The Smart Stage at CEDIA Expo/Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX) is where the residential and commercial sides of the integration industry converge, driving better ideas, stronger partnerships and a clearer understanding of where the market is heading.
The stage is designed as a forum for the industry to examine key shifts, bringing together integrators, manufacturers, designers, architects and business leaders to dig into the shifts shaping the market right now and what they mean for growth, profitability and competitive advantage.
From Wednesday, Sept. 2 to Friday, Sept. 4, Smart Stage programming will offer attendees perspectives on the technologies redefining projects, the business challenges reshaping operations, the workforce initiatives influencing long-term growth and the trend discussions spotlighting excellence across the channel. The entire lineup of Smart Stage programming can be found here.
In addition to educational programming and industry discussions, the Smart Stage will also host key industry awards and recognition events throughout the week, including the BEST Product Awards, Integration Awards, the Home of the Year Awards, the Women to Watch 2026 celebration, the Best Booth Awards and Trendspotting, where industry experts share key takeaways and technologies generating the most momentum across the show floor.
Smart Stage sessions focus on future-forward opportunities shaping the integration industry. Covering immersive home cinema, energy management, lighting and shading, light commercial solutions,and productivity-driving AI tools, the program is aligned with where the market is going and where integrators are achieving measurable growth.
Artificial intelligence will be a major focus, with sessions exploring how AI is entering the rack, powering intelligent security systems and helping integration businesses operate more efficiently through tools that automate workflows and save time. Security and connected systems will also be examined, including how AI-driven monitoring, edge processing and smarter surveillance technologies are expanding opportunities for integrators.
Energy management will be another key topic, addressing how power reliability, energy usage and system performance are becoming increasingly connected and why energy is emerging as one of the most important considerations in smart home system design. Sessions focused on video and entertainment will explore the continued rise of ultra-large residential displays, video walls and immersive home cinema experiences that combine high-performance audio and visual design.
Design and aesthetics will be recurring themes throughout the Smart Stage program, with sessions examining architectural and design-friendly audio solutions, collaboration with architects and designers, and strategies for getting involved earlier in projects through the design-build process. Business growth and diversification will also be covered, including how lighting and shading can serve as entry points for larger projects, how integrators can expand into light commercial opportunities and how companies are adapting their business models as technology and customer expectations evolve.
“The Smart Stage is central to the CEDIA Expo/CIX experience,” said Jason McGraw, group vice president and show director for CEDIA Expo/CIX. “It’s where the important conversations happen, where industry leaders share the insights professionals need to make smarter decisions to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.”
CEDIA Expo/CIX will return to Denver from Sept. 1 to 4, 2026. In 2026. The show dates will shift one day earlier than in previous years, ending on Friday ahead of the Labor Day weekend.
