2026 ISE Recap

2026 Integrated Systems Europe

Feb. 3 – Feb. 6, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain

‘Push Beyond the Ordinary’

The theme for ISE 2026 was certainly adhered to by the over 1750 exhibitors that were on display in Barcelona. There was nothing ‘ordinary’ about the event, as more than 92,000 attendees paced through eight completely full exhibit halls, covering over 1 million square feet, for the latest and greatest in technological innovation. Over the course of four days, we each logged over 72,000 steps (roughly 34 miles), though it didn’t feel like it, until the plane ride home.

Large format displays once again took center stage, as advances in pixel pitch and brightness, combined with transparent overlays, led the way for new visual experiences. AI and UCC both had a strong presence on the show floor. Content analytics, system diagnostics, and centralized management were key factors as well, enabling enterprise services across global environments. Sustainability continues to progress, as energy efficiency and responsible manufacturing practices were notably advancing.

One of the major takeaways from the show was the shift toward software versus hardware. Yes, there are still boxes, but the functionality, and more specifically, the data collection from those devices have enabled a services-oriented ecosystem to emerge. This concept has been threatening for years, but it appears to have picked up quite a bit of momentum since last year.

Each year, there has been an increase in Edge membership participation at ISE. We collaborated over a number of lunches, dinners, and of course, our reception on Wednesday evening. Thank you so much to our international and domestic members for coming together with our vendor partners for great conversations, and we were so happy with the new connections made as we discussed our findings from the show. Overall, a sense of strong optimism was felt throughout the week, and we hope to carry that through to June when we see many of you in Las Vegas for InfoComm!