December 18, 2023
LEDucation 2026 Sets April Dates, Shifts Tradition
We explore possible second-order effects of the move
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – As we move from 2023 to 2024, the lighting industry is looking ahead, and the Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY), organizers of LEDucation, are planning well in advance. They have recently announced the dates for their 2026 event with nearly 2 ½ years’ notice as LEDucation 2026 has been scheduled for April 14-15, 2026, a change from its usual March timing.
Show organizers have indicated that the move to April is currently planned only for the 2026 event and may not represent a permanent change.
The shift of LEDucation from March to April, while not industry-shaking, brings some second order effects. Moving the event to April lowers risks associated with New York City's unpredictable March weather. As recently as March 2015, the event encountered challenges when a significant New York City snowfall of 7.5 inches disrupted the first day of the two-day exhibition. Moving LEDucation to mid-April also increases the possibility of it coinciding with a home game for the New York Mets, who shouldn't yet be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Venue Remains The New York Hilton
Despite the event's growth and the increasing number of attendees, which is projected to surpass 10,000 in the next event, LEDucation will continue to be held at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City for the foreseeable future, including the 2024, 2025, and 2026 events. This decision quells any speculation regarding a change in venue due to space constraints, reaffirming the four Hilton ballrooms’ capacity to accommodate North America’s largest annual lighting event.
Possible Future Implications for LightFair
LEDucation's shift to April poses questions regarding its effects on other major industry events, including the now-biennial LightFair which is expected to occur in May or June of odd-numbered years. If this change in LEDucation's schedule to April turns out to be permanent, it may affect the dynamics influencing participation in both events by attendees and exhibitors. As previously announced, LightFair 2025 is scheduled for Las Vegas, seven weeks after New York’s LEDucation. LightFair 2027 was initially planned for New York, however, the organizers may opt to change the 2027 location based on stakeholder feedback and preferences.
Light + Building impact
Additionally, LEDucation’s April shift in 2026 provides a clear schedule separation from Light + Building in Frankfurt, Germany, the world's largest lighting trade show, which occurs biennially in even-numbered years. Three months from now, LEDucation 2024 begins eleven days after Light + Building 2024 wraps up in Frankfurt. This April 2026 scheduling by LEDucation almost ensures a more manageable gap between Europe’s and North America’s prominent lighting industry events that year.
In 2022, a scheduling conflict arose when LEDucation, having announced its dates first, coincided with Light + Building's initial schedule for the same week in March. However, this conflict was resolved when pandemic-related challenges led to Light + Building being rescheduled to October.
Looking ahead, it's uncertain whether LEDucation's shift to April is a one-time change or a permanent adjustment. Regardless of the month, the popularity of LEDucation will likely prompt lighting people to mark their calendars for the event and plan their other lighting commitments to avoid conflicts with LEDucation.
