Related: Former Disney Executive Duncan Wardle to Deliver CEDIA Expo 2026 Keynote

Keynotes are one of my favorite aspects of a conference or tradeshow, so it should come as no surprise that I was excited to hear Duncan Wardle, a former Disney Executive, would be keynoting CEDIA Expo 2026.

Wardle previously served as Head of Innovation and Creativity at The Walt Disney Company, where he worked with teams across Disney Parks, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Imagineering and Animation for roughly 25 years.

That might seem a bit out of left field (maybe there’s a vague connection to CI through the movie angle), but personally, I like those types of keynoters because often it’s the outside perspectives that can provide a lot of valuable insight.

Chip Wade’s keynote from last year is a pretty good example of that, I would say. Despite having worked mainly in design, construction and engineering, Wade’s approach to partnerships—that being as opportunities for him to explore new, creative means of applying his skillset—is something I think should resonate greatly with integrators torn between a myriad of different product categories in the home today.

So when Wardle says he’s coming at his talk through the lens of creativity and innovation: I’m excited to see how the experiences of a Disney Executive translate to CI.

Why integrators should take notice

A good keynoter should have the same qualities as a good ending in a book: they should be completely unexpected, yet, at the same, make complete and total sense when all is said and done.

If we look at some of the stuff Wardle has talked about in past discussions, we can start to piece together what he might talk about when he comes to CEDIA Expo 2026, and a lot of it correlates heavily with what integrators are facing in the field today.

For one, Wardle is of the opinion that rather than replace human interactions, AI is going to make the human element of a business more vital, and I must agree with him there. I think AI’s biggest strength is in the analytical and technical side of business. So, it should reason that with robots taking over that part of work, it should leave humans more time to be humans with other humans. Basically: everything that defines being a human is going to be more valuable, because those are all the things that AI can’t replicate.

I’m also curious to see what Wardle has to say about the customer experience as well, given that’s been a major part of his work and something he touches upon with his talks. Again, it’s pushing forward in the idea that AI alone isn’t going to be a business differentiator in the age of AI.

Surprise! When everyone is using AI, the benefits of AI are no longer that special and service-defining. So, what are companies to do? Lean into that human element. It’s such a simple concept, but I think it’s one easily missed.

2. Daryl Friedman to Step Down as CEDIA CEO

Related: An Open Letter From CEDIA’s Global President & CEO Daryl Friedman

Daryl Friedman is stepping down as CEDIA’s CEO in 2027, and I’m already starting to feel like I might be witnessing the end of an era, even though the era of Friedman is the only era of CEDIA I’m familiar with, having started covering the custom integration industry in 2022.

For full context, this is the best scenario of a CEO stepping down. A very intentional retiring. An ample one-year window is being given the association to find a new CEO. And Friedman wants to do everything in his power to ensure a smooth transition, considering CEDIA has had more tumultuous transfers in the past.

Friedman has only been with the association in the last five years, but I feel as though there has been substantial change over there in that short period of time. From the development of CEDIA’s modern-day approach to advocacy, to having multiple divisions in CEDIA formed for the sake of growing and improving upon the industry’s resources, a lot has been done under Friedman’s leadership.

Why integrators should take notice

The reason I say it feels like the end of an era is that, all the way up to now, it feels like CEDIA has been continually building momentum for industry. A lot of that has to do with the revamped approach to advocacy, most notably in the form of CEDIA’s Day on Capitol Hill.

The fact that the industry has been getting so much attention from lawmakers is great, and initiatives like getting an official job code enshrined in national policy for integrators is such a major milestone that it feels like the industry is on the cusp of some major transformation.

Friedman set out to make CEDIA a household name, and while there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to get to that point, he has done a considerable amount of work to build up that awareness while setting up the organization to further that initiative once he’s gone.

Like with any hand-off, though, the question then becomes: can the next person coming in maintain that momentum? With the industry on the cusp of so many major milestones, it’s something I have gnawing at the back of my mind. The reality is all we can really do is trust the process.

Personally, if we’re talking about the entire industry, I think advocacy is going to be the most critical component of CEDIA’s operations to maintain momentum on moving forward.

In talking with all the different associations and buying groups over the years, there is a lot of stock being put on getting an official occupation for integrators enshrined in U.S. law. Once that’s in place, the industry can potentially start to organize itself more like existing trades, standardizing education and training in ways that will only benefit the industry in the long run.

The Week in Playback is CE Pro’s weekly recap segment providing extra opinions and analysis on major news stories from across the custom integration (CI) and smart home industries, focusing on recent and breaking stories ranked on importance and interest to the professional install channel. Any opinions expressed here do not reflect the opinions of other editors or that of CE Pro as a whole.

The post The Week in Playback: Disney at CEDIA Expo, Friedman’s Farewell appeared first on CEPRO.

According to Jetbuilt, the new enhancements are designed to streamline workflows, strengthen reporting capabilities and optimize projects for audiovisual integrators, consultants and enterprise teams. The feedback was gathered through ongoing support interactions, as well as in-person conversations at industry events, including InfoComm, ISE and Jetbuilt’s Global User Summit.

