The lighting industry’s most energetic gathering returned bigger, busier, and more inspiring than ever — and it did not disappoint.
Carol Campbell Co-Publisher, Technology Designer Magazine
If the theme of Lightapalooza 2026 was any indication of what attendees were in for, the bar was set at circus-spectacular from the very first moments. David Warfel’s keynote address — aptly titled The Greatest Show on Earth — opened the week with the kind of energy that sets the tone for everything that follows, and frankly, the show lived up to every word of it.
Attendance was up over 2025, the final numbers organizers have not yet shared, but the buzz on the floor told the story clearly enough. You could feel it. The hallways were full, the conversations were electric, and the sense of a community genuinely invested in its craft was impossible to miss.
- 70+ Exhibitors on the floor
- 2 Full days of show floor
- Attendance up vs. 2025
A Keynote Worth the Price of Admission
David Warfel stepped into the spotlight introduced by fellow lighting luminary Tom Doherty and delivered something that was equal parts entertainment and genuine professional provocation. The substance behind the spectacle was just as strong. Warfel’s three central themes gave the audience a framework to carry well beyond the show floor:
Find Your Scarf — a call to define who you are and what you do with clarity and intention
Build Your Team
Get Smart Together
Taken together, it was a rallying cry for a profession that thrives on collaboration, craft, and continuous learning. The keynote set the tone for a week that consistently delivered on that promise of community and shared growth.
An Expo Floor That Meant Business
With more than 70 exhibitors — many of them first-timers to the Lightapalooza stage — the expo floor was exactly what you want from a well-run trade event: packed, purposeful, and full of discovery. Two full days gave attendees ample time to move through the space, but the energy never flagged. Manufacturers clearly came prepared, and the conversations happening at every booth were substantive.
The manufacturer training sessions were equally well attended, a sign that this audience doesn’t just want to browse — they want to learn. Paired with the extensive slate of education courses, expert panels, and professional development programming running throughout the week, Lightapalooza 2026 offered genuine depth alongside the buzz of the show floor.
Community, Connection, and a Much-Needed Exhale
One of the things I always watch for at a show like this is whether the organization behind it understands that attendees are human beings, not just badge numbers. Lightapalooza passed that test with flying colors. The variety of touch points throughout the week — structured and spontaneous alike — were exceptionally well organized. People I spoke with, without exception, gave the show a resounding thumbs up.
A highlight of the social calendar was the luncheon hosted by WILD (Women in Lighting + Design), which offered a genuine oasis in the middle of what were fast-paced, full days. It was the kind of thoughtful programming that shows organizers are paying attention to the whole experience, not just the sessions.
Women in Consumer Technology showed up in style — sponsoring a table at the WILD luncheon and pulling together an impromptu cocktail party that drew more than 20 women for an evening of connection and conversation. Moments like that don’t happen by accident; they happen because people make them happen. Kudos all around.
The Verdict
Lightapalooza 2026 delivered. Whether you came for the education, the expo floor, the networking, or the rare chance to watch industry leaders do their best ringmaster impression, there was something here for everyone. The organization behind it should take a well-earned bow — the greatest show on earth, at least in our corner of the industry, is in very good hands.