As the year 2026 approaches, there’s no better time to gear up, get inspired, and map out the road to the exciting event ahead. The upcoming year will be packed with design events, eagerly awaiting lighting fans and designers. Whether you are looking to educate yourself on how to use lighting to tackle challenges of today, get a guided tour through a design trail, or are looking for an abundant showcase of the finest lighting industry has to offer, you will undoubtedly find what you are looking for in these elite lighting design events.
London Design Festival
Established by Sir John Sorrell CBE and Ben Evans CBE in 2003, London Design Festival aims to promote London as the design capital of the world. Inspired by the vibrant design history of the UK’s largest city, the event welcomes designers, practitioners, educators, and retailers. The festival consists of open-air installations, design events, trade fairs, talks, and workshops, while also taking visitors on design trails and tours, open studios and showrooms. Apart from the London Design Fair, which focuses on interior, furniture, and lighting design, the festival also includes the Material Matters Fair, dedicated to material innovation. The 24th edition of the festival will be held between September 12 and 20, 2026.
LEDucation 2026
The New York Hilton Midtown will host LEDucation on April 14 and 15, 2026. In 2026, the fair will celebrate its 20th anniversary with over 400 exhibitors across four exhibition halls and 40 accredited virtual and live presentations by design, sustainability, technology, and other experts. The nonprofit event will redistribute all proceeds from the show back to the community through scholarships for the Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) and other educational initiatives.
IALD Enlighten Americas
Another major US lighting event takes place in the Hyatt Regency, Austin, Texas. IALD Enlighten Americas gathers lighting professionals and enthusiasts for three days of development, meetings, and joy. This educational and networking conference is organised by the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), a non-profit that supports lighting designers globally. Founded in 1969, IALD aims to promote the best of the best in the lighting design area. The conference offers top-notch educational seminars and opportunities for collaboration between designers, architects, and manufacturers. IALD International Lighting Design Awards are presented during the show. The event takes place between October 15 and 17, while its European counterpart, also organised by IALD, titled Enlighten Europe conference, is scheduled for June 17–19, 2026, in Paris, France.
PDC26
The 2026 Participatory Design Conference (PDC2026) will be held at Politecnico di Milano between June 16 and 19, 2026. Peace, dialogue, and coexistence are the main themes as the event aims to highlight the necessity of living together in a world characterised by conflict. The program will discuss research programs and initiatives that use participatory design and co-design to reconcile communities, amplify marginalised voices and foster solidarity.
Light + Building
Light + Building, in Frankfurt, Germany, gathers architects, designers, planners, engineers, craftspeople, and industry professionals looking for the latest trends in building technology and lighting design. Around 2,000 people gather every year to enjoy the fair, followed by a set of talks and accompanying programs, including conferences, awards, tours, and programs focusing on the youth. Following the top themes Sustainable Transformation, Smart Connectivity and Living Light, the 2026 edition (March 8th and 13th, 2026) aims to tackle major challenges such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, and new sources of energy.
Explore the landscape of lighting in 2026
Looks like we’re heading into a fun, exciting year. From Austin, Texas, to the Participatory Design event in Milano, 2026 is packed with events tailored to lighting enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Conferences that emphasise education sit alongside those that showcase not only lighting design but also cutting-edge equipment and materials. Interactive workshops, visionary keynotes, and groundbreaking exhibits further broaden the landscape, offering fresh perspectives and sparking new creative dialogues.
Featured: Decorative lighting full range companies, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH ©Petra Welzel
