Lighting, controls, and smart building tech converge at New North American Show
A new era begins for North America’s lighting and building industries with the launch of Light + Intelligent Building North America — a platform uniting lighting, controls, and smart building technologies.
Messe Frankfurt Inc., the IALD, and the IES have announced the introduction of Light + Intelligent Building North America, a new trade show and conference that brings together architectural lighting, linked controls, software, and building systems integration. The event, which will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from March 15 to 18, 2027, is primarily aimed at the lighting industry—architects, engineers, lighting designers, agents, and specifiers—but it also includes system integrators, facility operators, IT/OT teams, owners/developers, and utilities looking for high-performance, secure, and low-carbon outcomes.
Latoya Gooding, Senior Show Manager, stated, “North America is ready for a single destination where the lighting community and the building-automation ecosystem meet. This launch delivers a product-to-practice experience—seeing luminaires, controls, software, and services working together—so attendees can specify, integrate, and operate smarter, safer, lower-carbon buildings.”
Relationship to LightFair
For decades, LightFair influenced the North American lighting debate. Building on that legacy and the lessons learnt from previous cycles, Light + Intelligent Building North America combines the best of LightFair’s core assets into a new, purpose-built platform focused on systems integration, secure controls, commissioning, analytics, and real-world performance.
This launch is not a rebranding. It is a next-generation show that builds on previous successes, such as design excellence, CEU-eligible education, specifier participation, and a strong agent/distributor network, while also extending into interoperability, lighting and controls, and building-level outcomes.
Importantly, the same partners who co-owned LightFair will co-own this new event, ensuring that the lighting industry’s standards, community, and stewardship continue while providing a future-ready experience in which luminaires, sensors, controls, software, and building systems work together.
Colleen Harper, CEO and Executive Director, Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), said, “This launch advances the IES mission to improve the lighted environment by bringing standards, research, and education together with live, systems-level demonstrations. From controls narratives and code compliance to measurable outcomes in comfort, safety, and energy, attendees will find CEU-eligible content and practical tools they can apply on day one.”
Christopher Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer, International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), commented, “Great lighting design is at the heart of great architecture—and it is most powerful when it connects with every element of the building. Lighting design no longer exists in isolation — expanding the verticals served by this event not only mirrors the evolving state of the lighting industry but also reinforces the critical role that lighting professionals play at the heart of intelligent, health and integrated environments. This is an important step in positioning our field for greater impact, visibility, and collaboration across the built environment.”
Global connection: Part of the Light + Building Ecosystem
Light + Intelligent Building North America is strategically connected with Messe Frankfurt’s worldwide Light + Building portfolio, linking specifiers, designers, engineers, agents, and integrators to an international community of manufacturers, startups, standards organisations, and thought leaders.
By leveraging the depth and diversity of Light + Building (Frankfurt), the North American launch provides a familiar, world-class experience tailored to regional codes, market dynamics, and project realities, allowing lighting and building-technology teams to confidently transition from concept to integrated performance.
Steffen Larbig, Brand Director, Director Brand Management, Light + Building, said, “As part of Messe Frankfurt’s global Light + Building ecosystem, this North American launch is intentionally aligned with our worldwide standards of design excellence, innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Exhibitors and attendees will benefit from shared best practices, interoperable frameworks, and international pathways—while we bring fresh energy to the region with live integration labs, CEU-level education, and a curated marketplace built for specifiers and building-technology teams. It’s a launch that connects North America to a truly global platform—and accelerates what’s possible.”
On the show floor and beyond
Light + Intelligent Building North America divides the expo into three clearly designated zones for quick discovery by attendees, more qualified traffic for exhibitors, and higher-quality connections. First is Lighting, that includes decorative, architectural, external, and speciality luminaires for various environments. Second one is Building Technology, which includes networked lighting controls, whole-building automation, integrated platforms, and adaptive system management. And the last one is Accessories, that consists of drivers, optics, sensors, LEDs, wiring solutions, and installation accessories to support design.
In addition to exhibitions and special events, the Conference will be a major emphasis of the event. CEU-eligible education provides a multi-track program that covers lighting design and installation, regulations and standards, lighting for health and wellness, and building technology subjects such as integration, cybersecurity, commissioning, decarbonisation, efficiency, BIM, and digital twins.