Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of planned posts offering ISE 2026 reflections from our editor, Dan Ferrisi. Future reflections pieces will drop in the coming days.
As I reflect on Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026, an inescapable conclusion comes to my mind: The show perfectly illustrated the enduring power of live events.
ISE 2026 attracted 92,170 visitors from around the globe, flocking to check out technological advancements from 1,751 exhibitors, whose stands spread across nearly 1.1 million square feet at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via. The show was a welcome reminder that, even as automation continues to advance and AI revolutionizes workflows, the personal touch of live events remains non-negotiable.
Here, I’ll share a few additional takeaways from a wild, winding week in Barcelona.
ISE 2026 Reflections: Trade Show Investment is Up
Pandemic-era booth “slim downs” were nowhere in evidence during the show. I was impressed by the expansive footprints, bold color schemes and eye-catching visual elements that made up exhibitors’ booths. The Biamp booth, for example, boasted a ceiling-mounted concentric-circles design element that called to mind Space Mountain at Disney World. It was fitting for a company celebrating 50 years of pushing the boundaries of technology.
Brand unity also was in evidence, as ADI showcased a new, fully harmonized booth design incorporating all the exclusive brands stemming from the Snap One acquisition. The same was true for G&D | VuWall, which benefited from an aesthetic reimagining that underscored the companies’ unity operating under common ownership.
Unlike last decade, when high-walled booths were routinely adorned with black boxes, ISE 2026 continued the trend of miniaturizing commercial environments, allowing visitors to experience technology in situ. This reflects our industry’s increasing understanding that technology exists not to dazzle in its own right but, rather, to effectuate real-world outcomes.
ISE 2026 Reflections: Practical Applications for AI
People are the heart and soul of our industry, but technology is its engine — and AI is pushing us into hyperdrive. The critique has been that AI is more about flash and sizzle than about practical utility, but I think, at ISE 2026, the conversation changed. Perhaps the most undeniable example was HP Dimension with Google Beam, which I experienced in the Google booth.
HP | Poly executive Brian Phillips and I sat in opposing rooms and participated in a five-minute videoconference that genuinely felt like a face-to-face meeting. The combination of 3D imaging, multi-camera capture and spatial audio, synthesized by AI algorithms and complemented by adaptive lighting, facilitated a true-to-life experience. If I craned my head, I could see the side of his neck; if he reached out, I felt like I could grab something right out of his hand. The best part? Absolutely no wearables required!
Although the “magic zone” within which the effect works is somewhat narrow, I’m excited to see this AI-infused technology continue to advance. Next stop? My guess is multi-user experiences.
ISE 2026 Reflections: IPMX Takes the Stage
Back in late 2022, when Commercial Integrator surveyed our integrator readers in conjunction with our Networking Deep Dive, they expressed far less familiarity with the Internet Protocol Media Experience (IPMX) open standard — an emerging AV-over-IP approach for pro AV — than with competing signal-transmission approaches, such as SDVoE, Dante, AVB and HDBaseT.
If ISE 2026 was any indication, integrator familiarity with — and interest in — IPMX has grown rapidly, and it shows no signs of abating. The show floor was replete with manufacturers who have embraced this open-standard approach: EvertzAV, Matrox Video, plexusAV, Cobalt and Panasonic, just to name a few. IPMX recently got a big boost with the announcement that 48 products are now officially certified to the IPMX standard. This occurred at the recent IPMX Product Testing and Certification Event in Geneva, Switzerland.
A show floor conversation with Andrew Starks, marketing work group chair, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), evinced his bullish view on the continued proliferation of IPMX-compliant solutions, especially now that 10 manufacturers have already attained certification.
Although AV-over-IP continues its rapid advance amid the increasing appetite for AV devices that function as network endpoints — along with the critical desire to drive enterprise and education solutions at scale — ISE 2026 also indicated that non-IP approaches, such as HDBaseT, continue to enjoy strong demand. Thought-leadership panels at the HDBaseT Alliance booth focused on continuing demand for uncompressed signal transmission over a single cable. Among influencer integrators, benefits such as stability, reliability and zero latency continue to have purchase.
We’ll See You at CEDIA Expo/CIX
I can’t wait to reconnect with the #avtweeps community in September at CEDIA Expo/CIX, an event that promises to be the crossroads of pro AV and custom home integrators, as well as members of the electronic security, architect, designer and end-user communities. I can’t wait to see you in Denver!
