Light + Building 2026 will convene around 2,000 exhibitors in Frankfurt am Main from 8 to 13 March to showcase solutions addressing the technological transformation of the lighting and building services technology markets. Electrification, digitalisation and energy efficiency are driving investment decisions globally, with the fair serving as a platform for companies to establish international business relationships, strategic partnerships and discuss specific project plans.
The exhibition reflects a mature market: 75 per cent of exhibitors are based outside Germany, representing a strong international presence from China, Italy, Türkiye, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Austria and the United Kingdom. Around 60 per cent of companies operate in the lighting segment, while 40 per cent focus on connected building services technology, demonstrating the growing integration of energy, digitalisation and security solutions tailored to building efficiency requirements.
“Light + Building 2026 is a realistic reflection of the market, with all its challenges and technological strengths,” states Wolfgang Marzin, President and CEO of Messe Frankfurt. “In a phase of profound transformation, orientation becomes a decisive added value. Light + Building enables comparability, facilitates dialogue and provides a sound basis for decision-making.”
Strategic Themes Shape Conference Programme
The event operates under the motto “Be Electrified – Electrifying Places. Illuminating Spaces.” Three overarching themes structure the conference programme and reflect industry priorities. “Sustainable Transformation” addresses electrification, decarbonisation and sustainable modernisation of existing buildings. “Smart Connectivity” focuses on intelligent networking of systems, trades and data as the foundation for efficiency and control. “Living Light” positions the quality of light as an integral component of architecture, workplaces and urban spaces.
Industry Stakeholders Highlight Economic Opportunities
From the electrical industry’s perspective, electrification and digital integration serve as decisive levers for Germany’s industrial competitiveness. Wolfgang Weber, CEO of the German Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI), emphasises: “The energy and building transition can be a major engine for growth. The technologies are already in place. The companies of the German electrical and digital industry offer a wide range of innovative applications and solutions.”
The electrical trades also identify significant economic opportunities. Alexander Neuhäuser, CEO of the Federation of the German Electrical and Information Technology Installation Trades (ZVEH), notes: “The energy transition is an economic opportunity. With building systems integration and energy management, we are facing major tasks. We are driving digital networking forward and demonstrating concrete applications for artificial intelligence, process digitalisation and data spaces.”
Industry Platforms and Special Exhibitions
The ZVEI Technology Forum will serve as a key platform for professional exchange between industry, skilled trades, planners and policymakers throughout all six days of the fair. It opens on 8 March at 9.30 a.m. with remarks from Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas Kaweh Mansoori and Wolfgang Marzin.
The ZVEH E-House, a walk-in model demonstrating integrated building technology from photovoltaics and heat pumps to intelligent control systems, provides direct experience of technological transformation. On the Agora, the ZVEH hot-air balloon will serve as a visible symbol for the electrical trades as key drivers of the energy transition.
“The Living Light” marks a world premiere special exhibition in Hall 3.1, developed by Berlin-based lighting design studio Lichtvision Design. The exhibition comprehensively explores how light shapes living spaces across four areas – Home, Education, Workplace and Communication – demonstrating how light creates orientation, supports productivity and generates atmosphere. Interactive elements and guided tours at 11.00 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. daily allow visitors to experience lighting’s impact first-hand.
The Design Plaza in Hall 3.1 serves as a curated forum for lectures and discussions on current topics from architecture, lighting and building services technology. The “Young Design” format spotlights emerging talent, with designers at the beginning of their professional careers presenting innovative luminaires in Hall 3.1. Frankfurt’s status as World Design Capital 2026 strengthens the fair’s focus on design within the international industry community.
