Expert lectures, presentations, and panel discussions offered a wide range of opportunities for exchange and served as key meeting points for personal interaction.
Design Plaza
As the central presentation stage, the Design Plaza featured a diverse programme covering lighting, architecture, and design. In addition to keynotes and talks on topics such as sustainability, efficiency, and digital developments, trend presentations and award ceremonies were also in focus.
Architonic DAAily Live Talks
Architonic Editor-in-Chief Simon Keane-Cowell explored key challenges, opportunities, and innovations in lighting design through a series of dynamic and engaging live talks. Together with internationally renowned A&D experts, current developments in planning and design were discussed. The talks offered both practical insights and strategic perspectives on the future of the industry.
Designplus Award by Light + Building Award Ceremony
The Designplus Award by Light + Building recognises products that successfully combine innovation, design quality, functionality, and sustainability. Exhibiting companies were able to submit their solutions in various categories and demonstrate their innovative strength. Presented in cooperation with Stylepark, the award is regarded as an important benchmark for forward-looking design. The official award ceremony took place at the Design Plaza during Light + Building.
Click here to see the winners from 2026Federation of International Lighting Designers e.V. (FILD)
FILD is an international professional association of independent lighting designers based in Frankfurt am Main and has been advocating the professionalisation of lighting design since 2014. Its focus lies on creative independence, quality standards, and strengthening the profession within architecture and the construction industry. At Light + Building, FILD hosted its own lecture programme at the Design Plaza. The sessions addressed topics such as the experience of light and intelligent lighting concepts, offering well-founded insights from both practice and research. The award ceremony for the FILD Lighting-for-Excellence Student Award also took place there.
International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)
The IALD presented a curated programme of high-quality specialist content at the Design Plaza. The focus was on current topics and best practices in international lighting design. In addition, the prestigious IALD Awards were presented, recognising outstanding projects from around the world.
Licht.de (ZVEI)
The licht.de Day brought together the expertise of the industry in a compact and practice-oriented lecture programme. Key topics included lighting management, digitalisation, and the modernisation and refurbishment of lighting systems. The sessions provided valuable input for planning, implementation, and investment decisions. In addition, the licht.de stand offered extensive information and opportunities for direct exchange with experts.
Lighting-for-Excellence Student Award 2026
With the Lighting-for-Excellence Student Award, FILD recognised outstanding student projects in architecture, interior architecture, and related disciplines that view light as a key architectural element. The award honoured projects distinguished by conceptual clarity, design quality, and the successful integration of function, emotion, and technical feasibility. It reinforced lighting design as an independent discipline and highlighted the importance of the profession of lighting designers.
LiTG – German Association for Lighting Technology and Lighting Design
LiTG hosted several lectures at the Design Plaza focusing on key aspects of lighting design. Topics included light and materials, planning processes, implementation, as well as environmental considerations. The sessions combined scientific knowledge with practical applications and addressed a multidisciplinary professional audience. In addition, LiTG presented its own university area within the Young Talents section, actively supporting emerging professionals.
Talks & Tours by World-Architects
The Talks & Tours by World-Architects combined expert input with guided tours across the exhibition grounds. Following introductory presentations, international lighting experts guided participants to selected highlights of the fair. This format facilitated orientation within the extensive exhibition and provided a curated experience. The tours started at the Design Plaza, creating a direct link between theory and practice.
Trend talks
The daily trend talks by the style bureau bora.herke.palmisano. explored current societal developments and design trends. The focus was on influences shaping lighting design for the upcoming season, as well as new aesthetic and technological approaches. The sessions provided a well-founded classification of trends and offered inspiration for future projects. They served as an important source of inspiration for the industry.
Find out more about the trends for 2026/27Virtual Lighting Design Community (VLDC)
At the “Future Forum”, the Virtual Lighting Design Community presented current technological developments and future perspectives. Industry representatives discussed how innovation can be aligned with sustainability, human perception, and storytelling through light. The focus was on interdisciplinary approaches and new ways of thinking in lighting design.
Women in Lighting
Women in Lighting is a global initiative dedicated to promoting and connecting women in the lighting industry. At Light + Building, it provided a platform for exchange, visibility, and dialogue on topics such as equality and leadership. Through talks, discussions, and networking, international perspectives were brought together. The initiative delivered important impulses for diversity and a more inclusive industry culture.
40 under 40 Awards
The “40 Under 40 Awards” recognise outstanding young talents in the international lighting design community. Honourees are individuals under the age of 40 who stand out through innovation, design quality, and influence on the industry. The selection is made by an international jury and reflects the diversity of the discipline. The format also created space for personal insights and exchange among the award winners.
The Nordic Lighting Associations
A specialist presentation by the Nordic Lighting Association explored the interaction between light, architecture, and user experience. Using a specific case study, it demonstrated how innovative lighting design can create atmosphere and shape spaces emotionally. Particular attention was given to the interplay between light, acoustics, and spatial function. The session offered inspiring insights into holistic, user-centred design approaches.
World Design Capital
Frankfurt: City of WOW!
Frankfurt Rhine-Main is World Design Capital 2026. As a company with strong roots in the city and international appeal, Messe Frankfurt is also participating in selected projects during the festival year. The guiding theme is ‘Design for Democracy. Atmospheres for a Better Life.’ and combines economic, social and urban development issues.
A central pillar of this commitment is the main sponsorship of the immersive experience ‘Frankfurt: City of WOW!’. The multimedia 270° production shows Frankfurt's development from a historic trading and trade fair city to an international economic and innovation metropolis. In doing so, it vividly and comprehensibly highlights the role of the Frankfurt trade fairs and Messe Frankfurt as drivers of economic development.
The immersive experience will be on show from the beginning of March to the end of December 2026 in the former high-bay warehouse of Dresdner Bank on Gutleutstraße. Concept and implementation are by the agencies Nordisk Büro and satis&fy.
World Design Capital – find out more
Further information is available at: Frankfurt: City of WOW!
ZVEI Technology Forum – Industry in Dialogue
The Technology Forum in Hall 12.1 provided a platform for dialogue-driven knowledge exchange. Lectures and discussions focused on electrification and digitalisation in the building sector.
Industry experts from member companies presented cross-manufacturer solutions and new standards – independently, well-founded, and practice-oriented. The forum was organised by the ZVEI (Electro and Digital Industry Association) in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt.
Exhibitor Stage
At the stage in Hall 9.0, exhibitors provided insights into current developments, presented innovative products, and showcased practical solutions related to lighting and building technology.
Day Events
IEECB&SC’26 and European ESCO conference 2026
The 13th International Conference on Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings and Smart Communities (IEECB&SC’26) was organised in conjunction with the European ESCO Conference and took place on 11 and 12 March at the Portalhaus of Messe Frankfurt.
The event brought together international experts from research, business, and politics.
The focus was on intelligent, sustainable, and energy-efficient buildings, districts, and cities, including topics such as energy systems and services, efficiency technologies, digitalisation, and renewable energy.
REHVA (Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations)
On 12 March, the REHVA seminar “Hospital Ventilation – Human-Centric, Adaptive and Energy-Efficient Solutions” was held at the Portalhaus of Messe Frankfurt.
The event brought together experts to address current challenges and strategies for ventilation and HVAC systems in healthcare. The focus was on the interplay between indoor air quality, safety requirements, and energy efficiency in complex hospital environments.
The programme included expert presentations, keynotes, and a panel discussion with international speakers, offering practical insights into innovative and adaptive solutions.