The countdown to ISE 2026 is on, and on September 26, 2025 managing director Mike Blackman took to the stage at a press conference in Munich to outline a range of updates: some concrete, some ambitious, and a few with more details to come.
Here’s what we learnt…
Growth is still the headline
More than 1,400 exhibitors are confirmed for 2026, including 184 first-timers. That’s a 5% increase on last year, but the story isn’t all smooth expansion. As Blackman put it: “Some exhibitors will need to wait for space.”
That’s because ISE is fast reaching the current limits of its current venue. Barcelona Fira Gran Via’s much-anticipated Hall Zero, billed as the long-term fix for capacity, won’t open until 2028, a year later than planned. In the meantime, organisers are maximising every corner of the venue to accommodate demand. Visitors can expect a show floor that feels larger and busier.
Enter Spark: a new creative hub
The most intriguing, and at this stage least detailed, announcement is Spark. Billed as a space to “unite creative ideas, people and technology”, it will launch at ISE 2026 in Hall 8.1, sharing space with Live Events sector exhibitors.
For its debut, Spark will launch in a 1,000 sq m space in Hall 8.1 (formerly home to the e-sports arena). This first edition is deliberately framed as an “incubation”, a chance to launch the concept within ISE before it grows into a standalone event.
Visitors can expect a central stage, creative showcases and interactive activations exploring content creation, gaming and software-led workflows. The focus is on broadcast, media, entertainment and esports professionals; audiences already drawn to ISE but without a clear hub of their own.
From 2027 onwards, Spark is planned to spin out into its own venue in Barcelona, running alongside ISE but with a dedicated identity. The long-term aim is to create a full-scale platform for the creative industries, while strengthening their connection to the AV sector.
AI takes the keynote spotlight
If you needed confirmation that AI is top of the AV agenda, look no further than ISE’s choice of keynote. Sol Rashidi, former Amazon executive, patent holder, and the world’s first chief AI officer, will headline ISE 2026. With more than 200 deployments under her belt, Rashidi is known for cutting through hype and delivering ROI. The move underlines just how central AI has become to AV’s future.
Cyber security gets practical
Last year cyber security emerged as a key theme. In 2026 it evolves into a dedicated Cyber Security Summit, designed to bridge AV and IT security with what Blackman promised would provide a “clear roadmap” for attendees who want to meet the high security standards that end users demand of networked systems. Expect input from standards bodies and, off-site, a tech tour of a Barcelona control room.
Education ties deepen in Barcelona
ISE has also announced an alliance with EdTech Congress Barcelona. The event, running February 4 -5, 2026 at Palau de Congressos de Barcelona, will sit alongside ISE. According to Blackman, the partnership will “take the congress to the next level” and underscores ISE’s long-term commitment to both the education sector and its host city.