Home Awards, the industry friends I got to see, CEDIA Expo 2026 was the place to be!” Haberman says.
The awards in particular gave attendees a look at the best work being done in the field. That window into standout projects was a highlight for integrators who appreciate seeing what their peers can accomplish. Brad Griffin, co-owner of Home Theater Design Group in Dallas, says he enjoyed that part of the program.
“The awards are fun to watch and enjoy seeing and hearing about the incredible installs,” Griffin says.
CE Pro’s Home of the Year Awards, hosted on the Smart Stage, always draws a big crowd. Image/Jack Goras
For some, the awards and surrounding events carried an emotional weight that went beyond business. Jay Juarez says the sense of community on display this year stood out more than ever before.
“Watching the CEDIA community come together to honor and support each other, more than ever this year!” Juarez says.
Smaller touches landed as well, particularly the member amenities designed to give busy attendees a place to regroup during long show days. Roz Knight, a manufacturers rep with Redwood Marketing Inc., says she made good use of one of them.
“As a CEDIA member, I really utilized the Manufacturer Rep lounge and the breakfast that was served each morning! I think that was a great added perk for members!” Knight says.
The show’s meal events also earned a nod from attendees who appreciated the chance to sit down between sessions and booth visits. Roger Lafreniere, site supervisor at Best Builders Ltd., kept his review short and positive.
“Luncheons were great,” Lafreniere says.
And some of the most memorable networking happened well away from the exhibit hall. Social events gave attendees a more relaxed setting in which to connect. Curtis LeMaster, owner and programmer at Control Designer, says the pickleball event was a standout.
“Pickleball Event. A great group of people getting together to play some pickleball and talk shop,” LeMaster says.
A Fond Farewell to Denver
Denver itself received plenty of praise from attendees, many of whom credited the city and its convention center with making the show easy to navigate. One anonymous attendee says the event’s organization stood out, even if the city is not as central as some other potential locations.
“The event is very well planned and easy to access. Even if Denver is not very central like a Florida, Dallas, or even Las Vegas event. The city is nice and the convention center (and expo experience) very well organized,” the attendee says.
Others pointed to the convenience of the city’s downtown, where the convention center sits within easy reach of hotels and restaurants. Paul Martinez of AV Integration at UCAR/NCAR was among them.
“I thought Denver offered a great location, the downtown area is easily accessible,” Martinez says.
One anonymous attendee went further, ranking Denver above the show’s other host cities when it comes to getting in, getting around and getting home.
“Denver has been the best logistical location for CEDIA Expo,” the attendee says.
Even attendees traveling from farther away came away impressed with both the people and the place. Paulo, a project manager with F4Build.pt, says the friendliness of exhibitors and the quality of the venue left him wanting to return.
“I really appreciated how friendly all the exhibitors were, and the convention center itself has everything you could need. I have to mention that I really liked Denver. I’ll definitely have to come back here,” he says.
For some attendees, the biggest complaint was that the show ended too soon. They felt there was more to see and more people to meet than the schedule allowed. Daniel McCord, president of Colorado Concept Electrical + Lighting Inc., says he would have gladly stayed longer.
“It was such a great show that I wish I had another day to attend… made some great connections and met some new vendors!!!” McCord says.
Colley, who describes himself as a 20-year veteran of the industry, says this year’s show was a welcome return and that he learned a great deal. He also has a clear recommendation for anyone on the technical side of the business who is weighing next year’s show.
“I learned an immense amount of information and for a 20-year vet it was great to get back out to CEDIA Expo. I highly recommend anyone in the tech side to go ’27,” Colley says.
