The #avtweeps community is extremely passionate about three aspects in the commercial integration industry: technology, networking and learning. And ISE (Integrated Systems Europe) just happens to be a show that offers all three on a monumental scale. And this year’s iteration will be no different. ISE 2025 aims to return with bigger expectations and an expanded show floor that is about 20% larger than last year. This year’s iteration will also feature 330 new exhibitors, which provide even more exciting opportunities for all visitors during the four-day extravaganza that will take place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via from Feb. 4 to 7.
Industry Stalwarts
To learn more about the impact of ISE on the commercial AV sector, Commercial Integrator sat down with industry stalwarts, including AVIXA’s Sean Wargo and Pamela Taggart, as well as ISE’s Mike Blackman. They provide a breakdown of the show’s main features and highlights that will allow for a seamless experience for attendees.
According to Sean Wargo, vice president of market insights, AVIXA, ISE represents a great opportunity to get a pulse check on the industry across many different dimensions. He remarks, “The first [benefit] are the latest innovations being brought to market. Each year, we get to see who is bringing what new technology as a potential disruption to the status quo.” In Wargo’s opinion, attendees sometimes had to dig deep within the exhibit spaces to find these innovations. “However,” he continues, “they are there for the diligent to discover.” A second benefit of ISE is gaining perspective on the evolution of existing brands and technologies.
Track on AV Broadcast and AI
As an example, Wargo points to a full conference track on AV Broadcast that is available at ISE 2025 as a way of learning more about the market opportunities in that sector, which AVIXA estimates will generate $45.6 billion in global revenue this year, growing at 5.5% over the next five years. “The show represents an update on past trends, so that we can assess whether a technology is progressing, stabilizing or declining,” he says.
Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events, reveals ISE 2025 as the most ambitious, inspiring and motivating edition yet. “We’re thrilled to introduce a host of new initiatives and features, including an expanded and more accessible content program that delved deep into the most significant megatrends shaping our industry,” he declares.
Indeed, the show has cemented its stature in the AV industry and aims to live up to the anticipation of a significant increase in foot traffic, driven by the growing interest in the latest advancements in the commercial AV and systems integration sectors.
Focus on AI
Artificial intelligence has dominated the conversation in the AV realm for the last year or so, and it will feature prominently throughout ISE 2025. In fact, the opening keynote will be led by Brian Solis, AI futurist. According to Blackman, the keynote will explore the potential of AI within the commercial AV space and the systems integration industry broadly. This keynote, he says, is unmissable for those “…eager to discover why now is the time for business leaders to rethink their organizations for an AI-defined future.”
In addition to the keynote, Pamela Taggart, CTS, vice president of content creation, AVIXA, reveals that AI is one of the Tracks for ISE 2025, sitting alongside audio, cybersecurity, retail and sustainability. She adds, “These Track topics will touch on within the Summit programs in Smart Buildings, Smart Workplace, Digital Signage, Ed Tech, AV Broadcast, etc., [and] also be highlighted in standalone sessions throughout the show.”
For instance, Matt Tucker, director of research at IFMA, will discuss how members can integrate AI into facility management and what motivates facility management decisions around this for operational efficiency, enhancing decision-making and improving service delivery at the Smart Workplace Summit.
Wargo then underscores why AI will take prominence at ISE 2025, explaining, “[AI] is definitely high on the list as we get an updated perspective on its actual roll-out in product and service offerings. Consider it a chance to swap hype for reality, since use cases for AI are still emerging.”
Wargo opines that ISE is simply the best way to get up to date on the latest happenings — including in AI. “I tremendously value the one-on-one conversations to lend support to or challenge our own forecasts for industry growth,” he says.
Emphasis on Education and Learning

The Christie Booth at ISE 2024 underscored the Barcelona event as a must-visit for #AVTweeps. Photo credits: Dan Ferrisi.
