November 12, 2025
Light + Intelligent Building North America Replaces LightFair
Show owners expand scope and distance from LightFair legacy. Firmly “not a rebrand.”
It started as Lighting World in the early ’80s. Then came LightFair; bigger, glossier, and for three decades, the undisputed anchor of the North American lighting calendar. Now, its latest incarnation arrives under a longer name and broader scope: Light + Intelligent Building North America, debuting March 15–18, 2027, in Las Vegas.
Messe Frankfurt, together with equal co-owners IALD and IES, is behind the new show. It will take place in the exact same venue and on the same dates once held by LightFair 2027. But organizers insist "this launch is not a rebrand."
The name is new. The positioning is broader. And the messaging is all about convergence — lighting and building technologies, under one roof. Messe Frankfurt operates more than a dozen global shows focused on lighting and building technologies, and Light + Intelligent Building North America appears poised to similarly broaden the scope of the event formerly known as LightFair.
Still, the implications for the inagural 2027 event are significant. A second major lighting trade show, LEDucation, opens just 19 days later in New York City. That puts both events in unprecedented proximity, with major logistical and strategic consequences for potential attendees, exhibitors and other lighting people.
Beyond Fixtures and Lighting Controls
Messe Frankfurt’s flagship Light + Building show, returning to Germany in March 2026, still leads with architectural lighting. But the real story is in the periphery. Entire halls now focus on building automation, software, and systems integration — a clear sign that the 150,000+ attendees aren’t just shopping for luminaires. It’s not an isolated trend. Messe Frankfurt has been exporting this model globally, replicating the light-and-tech convergence across numerous global markets.
AHR Expo, the HVACR industry’s crown jewel in the U.S., has seen a similar spillover, drawing players from lighting, IoT, and systems tech. Even Acuity’s Distech Controls and electrical brands like Southwire maintain a sizable presence there — proof that once-separate sectors are collapsing into one interconnected ecosystem: the intelligent building.
With Light + Intelligent Building North America, Messe Frankfurt appears to be following a familiar playbook: broaden the scope beyond lighting. The show will be organized into three zones — Lighting, Building Technology, and Accessories — echoing the structure of its global counterparts and signaling a deliberate shift toward full-building integration.
We’ll be sitting down with IALD, IES, and Messe Frankfurt leadership for an in-depth interview in the coming hours. We will publish more insights as we gather more information.
Key Details So Far
- Name: Light + Intelligent Building North America
- Dates: March 15–18, 2027 (same as previously scheduled LightFair)
- Location: Las Vegas Convention Center
- Ownership: IES + IALD + Messe Frankfurt (same as LightFair)
- Focus: Lighting + building technology convergence (IT/OT, smart systems, controls)
- Expo Zones:
- Lighting (architectural, decorative, exterior, specialty)
- Building Technology (networked lighting, automation, adaptive systems)
- Accessories (drivers, optics, sensors, wiring)
- Conference Tracks: Design, codes, wellness, cybersecurity, commissioning, BIM, digital twins, etc.
- Exhibitor Timeline:
- Space selection begins January 2026
- Attendee registration opens October 2026
- Positioning: Part of Messe Frankfurt’s global Light + Building portfolio
- Website: lightintelligentbuildingna.com
- Close Proximity: LEDucation 2027 begins April 6 — just 19 days later
More to come.
