Light+Building 2026: Observations from Frankfurt

Last week’s Light+Building in Frankfurt brought together 1,927 exhibitors from 49 countries and 144,767 visitors—a major gathering for the lighting and building technology industry.

AI: A Dominant Theme

Artificial intelligence was prominently featured across the exhibition, with many major exhibitors highlighting AI capabilities in their solutions. The AI Lounge in Hall 9 drew significant attendance with presentations on AI applications in building technology.

However, the maturity of these AI implementations varies considerably. Industry conversations revealed that many solutions currently labeled as “AI-powered” are still in development stages, with fuller functionality planned for future releases. The technology is evolving, but widespread commercial deployment is still emerging.

Real AI Development: The HiFLEX Project

Amplex is developing AI applications through the HiFLEX project in partnership with Aalborg University, funded by EUDP. The university is creating machine learning algorithms that analyze BLE traffic data combined with weather forecasts and holiday calendars to predict traffic patterns 30+ minutes ahead.

This enables more precise dimming control that optimizes energy consumption and reduces CO2 emissions while maintaining safety standards. The project represents a research-based approach to applying AI to street lighting control.

Industry Trends

A clear direction emerged: lighting systems are becoming increasingly data-driven and adaptive. Sensors and connected luminaires enable automatic adjustment based on daylight levels, occupancy, and usage patterns. While most applications demonstrated focused on indoor environments, outdoor adaptive lighting is gaining traction.

The industry continues moving toward open, integrated platforms that manage multiple building functions through unified interfaces. This integration supports better coordination between lighting control, energy management, and other building systems.

Looking Ahead

The exhibition highlighted both current capabilities and future directions for the industry. Data collection, system connectivity, and energy optimization remain fundamental priorities across manufacturers.

Development work continues on more sophisticated AI applications, with practical implementations expected to expand over the coming years. We look very much forward to see the status of the usage and implementation of AI at the next Light+Building taking place 5-10 March 2028.