As mentioned earlier, ISE 2025 will focus on five major Tracks — AI, audio, cyber-
security, retail and sustainability. “Essentially,” Taggart explains, “Tracks identify topics, whether inside existing Summits or standalone sessions, which deal with macro-themes in the industry.” From her perspective, the idea of adding the Tracks, alongside the expanded show floor tours and Day Pass tickets, is to increase access for attendees so that they can attain the agenda-setting information they need to step into the new year.
Expanding on the Day Pass ticket, Blackman states, “For the first time, we have introduced flexible ticketing options, including the new Content Day Pass, [which] provides daily access to ISE Summits along with additional Track Sessions happening on the same day — all at no extra cost.”
This gives attendees the flexibility to buy a day pass to the Conferences, Summits and Tracks, and they can dip in and out of the sessions that they particularly want to attend at the show.
In summation, the Track Sessions will thus allow delegates to attend a conference and seamlessly drop into sessions of their choice, offering a more tailored and flexible learning experience.
Blackman also spotlights Fast Forward Friday, established in collaboration with CEDIA and AVIXA. “This initiative highlights the career paths in our fantastic community,” he remarks. “It’s a truly inspiring day, and it is heartening to witness the way our AV community comes together to support learning and career development, culminating in a day dedicated to fostering new talent and helping them navigate their career paths in the AV industry.”
Innovation Park Emerges
Innovation Park, introduced at ISE 2025, will be the hub of creativity and innovation, offering a unique opportunity for emerging businesses to present groundbreaking ideas and highlighting the future of the AV industry.
According to Blackman, the idea of Innovation Park was conceptualized as a dedicated space to showcase emerging technologies and startups. “We wanted to create an environment where emerging companies could connect with industry leaders, potential buyers and investors,” he explains. “The concept quickly gained traction, and we are thrilled to see it come to life at ISE 2025.”
Taggart chimes in to say that Innovation Park in Congress Square is “…the epicenter of entrepreneurship at ISE.” She reveals that more than 80 turnkey promotional pods will be provided to forward-thinking startups to present and promote their innovations to experts, investors and business professionals.
Innovation Park also features a dedicated Pitching Stage, curated by venture capital experts at Plug & Play, one of the world’s leading early-stage venture capital firms, as well as a matchmaking area, all underpinned by an Investor Forum designed to offer investors and startups additional exposure to an engaged audience looking for the next big opportunity.
Networking Opportunities
Turning to the networking opportunities, Taggart states that beyond the multiple manufacturer and cohort group meetups, there are also daily meetups organized by AVIXA, drawing the AV community together at the Xchange Live booth. Some of these meetups include AV Marketers, All Women in AV and AVIXA Members, Councils, Volunteers and Leadership Reception.
What’s more, the AVIXA Women’s Council has sessions in different languages, such as the AVIXA Women’s Council Español, AVIXA Women’s Council Italiano and AVIXA Women’s Council Deutsch. As Blackman underscores, “ISE is where the global AV and systems integration community comes together. It’s not just about the technology; it’s about the people.”
Indeed, ISE 2025 offers a plethora of networking opportunities for attendees, from formal networking events and receptions to informal meetups and social gatherings.
Final Thoughts
According to Wargo, the content and conference sessions offers tremendous thought leadership to all attendees. Proclaiming ISE as “a living market intelligence opportunity,” he adds that getting the European market perspective is crucial to efforts to provide global insights about the state of commercial AV. “In short, ISE is not a show to miss!” he enthuses.
Blackman likewise adds, “Our team [have worked] tirelessly to ensure that every aspect of the show is meticulously planned and executed.” He reveals that, from coordinating with exhibitors to finalizing the event schedule, the team has worked on every detail to provide an exceptional experience for all attendees. From his perspective, the biggest highlights will be seeing the innovative technologies and solutions, as well as special show floor features. “It’s always inspiring to witness the creativity and ingenuity of our industry,” Blackman concludes.
Follow along with Commercial Integrator as we compile the latest news for #ISE2025. Check out (or bookmark) our ISE 2025 hub page today!