CEDIA highlights technical training and trends at ISE 2026

Technical training, smart home systems, high-end audio and wider residential integration were all hot topics at this year's Integrated Systems Europe.

Held at the Fira de Barcelona and co-owned by CEDIA alongside AVIXA, the annual trade expo once again served as a focal point for smart home professionals across EMEA and the wider global market.

Through a programme of training workshops, conference sessions and community events, CEDIA used the show to highlight professional development, industry advocacy and future talent entering the residential technology sector.

“ISE continues to be one of the most important touchpoints for our global community,” said Daryl Friedman, Global President and CEO of CEDIA. “This year’s show reinforced CEDIA’s role at the centre of the smart home conversation by championing education, nurturing future talent, expanding industry visibility, and helping professionals navigate a rapidly changing market with clarity and confidence.”

Technical education was a central component of CEDIA’s programme. Ahead of the main conference schedule, the organisation hosted a fully booked full-day RP32: Audio System Measurement and Verification Workshop.

The hands-on session guided attendees through recommended RP32 procedures, combining classroom instruction with practical measurement exercises using professional tools and software. Participants worked through real-world calibration scenarios, designed to translate technical standards into practical skills applicable to residential installations.

According to CEDIA, feedback reflected a continuing appetite within the sector for deeper technical training, particularly around performance verification and audio system design. Significantly, the strong demand for the workshop was also seen as evidence of the industry’s ongoing focus on raising performance benchmarks in high-end residential audio.

Alongside the technical training sessions, the CEDIA Smart Home Technology Conference brought together approximately 400 attendees over several days, representing an increase of between 60 and 70 per cent compared with the previous year.

More than 40 speakers contributed to the programme, covering topics including artificial intelligence, lighting design, networking infrastructure, wellness technologies, business strategy and industry ethics. Sessions were structured to address the operational and technical challenges faced by integrators while examining emerging opportunities in the smart home market.

Attendees highlighted the practical focus of the sessions, with many noting the value of direct discussion with industry experts and peers working in similar areas of the sector.

Simulateously, the CEDIA Smart Home Technology Stage operated throughout as a free-to-attend forum on the show floor. The programme offered a rolling schedule of presentations and discussions covering sustainability, AI, privacy, wellness and business development.

CEDIA’s 2026 Annual Meeting was held during the show on the Smart Home Technology Stage and was streamed worldwide. The session was led by Amanda Wildman alongside senior leadership including Friedman, Wendy Griffiths, Matt Nimmons, Paul Dolenc and Adam Keplinger.

The leadership team outlined the association’s progress over the past year and set out priorities for 2026, including continued investment in education, industry advocacy and member engagement.

ISE also provided a platform for CEDIA’s work around industry recruitment and skills development. As part of AV Careers Day, the association hosted eight students who had won CEDIA competitions at colleges including Derby, Harlow BMAT and London Design & Engineering UTC.

The initiative was designed to introduce young people to potential careers within the smart home and AV sectors. Activities included demonstrations, hands-on exercises and industry discussions aimed at showing how technical and engineering skills translate into real-world installation work.

Beyond the technical community, CEDIA also used the show to engage more closely with architects and interior designers. A small group of design-build influencers were invited to attend the exhibition and document their experience for social media audiences.

According to CEDIA, content generated during the event reached an estimated 1.1 million followers, helping introduce new audiences to integrated home technology and its role within contemporary residential design.

CEDIA’s activities at ISE 2026 reflected several broader themes shaping the custom installation market. Technical training remains a priority as systems become more complex, while education and recruitment initiatives point to the industry’s need to attract new talent.

At the same time, growing engagement with architects and designers suggests the smart home sector continues to integrate within the wider residential construction and design worlds.

ISE returns to Barcelona, February 2 - 5 2027.