What’s in store for Launch List #2

Launch List #2 spans the full Jetbuilt platform, including CRM, quoting, purchasing, installation, service, stock and reporting. Rather than introducing isolated tools, the updates focus on strengthening Jetbuilt’s offerings as a single unified system.

The enhancements in Launch List #2 are focused on five primary areas identified through user feedback. This includes:

• Reporting visibility,
• Project and purchasing control,
• Installation and service workflow efficiency,
• Platform customization,
• And stock management.

Reporting

The reporting updates include expanded filtering capabilities, enhanced time log detail reporting and project-level work-in-progress visibility, providing users with more granular insight into active operations and historical performance.

Project and purchasing

The project and purchasing updates introduce greater control over financial and operational variables, including expanded tax rate configuration, margin and markup controls and factor management at the room and change order level.

Users can generate additional purchase orders for partially fulfilled items, apply purchasing notes across workflows and select between project and order quantities when generating bills of materials.

Installation and service workflow

Installation and service workflows have been updated with tools designed to support field execution and scheduling. These include the ability to create install tasks at the bundle level and within the mobile app, track time across any project stage and manage scheduling through enhanced calendar functionality.

The service updates introduce reporting on frequently serviced items, automated service case creation through external scripts and improved visibility into service activity across projects and assets.

Customization

Customization updates extend across clients, projects and assets, with the addition of up to eight custom fields across multiple areas of the platform.

The additional administrative controls include project activity logs, onboarding visibility for users and expanded filtering options across project and funnel views, allowing teams to tailor the platform to their internal processes.

Stock management

Stock management enhancements expand inventory tracking and operational visibility, including reporting on received and pending items, increased quantity limits and improved item detail visibility within stock workflows. Updates also support adding non-project purchase orders into stock and exporting stock data for external analysis.

Availability

Each enhancement in Launch List #2 is being rolled out incrementally, with progress tracked publicly to provide users with visibility into development timelines and implementation status.

The post Jetbuilt is Rolling Out an Entire Batch of User-Requested Updates Across its Software appeared first on CEPRO.

In a recent conversation with CE Pro Executive Editor Zachary Comeau, CEDIA Senior Conference Strategy Manager Evan West and Vice President of Education & Training Paul Dolenc outlined how this year’s conference programming reflects an industry that is becoming increasingly consultative, collaborative, and technically sophisticated.

Register for CEDIA Expo 2026 here!

Artificial intelligence is expected to play a central role throughout the conference curriculum. According to West, roughly 20 sessions are explicitly focused on AI, while AI-related conversations are expected to appear across nearly every educational track. Rather than treating AI as a novelty topic, CEDIA’s education team says this year’s sessions will focus heavily on practical business applications, workflow efficiencies, predictive smart home technologies, and real-world implementation strategies.

Lighting and shading will also receive expanded attention at Expo 2026 with a dedicated lighting education track. West and Dolenc described lighting as one of the most visible and experiential aspects of the modern smart home, particularly as homeowners become more interested in wellness, human-centric lighting, and seamless integration between natural and artificial light.

The conversation also highlighted growing concerns around cybersecurity and networking in connected homes, especially as more high-profile homeowners and remote workers rely on increasingly complex residential technology systems. Sessions planned for Denver will focus not only on technical best practices, but also on helping integrators better communicate cyber hygiene and network security concepts to clients.

Additional education planned for CEDIA Expo 2026 will focus on power management, recurring revenue opportunities, service contracts, and strategies for building more operationally mature integration businesses.

The post Inside CEDIA Expo 2026 Education: AI, Lighting, Wellness & the Future of Smart Homes appeared first on CEPRO.

What is Eclipsa Video?

Eclipsa Video is the video counterpart to Eclipsa Audio released in 2025, and is largely based on the SMPTE 2094-50 specification.

A joint effort by Google and Samsung, Eclipsa Audio serves as an open-source alternative to Dolby Atmos, allowing creators to adjust audio data such as the location and intensity of sounds, along with spatial reflections, to create an immersive three-dimensional sound experience.

Working within the same ecosystem, Eclipsa Video remains open source and mainly handles video optimization to be able to deliver next-gen HDR video on a variety of supported devices including smart phones, TVs and more based on resolution, processing power and network speed.

The new program will initially address smartphones, with other devices to follow. The first approved devices are expected to be introduced later this year.

HDR10+ Technologies to administer video programming in same vein as audio

HDR10+ already has a history of working with the Eclipsa ecosystem, having been elected to run the certification program for Eclipsa Audio back in October 2025.

According to Bill Mandel, co-manager of HDR10+ Technologies LLC, “For years, HDR10+ has been at the forefront of video innovation by delivering a spectacular viewing experience. With Eclipsa Video, we can now expand our pioneering work in Eclipsa Audio certification, in order to deliver a more seamless and immersive audio/video environment”.

