This year’s Applied Technology category delivered one of the most competitive fields we’ve ever seen.
The judges were so impressed by the calibre, innovation, and impact of the submissions that decisions came down to the finest of margins. A huge thanks to everyone who entered, whether a finalist or not. Our 2026 shortlist showcases the best of AV technology applied in the real world: bold ideas, flawless execution, and solutions that elevate experiences across live events, venues, attractions, hospitality, retail, and beyond.
The winner will be revealed at the Inavation Awards ceremony and dinner in Barcelona on 3 February, 2026 - the first evening of ISE.
Tickets are on sale now, don’t miss your chance to be part of the industry’s biggest celebration.
The finalists are…
Absen - Oasis Live Tour 2025, UK
Image credit: Ant Condon
Absen’s Venus 4.8mm LED formed the visual core of the Oasis Live ’25 tour, creating a vast 1,100 sq m upstage wall that defined the show’s aesthetic. Purpose-built for large-scale outdoor touring, the Venus panels offered stunning image quality, rapid deployment, and a lightweight, module-on-frame design that allowed ambitious builds up to 20 metres high. The screen delivered dynamic graphics, live footage, and creative visuals throughout the two-and-a-half-hour performance, providing consistent, high-impact imagery.
d&b audiotechnik - Tate McRae’s Miss Possessive Tour, Global
d&b audiotechnik’s SL-Series played a crucial role on Tate McRae’s Miss Possessive Tour, delivering precise directivity and cardioid control for a highly unconventional stage design. A system combining GSL, KSL and XSL arrays ensured powerful, consistent coverage while keeping sound away from where McRae was performing, avoiding spill onto her microphone and reducing feedback risk. The SL-Series’ controlled dispersion, low on-stage levels and clarity also ensured strong results for phone recordings, supporting the tour’s huge social media reach.
Datapath - BetFred HQ, UK
Datapath’s Aetria platform sits at the heart of BetFred’s revamped headquarters, powering multiple video walls and delivering full flexibility for managing diverse content across the building. The installation supports BetFred with employee messaging, live TV, news, and company updates from a single interface. Datapath provided bespoke templates, comprehensive commissioning, and three years of premium support, ensuring reliable operation and a scalable, future-proof visual communications system.
Disguise - MGM Fantasy Box, China
disguise technology forms the backbone of MGM Macau’s Fantasy Box, a 1,400 sq m immersive venue wrapped in a three-sided, 7m-high UHD LED canvas. Seven GX 3 servers and ten RX III render nodes drive high-resolution playback and real-time generative environments, while RenderStream enables seamless integration with Unreal Engine and Notch for customisable, responsive visuals. Paired with Smart Monkeys’ ISAAC control, disguise provides the power, scalability and operational simplicity needed to transform the venue for concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and brand experiences.
Kraftwerk Living Technologies - Phantasialand's Residenz Theater, Germany
Kraftwerk Living Technologies’ MAGNOS system is the centrepiece of Phantasialand’s newly re-equipped Residenz Theater, the world’s first 4D venue to use sound-transparent passive 3D LED. The 144 sq m curved MAGNOS display delivers ultra-bright, high-contrast 3D visuals while its micro-perforated dual-LED architecture allows audio and effects to pass directly through the screen for precise localisation. Paired with 248 SFX Motion Seats, the installation creates a deeply immersive, low-maintenance 3D experience, setting a new benchmark for large-scale themed entertainment environments.
Naostage - Indochine Arena Tour, Europe
Naostage’s beaconless K SYSTEM provided the real-time 3D performer tracking at the core of Indochine’s 2025–26 arena tour, enabling precise, cinematic lighting across a complex setup spanning a main stage, long catwalk and B stage. Using just four KAPTA multi-spectral sensors feeding KORE processing servers, the system delivered stable tracking despite reflective LED floors and heavy IR interference from thousands of PixMob wearables. The marker-free data let any fixture act as a followspot, supporting flexible, evolving looks and rapid daily load-ins over more than 100 shows.
Powersoft - fabric London Bodykinetic Dancefloor, UK
Powersoft’s Mover transducers power the redesigned Bodykinetic dancefloor in fabric London’s iconic Room 1, replacing the original 450 tactile units with just 36 high-efficiency moving-magnet devices. Installed beneath custom flooring panels, the Movers convert audio into precise, evenly distributed vibration that enhances the physical connection to music while operating in sync with the club’s quadraphonic sound system. The upgrade delivers stronger, more consistent haptic impact with dramatically lower energy use, reduced acoustic spill, greater reliability, and improved accessibility for hearing-impaired clubgoers.
Riedel Communications - Star of the Seas, Finland
Riedel technology underpins the ship wide broadcast, AV and communications infrastructure aboard Star of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships. A fully decentralised MediorNet network, featuring 20 MicroN UHD and MicroN nodes, routes video, audio and data across more than 30 venues, supported by the hi human-interface platform for unified control. Complemented by Artist intercom, Bolero wireless and PunQtum wired systems, Riedel provides resilient, scalable signal transport and clear communication, enabling seamless production coordination and reliable entertainment experiences throughout the vessel.
Sennheiser - Secret Cinema – Grease, UK
Image credit: Matt Crockett
Sennheiser’s Spectera wideband wireless system enabled seamless audio across Secret Cinema’s vast, multi-stage Grease production, covering 11 performance spaces spread over large indoor and outdoor areas. Using just two Spectera Base Stations and eight DAD antennas, the system delivered 40 microphone channels and 10 IEM mixes, while bidirectional bodypacks handled both mic transmission and monitoring in a single unit. Spectera’s wideband capability, real-time status visibility and robust coverage ensured reliable synchronisation, clear audio and effortless cast mobility throughout the immersive experience.
Sharp Displays - LED signage at Keflavik Airport, Iceland
Sharp’s Flip-Chip dvLED technology powers a new 18-screen digital network in Keflavík Airport’s baggage hall, replacing aging LCDs with high-efficiency, fine-pitch LED displays. Sixteen 200-in FE Series screens and two larger 1.9mm-pitch walls deliver seamless, high-contrast visuals with up to 60% lower energy consumption. Managed via Sharp’s NaViSet Administrator and supported by LED-RPS-CL remote power switching, the system enables synchronised playback, low-carbon operation and long service life, enhancing passenger experience while meeting Iceland’s strict sustainability and safety requirements.