Several lighting manufacturers exhibiting at CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026 are emphasizing deeper collaboration with custom integrators, while also previewing new architectural lighting, DMX, tunable white, and outdoor lighting solutions slated for this year’s show in Denver.
Companies including DMF Lighting, Liteline, AiSPIRE, Oelo Lighting, and ilLumenate Lighting all described the show as a uniquely valuable opportunity to engage directly with integrators and showcase evolving lighting technologies tailored for the channel.
Unlike many other smart home categories, lighting remains one of the few technologies that truly benefits from in-person demonstrations. While spec sheets and renderings can communicate features and performance metrics, manufacturers continue to view CEDIA Expo as an opportunity to physically show integrators how dimming curves, color rendering, tunable white transitions, glare control, fixture aesthetics, and outdoor lighting effects actually look in real environments.
That experiential aspect continues to make lighting one of the most visually active and heavily demo-driven categories on the show floor.
DMF Lighting Focuses on Technical Conversations, Artafex Expansion
Mike Libman, sales vice president of custom integrators at DMF Lighting, described CEDIA Expo/CIX as the place where the company has “the most meaningful conversations with the integrator community in one place.”
“It’s not just about showing products; it’s about showing intent,” Libman said. “This is where we demonstrate our commitment to the technology integration channel, gather unfiltered feedback from the field, and have real, technical conversations about where lighting is headed in residential luxury projects.”
Libman added that DMF plans to continue expanding its Artafex digital lighting ecosystem at this year’s show, including showcasing the company’s new Artafex 1 architectural downlight and updated PhaseX Gateway technology.
“At CEDIA Expo/CIX 2025, we highlighted two major advancements in our Artafex platform: Artafex PhaseX and Artafex Linear,” Libman said. “The impact comes down to this: we’re making advanced digital lighting more accessible, easier to specify, easier to install, and easier to retrofit.”
According to Libman, the company also sees the show as a place where integrators arrive prepared for deeper technical discussions compared to broader industry events.
“The conversations here are highly technical and highly practical,” he said. “Attendees aren’t just browsing; they’re actively solving problems, comparing approaches, and planning upcoming projects.”
AiSPIRE/WAC Group Highlights Tunable White, Landscape Lighting
Patrick Laidlaw, director of business development-integration at WAC Group and AiSPIRE, similarly emphasized the value of direct engagement with integrators and programmers on the show floor.
“Because it’s a great platform to show off new products, of course, but moreover interact with our Custom Integrator base and have meaningful conversations about their needs and the needs of the industry,” Laidlaw said.
Among the company’s recent launches were the Quartus recessed lighting series and new tunable white Ventrix linear lighting elements.
“Now the most revolutionary modular architectural linear system in the industry can deploy dim-to-warm or tunable white lighting technology,” Laidlaw said. “This is an industry first.”
Laidlaw also pointed to the importance of feedback from installers and programmers at the show.
“We get to speak with all levels of Integrator team members for feedback on installation of our products, design, programming, and more,” he said. “Great ideas always come from the people dealing with the products every day.”
Looking ahead to CEDIA Expo 2026, Laidlaw teased additional product announcements.
“We’ll certainly continue to expand our very successful line of Colorscaping tunable white w/color landscape lighting, but we’ve got some other surprises planned as well,” he said.
Liteline Expands DMX-Compatible Lighting Portfolio
For Liteline, Laura John, channel marketing manager, said the company values the show as both a product showcase and educational platform for the lighting category.
“We enjoy exhibiting at CEDIA as it’s a great way to interact with the AV channel to show them what’s new and exciting within lighting,” John said. “We like to take this opportunity to also educate the market on lighting through education sessions.”
The company highlighted full-color RGBTW fixtures with DMX integration at the most recent show.
“We showcased full-color RGBTW fixtures that are paired with DMX controls for seamless integration into smart home systems,” John said. “These fixtures bring dynamic color capabilities — from rich RGB accents to tunable white — all within compact, high-output designs.”
Looking ahead, Liteline plans to continue expanding its DMX-compatible product portfolio while introducing a new low-voltage track system.
ilLumenate Lighting Emphasizes ‘Lighting for Integrators’
Jay Divine, president of ilLumenate Lighting, framed the company’s participation around its long-standing roots in the integration channel.
“From being an integrator myself for 22 years, and now on the lighting manufacturing side, I know the importance and credibility of this show,” Divine said.
Divine added that the company’s roadmap includes new linear, downlight, and landscape lighting products “designed for integrators only.”
Separately, Reigine Yray, marketing and brand manager at ilLumenate Lighting, described the company’s exhibitor strategy as tightly focused on the CI market.
“We founded ilLumenate with a clear mission: to provide Lighting for Integrators and ONLY Integrators,” Yray said. “Exhibiting gives us the opportunity to engage in the high-level technical conversations that only integrators truly understand.”
The company also described CEDIA Expo as “the largest and most strategic show that targets the integration market,” according to company comments.
OELO Lighting Solutions Expands Outdoor Smart Lighting Push
Outdoor lighting specialist OELO Lighting Solutions also pointed to the growing importance of outdoor and permanent lighting systems within the smart home market.
“CEDIA Expo stands apart as the essential, targeted gathering for the custom residential smart home industry,” said Devin Rodarmel, general manager of OELO Lighting Solutions.
Rodarmel said OELO plans to debut new color-changing bistro and landscape lighting systems at CEDIA Expo 2026 while continuing to emphasize integrations with platforms such as Josh.ai.
“At CEDIA Expo this past September (2025), OELO Lighting Solutions showcased our permanent outdoor LED lighting solutions, emphasizing seamless integration for custom installers and luxury homes,” Rodarmel said.
The company highlighted its permanent holiday lighting systems, Evolution control platform, and AI-powered Josh.ai integrations as part of its broader outdoor smart lighting strategy.
“These products address real installer needs—reliable, low-maintenance, energy-efficient exterior lighting—while positioning OELO as a leader in permanent solutions for the growing smart outdoor market,” Rodarmel said.
Lighting Companies Continue Positioning Themselves as Integration Partners
The comments collectively point to lighting manufacturers continuing to position themselves not simply as fixture providers, but as long-term technology and integration partners for the CI channel heading into CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026.