Key Things to Know
- Destination Outdoors returns to CEDIA Expo 2026, featuring the most recent outdoor innovations from Coastal Source and Lutron.
- This year’s activation spans 22,000 square feet, offering a journey through a series of connected residential spaces.
- Attendees will be able to experience the new VIA in person at the show.
- Destination Outdoors will host a gathering of the CE Pro 100 on Sept. 1.
- Happy Hour will be hosted Wednesday Sept. 2 from 5:00 – 7:30 P.M.
It’s time to forget everything you know about “backyard tech.” Instead of standalone speakers and basic patio lights, the most exciting innovations are turning the wonders of the connected home to the outdoor environment. And highlighting that experience for all North America is Destination Outdoors, hosted annually at CEDIA Expo, with its 2026 outing being the most ambitious yet.
What is Destination Outdoors?
Spanning 22,000 square feet outside the Colorado Convention center, Destination Outdoors is an immersive journey presented this year by Coastal Source in collaboration with Lutron to show how intelligent lighting, audio, power and control extended to outdoor environments brings the entire property to life.
At the heart of the experience, attendees journey through a series of connected residential spaces—from an indoor living room featuring Lutron intelligent lighting and automated shading, to a covered outdoor entertaining area, and finally into a landscape illuminated by VIA intelligent outdoor lighting.
“Destination Outdoors has always been about inspiring the industry to think differently about outdoor living. This year, we’re taking that vision further through our collaboration with Lutron and their Native by Design approach by demonstrating how intelligent lighting can extend seamlessly from inside the home into the landscape,” said Franco D’Ascanio, Coastal Source founder & CEO.
“When lighting, audio, power, and connectivity are designed as one cohesive experience, outdoor spaces become a true extension of the home, and that’s exactly where we see the future of outdoor living heading.”
What New Products Are Being Showcased This Year?
Developed by Coastal Source and Lutron, VIA combines Lutron’s intelligent lighting and control technology with Coastal Source’s legendary outdoor engineering to extend the intelligent lighting experience outdoors through fixtures purpose-built for life outside.
Together, these technologies demonstrate how thoughtful system design creates a more unified outdoor living experience while giving integrators new ideas and confidence for future projects.
What Else Can Attendees See at Destination Outdoors?
Beyond the immersive walkthrough, Destination Outdoors gives attendees hands-on access to technologies, including Coastal Source’s award-winning 1000 Series Bollards, PowerSource, Uni-Connect cabling, and other integrated outdoor solutions, demonstrating how thoughtful system design delivers exceptional performance, reliability, and long-term value.
The experience also extends after hours. On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Destination Outdoors will host a gathering for CE Pro 100 members.
When the floor closes on Wednesday Sept. 2, attendees can also head to the annual Happy Hour (5-7:30 pm) to connect with fellow pros in the industry’s favorite outdoor gathering spot.
What Value Does Destination Outdoors Bring to Integrators?
With over 300 exhibitors including dozens of leading lighting brands at this year’s show, CEDIA Expo remains the beating heart of the industry. Destination Outdoors is the playground where those innovations come to life.
“CEDIA Expo exists to give the residential systems integration community experiences that simply can’t be replicated online,” said Jason McGraw, Group Vice President and Show Director of CEDIA Expo.
“Destination Outdoors exemplifies what makes the event unique by bringing leading residential technology brands together to demonstrate complete, integrated solutions in a real-world environment at an impressive scale not to be missed.”
When and Where is CEDIA Expo 2026?
CEDIA Expo will return to Denver from Tuesday, September 1, to Friday, September 4, 2026. To learn more about CEDIA Expo, please visit cediaexpo.com or register here. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.