From human-centric lighting to intelligent connectivity, the world’s leading trade fair in the segment showcases cutting-edge solutions and standout designs shaping the future of illumination.
Between March 8th and 13th, the exhibition Light + Building once again transformed Frankfurt am Main into the epicenter of lighting, building technology, and connected solutions, reaffirming its role as the world’s leading trade fair in the sector. Under the motto “Be Electrified – Electrifying Places. Illuminating Spaces,” the event brought together 1,927 exhibitors and 144,767 professional visitors from around the globe.
In the face of quick changes in technology and the market, the 2026 event focused on three main topics—Sustainable Transformation, Smart Connectivity, and Living Light—showing the industry’s efforts towards energy-saving buildings, smart systems, and human‑centric lighting solutions.
More than a showcase of products, Light + Building 2026 drove dialogue across disciplines with an expansive program of special exhibitions, guided tours, and expert forums—and the IALD International Lighting Design Awards, which, presented in Frankfurt for the first time, brought the creative dimension of lighting to the forefront.
Here are some of the highlights from the exhibition:
Georg Bechter Licht
The Austrian-based company presented its DOT 28 CONE light. Georg Bechter Licht describes the product as almost weightless, as it adds depth to the ceiling with precise shapes, creating a gentle texture by using a small height and deep spaces. Focused light, high-quality reflectors, and enhanced glare suppression ensure brilliant lighting moods. Another variation of the DOT 28 series is the DOT 28 POWER CONE, which provides additional glare suppression and opens up a wide range of design options.
Another product exhibited in Frankfurt was VISO 28. The goal of Georg Bechter Licht when creating it was, in their words, “to bring a good conclusion to the heated debate on whether motion detectors are a good idea”—and about how much pragmatism good architecture can tolerate. VISO 28 is flush-mounted and can be integrated into any ceiling without a frame. Its 28 mm diameter offers the same detection range as much larger counterparts. With infrared motion detection, light intensity measurement, and four light levels, it can also manage shading systems and other devices in a DALI-2 network—an advanced, open-protocol, two-way communication system designed for intelligent lighting control, based on the IEC 62386 standard.
“In addition to controlling light scenes through motion detection and light intensity measurement, the VISO 28 can also be used for light-level controlled regulation of blinds or shading systems,” Madlin Simma, spokesperson for the brand, told ArchiExpo e-Magazine.
Stele Lighting
Discreet, variable, and pivotable, Stele Lighting’s ZEN stands out thanks to its radically minimalist design coupled with remarkable lighting effectiveness. The items are available in different color schemes and are suited for both homes and professional environments. The “variation” ZEN-X, alternatively, combines indirect general lighting and accent spot lighting through its minimalist design. Each light source can be switched on, dimmed, and rotated independently. ZEN-X2,, on the other hand, combines originality and functionality through a sleek design, offering dual accent lighting via two spotlights, and is available in several colors.
Another highlight of the Swiss-based company is the TOTEM light, which allows shadows, light, and materials to interact while combining sculptural lines with a soft yet powerful lighting that makes it suitable for a wide variety of environments in both classical and contemporary architecture.
BEGA
The Calm Line range is BEGA’s response to what the 75-year-old German firm considers an important interior concept today: “the call for a reduced, nature-inspired world of colors and forms with a warm expression. “ The colors Sand and Taupe feature calm, flowing shapes. Soft, earthy shades create a seamless dialogue between luminaire and space, giving the products an understated character. Their refined color palette fosters a welcoming ambience and underscores the role of light as a key design element. The Calm Line gives formal luminaires a new aesthetic identity by deliberately reducing their color scheme.
Another interesting novelty is the pendant luminaires from the Midcentury collection, which reinterpret the classic spherical shape with exceptional elegance. BEGA produces three-ply opal glass with a stepped structure with a high translucency in its glassworks. That provides gentle and uniform light distribution throughout the room and pleasantly softens the luminance. A narrow chrome ring around the center of the sphere adds a distinctive accent, emphasizing the geometry and subtly structuring the shape. The cable pendant is white, and special lengths can be made on request. The power supply units are phase-dimmable or (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) DALI controllable.
The Importance of Smart Connectivity
Smart connectivity, by the way, is definitely a strong trend in the industry.
“Smart features and connectivity across different trades are increasingly in demand in the market. We offer our own systems designed for straightforward, intuitive, and highly reliable long-term use—constantly searching for the best solutions for our partners and customers,” BEGA told ArchiExpo e-magazine.
To the firm, reliable long-term use means that smart lighting solutions must remain stable, secure, and easy to operate over many years in real-world conditions.
“In practical terms, this includes robust hardware designed for outdoor and long service life, stable communication between components even in challenging environments, systems that are intuitive to commission and operate without requiring constant maintenance, long-term availability of components, and software support. Our goal is not just to offer smart features but to ensure that they provide lasting value and dependable performance throughout the entire lifecycle of a project,” they say.
Egger Licht
Based in Austria, Egger Licht presented its CLEO LED pendant 7W, with a high-quality glass lens and a built‑in 230V driver. The product has a leading-edge/trailing-edge dimmer and a housing made of aluminum. Its black fabric cable may be cut to any length, and the items are available in white, black, or brass.
Also exhibited in Frankfurt was the SOLANA, an LED pendant with 11 W, CRI > 90, and a height adjustable from 300 mm to 2370 mm. With glare suppression through a microprismatic cover, it has a built-in 230V driver, trailing edge dimming, a housing made of aluminum, and an accent ring optionally gold, black, or white—while the item itself, previously available in black and white, can now be found in brass as well. The SOLANA pendant is compatible with the CS SYSTEM.
