Throughout this first week of February, a new edition of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 is being held in Barcelona, the fair par excellence that, year after year, has consolidated its position as the leading event for the audiovisual industry and systems integration. We have had the opportunity to attend and see in situ how correct the organization’s decision was to move its celebration to Barcelona in 2021.
Six editions have already passed since its time based in Amsterdam, and the evolution is evident: the occupation of the eight pavilions of the Fira de Barcelona, the high participation of brands and the record numbers that have been surpassed year after year, reaching 185,700 visitors in the last edition. We will have to wait until Friday the 6th to know the final figure made public by the organization.
Mike Blackman, general director of the fair, has been in charge of inaugurating this new edition under the motto “Push Beyond”, highlighting that “this edition is not only bigger, but also more ambitious, with a clear focus on overcoming expectations and technological barriers for the entire audiovisual and integrator community.” During the inaugural press conference, the manager presented ISE Foundation, a new public-private initiative developed together with the Generalitat and Barcelona City Council, aimed at promoting innovation, talent development and sustainability in the audiovisual industry throughout the year, and not only during the fair. As he explained, this foundation seeks to “eliminate barriers” for emerging projects and close the gap between the demand for professionals and the available supply.
The biggest trends of the fair
One of the most recurring themes during the first day of celebration has been artificial intelligence as a driver of innovation in audiovisual solutions, from creative processes to advanced automation systems. Likewise, special emphasis has been placed on cybersecurity challenges, especially with regard to connected systems and professional workflows.
Both Samsung and LG have shown the press their main innovations in the field of professional displays, including advances in 3D display technologies, with less bulky solutions and greater energy efficiency. Samsung has introduced the first commercial Spatial Signage display, available in 42-inch and 55-inch sizes. It is a 3D digital signage solution that offers an immersive visual experience, maintaining the sharpness of 2D images and adding natural-looking 3D depth. The new Spatial Signage model will also arrive in an 85-inch size, as well as 42- and 55-inch versions, with 4K UHD resolution (2,160 x 3,840), 9:16 vertical format and 360-degree rotation, allowing front, rear and side views of products or scenes.
Similarly, Transparent Micro LED is presented as the company’s proposal for museums and luxury stores. Samsung has also surprised with the first 130-inch Micro RGB screen, which stands out for its very high contrast, brightness and resolution. Special interest has been aroused by the new color E-Paper screens for the Retail, SMB and Corporate sectors, which stand out for their practically zero energy consumption while displaying content, thanks to the use of polarized particle technology. These solutions will be marketed in sizes of 10, 13, 20 and 32 inches, and can be used in both portrait and landscape orientations. In the field of digital signage and visual technology, numerous brands have deployed all their innovative potential to the audience.
For its part, LG has presented its new modular and scalable MicroLED Magnit display, with high-brightness solutions and ultra-high image quality. It stands out especially for its ability to scale to large formats, adapting to the needs of facilities such as control rooms or auditoriums. In this same screen market, other Asian brands such as Vision, Bako, DiColor or Unilumin, among many others, have joined traditional companies of global recognition, expanding the range of solutions that already include companies such as Panasonic, Sharp, TCL or Sony.
Another trend that has attracted the most attention is the convergence between professional audiovisual (ProAV) and broadcast technologies, with tools and platforms designed for live events, remote production and live experiences that eliminate the barriers between both worlds. In this context, the AVIXA TV Studio space at the fair has the presence of numerous firms that are committed to hybrid production and broadcast, with demonstrations of live workflows that combine local and cloud production.
Solutions focused on video conferencing and communications have also not gone unnoticed, promoted by brands such as Neat, HP Poly, Logitech and Jabra, among others, advancing in the new era of hybrid work environments, where online meetings have more weight than ever. In parallel to the agenda of the first day, the AVIXA Congress was held, with sessions dedicated to virtual production, artificial intelligence applied to collaboration, audiovisual robotics and trends in infrastructure tools.
Content and conference program
The ISE 2026 content program aims to promote the era of innovation at a time when artificial intelligence is consolidated as a transversal element with impact in all areas. The ISE 2026 Summit offers sector sessions that cover emerging topics such as cybersecurity, control rooms, smart buildings, audiovisual systems, digital signage and educational technology. These sessions are designed to present practical cases, innovative strategies and debates between professionals interested in learning about the latest trends and new business opportunities.
Special interest has been aroused by the new color E-Paper screens for the Retail, SMB and Corporate sectors.
For its part, the Megatrends program proposes a series of short, intensive sessions focused on six key areas: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, smart spaces, sustainability and tradescape. These sessions are moderated by some of the most relevant figures in the industry, such as Rich Mulholland, Shaun Reardon and Florian Rotberg.
This year, the Spark program has also been launched, the new showcase for the creative industries within ISE 2026. It is focused on showing immersive installations and live experiences that show how creative technology is transforming narrative and interaction with the public. Samsung participates in the exhibition with its indoor LED signage intended for virtual production of the IVC series. Attendees can experience firsthand how this LED technology enables broadcast, film, XR and live event studios to transcend the boundaries of storytelling. Spark’s content program is completed with an extensive daily agenda of conferences, sessions and case analyses.
