STYLEPARK LIGHT + BUILDING
A future-oriented industry
“Be Electrified – Electrifying Places. Illuminating Spaces” is the motto of the upcoming world's leading trade fair for lighting and building technology in Frankfurt am Main, which will showcase a wide range of products and solutions. According to Messe Frankfurt, around 2,000 international companies have already confirmed their participation in the event. The central areas of focus are climate-friendly energy supply, digital networking, and the atmospheric quality of light: “Sustainable Transformation,” “Smart Connectivity,” and “Living Light” are the top themes for Light + Building 2026. "We are drawing attention to the developments that are shaping lighting and building technology today – and will have a decisive influence tomorrow. As an international platform, we offer the industry a space for exchange, orientation, and new inspiration," says Steffen Larbig, Head of Brand Management at Light + Building.
Led by Carla Wilkins, lighting design agency Lichtvision Design has developed the special exhibition “The Living Light,” which will be on display in Hall 3.1. Based on the themes of “Home,” “Education,” “Workplace,” and “Communication,” visitors can explore how light provides orientation, creates atmosphere, and facilitates encounters. Forward-looking ideas have a great chance of being honored at Light + Building: On March 8, 2026, Messe Frankfurt, in cooperation with Stylepark, will present the Designplus Award by Light + Building to products and concepts that combine design quality, technical innovation, and forward-thinking. In addition, the IALD International Lighting Awards will be presented for the first time at an evening event. The festive event will put the spotlight on projects that impress with their creative design, technical precision, and atmospheric effect. The German Lighting Design Award will also present its nominees, and the E-Brand Awards will honor companies that have shown particular commitment in the field of e-brand communication.
The special show at the Design Plaza in Hall 3.1 serves as an exhibition space for trends in lighting design researched by the bora.herke.palmisano style agency. The spacious area provides a stage for the style agency's trend presentations and a variety of talks – for example, in cooperation with the Virtual Lighting Design Community (VLDC) for international lighting designers. The Design Plaza will also be the starting point for the guided tours of Light + Building 2026, organized by World-Architects, which combine compact presentations with tours of selected exhibitors. In the Congress Center, the Architects' Forum will offer a professional exchange on current topics in building technology, including new insights and practical solutions for the planning of modern, energy-efficient buildings.
As in previous years, the building technology and skilled trades sector is putting on a veritable fireworks display of events that focus above all on interaction: from the AI Lounge, where visitors can explore how artificial intelligence as a digital tool can make everyday work easier, to the Power Festival and the Workshop Street, where new technologies can be explored and knowledge of proven systems expanded. The skilled trades sector is combating the shortage of skilled workers with a special offering for young talent, such as the Young Innovators Area, which offers a platform for start-ups in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). The LiTG Campus LICHT showcases the lighting education and research offerings of universities and smaller institutions, and the E-Haus der E-Handwerke (E-House of E-Trades) will be supervised for the first time by trainees in the new profession of “electronics technician for building system integration.”
Also exciting: as part of the House of Energy Congress on March 11 and 12, 2026, the “Meet & Match: Young Professionals meet Members” format will be offered, which connects students and companies. Even as a youngster, it can't hurt to stop by the “Meisterfrühstück” (master craftsman's breakfast) to build your network. For the first time at Light + Building, master craftsmen from all over Germany will have a meeting place with ZVEH President Stefan Ehinger and other honorary officials to discuss key topics from their everyday work. (am)
