As lighting continues to shape design, wellness and overall performance in the modern home, CEDIA Expo/Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX) continues to solidify its position as the premier event for residential lighting, controls, shading and integrated living technologies. Bringing together North America’s largest audience of residential system integrators, designers and architects, the event reflects the growing importance of lighting in today’s connected residential environments.
CEDIA Expo/CIX showcases lighting as part of a fully integrated ecosystem that includes automation, shading, audio, security and wellness systems, mirroring the evolving realities of residential project design and delivery, where seamless integration and user experience increasingly define how spaces look, feel and function.
“Lighting is no longer a standalone category; it is a foundational layer of the connected environment,” said Jason McGraw, group vice president and show director, CEDIA Expo/CIX. “What distinguishes CEDIA Expo/CIX is the opportunity to see how lighting, controls, shading and automation integrate seamlessly in real-world applications. This level of integration, along with the audience that appreciates it, is unique to this event.”
According to CEDIA’s 2023 Smart Home Market Analysis, lighting and shading control systems are among the categories with the highest rate of growth. These findings were reported directly by integrators themselves. This shift highlights the ever-growing importance of CEDIA Expo/CIX and its ability to gather the residential integration industry together under one roof.
“CEDIA Expo/CIX is where you meet the smartest minds in home integration,” said Jay Divine, president of ilLumenate Lighting. “We’ve seen technology get smarter and smarter each year, and platforms like this allow us to stay abreast of the innovations. It’s the most comprehensive venue where residential lighting for interior and outdoor environments is considered in the context of whole-home integration and manifests in cross-brand collaborations, industry panels, keynotes, and, ultimately, better business for the brands, designers and integrators. This makes CEDIA Expo/CIX a must on our calendar every year.”
The 2026 exhibit hall features a comprehensive lineup of leading and emerging lighting, control and shading brands, presented within the context of fully integrated systems.
Brands including AiSPIRE/WAC, DMF Lighting and Proluxe by American Lighting highlight the innovation shaping the category, while technology leaders such as Lutron, Crestron, Savant, Nice and URC demonstrate how lighting serves as a central control layer within the connected home.
Motorized shading and daylight management further extend this ecosystem, with companies like Somfy and PowerShades demonstrating how comfort, wellness and energy performance are increasingly interconnected. Outdoor living is represented by brands including Coastal Source, while emerging specialty solutions further underscore the range of new ideas shaping the category. Attendees can explore the full list of participating lighting and shading companies here.
A key differentiator of CEDIA Expo/CIX is its conference program, developed and led by the CEDIA Association, the global authority for the integrated technology industry. The CEDIA Education Conference positions lighting and shading as a strategic entry point into larger, more complex projects, equipping professionals to expand into residential and light commercial applications.
The CEDIA Education Conference schedule includes a diverse range of topics, from wellness and circadian design to integrated controls, performance and aesthetics. These sessions provide attendees with practical insight into one of the fastest-growing and most influential categories in residential technology and design. Taking courses directly curated by the leading authority in integrated technology is an opportunity too valuable to pass up.
“Lighting has become one of the most important elements of the modern home,” said Daryl Friedman, global president and CEO of CEDIA. “As the association representing smart home professionals, CEDIA is focused on helping integrators understand how lighting fits within the broader ecosystem of the connected home. At CEDIA Expo/CIX, we’re providing education that reflects how residential projects are actually designed and delivered today to increase integrator profits and client satisfaction.”
CEDIA Expo/CIX will return to Denver from Tuesday, Sept. 1, to Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
To learn more about CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 and register, visit cediaexpo.com.
