Now in its 19th edition, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East 2026 will take place from 12-14 January at the Dubai World Trade Centre
MENA’s leading event for lighting and building technology will host 450+ exhibitors from over 30 countries
Conferences THINKLIGHT, InSpotLight and the Smart Building Summit headline the programme, while renowned international companies including Signify, LEDVANCE, KNX, Honeywell, Opple, Airzone, Theben, Illus and many more will be featured on the show floor
Dubai, UAE: Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, the MENA region’s leading event for lighting and building technology, returns to the Dubai World Trade Centre from 12-14 January 2026.
With a growing global presence, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East will host more than 450 exhibitors from over 30 countries, with overseas companies accounting for over 90% of the international showcase.
Co-located with Intersec Dubai, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East will bring together over 16,000 global industry leaders, innovators, and government bodies to explore cutting-edge products and solutions.
According to Grand View Research, the LED lighting market in the Middle East and Africa generated revenues of US$6.66 billion in 2024, accounting for 7.6% of the global market. The sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2025 to 2030, reaching an estimated US$10.34 billion by the end of the decade.
With a strong market outlook, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East will feature leading international brands in the industry including Signify, LEDVANCE, Opple, Honeywell Lighting, Schréder and Illus. In addition, Light + Intelligent Building Middle East will highlight key players from the intelligent building sector such as KNX, Theben, Airzone, TE Connectivity and more.
“As Light + Intelligent Building Middle East marks its 19th edition, the event has become the region’s premier meeting point for lighting and building technology. From pioneering products on the show floor, to forward-thinking discussions during our conferences and workshops, the event highlights how innovation is transforming the industry”, said Abdul Muhsin, Show Director for Light + Intelligent Building Middle East.
The conference element of the event, which includes THINKLIGHT, the Smart Building Summit, and InSpotLight, provides an expanded programme this year, offering high-level insights from regional and international experts.
Now in its fourth edition, the Smart Building Summit will showcase how technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart sensors, and automated systems are transforming buildings to enhance sustainability and the user experience.
The focus comes at a pivotal time as the intelligent building market is forecast by 6Wresearch to reach US$9.2 billion by 2030. Within the Middle East, revenues are forecasted to expand at a CAGR of 8% from 2024 to 2030 due to increased investment in smart infrastructure and sustainable technologies.
Attended by architects, tech innovators, policymakers and sustainability experts, the Smart Building Summit will feature a new Tech Talks session, giving companies in the smart building sector the opportunity to present their products and technologies alongside expert-led discussions. For the first time, an advisory board has been established for the Smart Building Summit, comprising government representatives and industry leaders from across the region.
Commenting on the introduction of the board, Muhsin added: “In line with our commitment to delivering greater value and relevance, we are proud to announce the formation of a dedicated Advisory Board for the Smart Building Summit. By bringing together decision-makers in the industry, the board guides the strategic direction of the summit, ensuring discussions reflect the latest innovations, priorities and long-term opportunities for the market.”
A cornerstone of the event, THINKLIGHT provides a platform for lighting professionals to exchange knowledge and network, collectively shaping the future of lighting, design, and technology in the region.
The 2026 THINKLIGHT conference centres on the theme “Vision to Impact: From Inspiring Ideas to Lasting Legacies,” and will deliver a comprehensive programme across three distinct formats.
Highlights include a 45-minute Design Deep Dive keynote led by a renowned lighting designer; Project Perspectives, featuring focused 15-minute sessions on innovative projects; and Conversations in Light, 30-minute live interviews offering behind-the-scenes insights.
InSpotLight will once again highlight the innovations, designs and technology shaping the future of lighting. Over three days, InSpotLight will include a line-up of dynamic product presentations, thought-provoking sessions and hands-on learning experiences.
A notable workshop at the InSpotLight stage for the 2026 edition focuses on “The AI Shift: Lighting Design Workflows in the Age of Intelligent Tools”. The session offers a hands-on opportunity to learn how AI can supercharge creativity, streamline delivery, and reshape the future of lighting design highlighting the power of image and video generation platforms for creating lighting renders, visuals, and animations; alongside trained AI agents that automate lighting schedules, LEED and DarkSky compliance, and technical documentation.
A tribute to vision, excellence and innovation, the Light Middle East Awards will be held on 14 January at Conrad Dubai. Now in its 12th edition, the awards ceremony is recognised as the region’s largest and most influential platform celebrating excellence in lighting, and honouring individuals, products, projects and partnerships that are shaping the industry worldwide.
Built around three overarching categories, which include ‘Project of the Year’, ‘Product of the Year’ and ‘Partner of the Year’ the Light Middle East Awards are judged through a meticulous evaluation process by an independent panel of over 30 distinguished local and international industry experts.
Light + Intelligent Building Middle East comprises six product sections: Technical Lighting, Electric Lamps and Components, Decorative Lighting, Architectural Lighting, Electrical Engineering, and Smart Home and Building Automation.
The event will be held in Za’abeel Halls 1-3 and Hall 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Registration for Light + Intelligent Building Middle East is now open: www.messefrankfurtme-registration.com/MF_Shop/LIBME26
About Light + Intelligent Building Middle East
Light + Intelligent Building Middle East brings together world-renowned brands, regional players, and promising innovators for an exciting three-day showcase from 12-14 January 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Featuring products within lighting, electrical engineering, home, and building automation, the exhibition has played a vital role in the growth and development of the industry since its launch in 2006, with a solid representation of global products and brands, several educational conferences, certified workshops, and leading awards programme to recognize the very best the industry has to offer. For more information, please visit our website.
About Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,500 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2024 were € 775 million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
About Messe Frankfurt Middle East
Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s portfolio of exhibitions includes: Light + Intelligent Building Middle East, Intersec, Intersec Saudi Arabia, Automechanika Dubai, Automechanika Riyadh, Beautyworld Middle East, Beautyworld Saudi Arabia, Gifts & Lifestyle Middle East, Logimotion and Paperworld Middle East. In the 2023/24 event season, Messe Frankfurt Middle East exhibitions combined featured 6,324 exhibitors from over 60 countries and attracted 224,106 visitors from 156 countries.
For more information, please visit our website.