Roshan Baliga, Google Product Lead for Eclipsa Video stated, “We decided to leverage HDR10+ Technologies LLC’s proficiency in premium video standards, making their organization the ideal partner to administer the Eclipsa Video program.”

Why this matters to integrators

One major defining feature of the Eclipsa ecosystem is that it is open source and operates on a royalty-free business model, allowing more companies and products to have access to video and audio processing capabilities akin to Dolby Atmos, which generally carries hefty licensing fees to use.

Since its release, there has been a plethora of speculation surrounding whether Eclipsa Audio may one day supplant Dolby Atmos for its use in home theaters, though in research for this article, evidence of this happening remains scant, with many critics of the idea arguing that it’s a lot like comparing apples to oranges, where the use cases of each vary wide enough that it’s unlikely one will eat into the other’s profit enough to outright replace it.

Still the introduction of a royalty-free option for HDR audio and video processing greatly raises the floor of what devices will be able to accommodate in the future, potentially allowing cheaper, more affordable AV options to perform at levels once reserved for higher-end gear.

For more information on licensing and testing Eclipsa Video, readers are instructed to please visit the Eclipsa website.

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Working first entered into the industry joining her husband Steve at Audio Concepts in 1984. She was one of Cheryl Working entered the consumer electronics industry in 1984, joining her husband, Steve, at Audio Concepts, where she quickly became one of the early and most familiar female faces in hi-fi retail.

Known for her warm personality, discerning ear, gracious smile, and old-school dedication to customer service, Cheryl built lasting relationships with clients and industry partners alike.

Whether welcoming customers in the showroom, working behind the scenes at Audio Concepts, or bringing energy and laughter to gatherings at PARA and CEDIA conferences, Cheryl left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Her passion, professionalism, and spirited personality helped shape the culture of Audio Concepts for more than three decades.

After 35 years at Audio Concepts, Cheryl retired following the sale of the company to Oasis Smart Homes in October 2019.

She is survived by her husband, Stephen Working; daughters Kathryn Woodruff and Malia McClurg; and five beloved grandchildren — Olivia, Penelope, Henry, Jack, and Rachel. Cheryl was 71 and leaves behind a legacy of kindness, friendship, and dedication to both her family and the consumer electronics industry.

The post Cheryl Working, Former Co-Owner of Audio Concepts and One of the Original Women of CI, Has Passed appeared first on CEPRO.

The news comes a little under a year after the introduction of the Shelly Dealer Program and expanded U.S. distribution network, debuting at the 2025 CEDIA Expo/CIX show.

Why this matters to integrators

Since its debut in 2023, Shelly has continued to evolve its professional offering in response to its growing audience of custom integrators. Combined with the Dealer Program, Shelly says the portal is meant to give integrators greater access to Shelly products, training, dedicated technical resources, and business-building tools to support every stage of the installation cycle.

The Shelly ecosystem includes flexible relays, dimmers, low-voltage modules, panelized lighting control, powerful energy monitoring devices, and a suite of sensors for security, motion, water leak, gas, temperature, humidity and more.

In terms of connectivity, the Shelly product ecosystem also supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR), Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Matter, enabling flexible integration into a wide variety of automation environments. Shelly integrations and drivers are also available for leading professional platforms including Control4, Crestron, Alarm.com, URC, Josh.ai, ELAN, RTI, Q-Sys, and AVA.

Shelly Installer Portal features

The Shelly Installer Portal serves as a centralized platform for professional installers looking to build, manage, and scale business through Shelly’s offering portfolio.

Via the portal, installers can access an all-new Customer Management Platform that enables them to remotely monitor, manage and update customer-owned Shelly systems from a singular location, allowing them to better support deployed systems over time with the option for providing premium, on-going services post-install.

The portal also provides access to a library of Shelly Certified installer training sources that includes product education, installation guides, and a dedicated knowledge base that is updated regularly.

Shelly and the custom integration channel

The launch of the new Installer Portal looks to strengthen Shelly’s growing professional channel strategy and approach, offering product access, training, technical documentation, customer management tools and platform integration into one cohesive program.

“Professional installers are a vital audience for Shelly, and we continue to invest in the tools and support required to integrate Shelly solutions into the residential and commercial projects they manage every day,” said Matt Brown, Chief Marketing Officer at Shelly USA.

“The Shelly Installer Portal serves as the dedicated hub they need to effectively manage customer systems, access training materials, and build their business through Shelly with greater efficiency.”

Where to learn more about Shelly’s Installer Portal

Professionals interested in learning more about the Shelly Installer Portal can visit https://us.shelly.com/pages/installers.

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As part of this launch, last April, I and a handful of other publications had the opportunity to preview these new models firsthand, while also getting a chance to better understand what sets Sony’s iteration of the technology apart from competitors, especially now that so many brands have come out with their own take on RGB LEDs.

What makes Sony’s True RGB unique

Like with other iterations of RGB tech, the new BRAVIA models have their white LED backlights replaced with three individual blue, green and red mini LEDs, allowing the TVs to reproduce color directly at the light source and eliminating the need to use a color filter. The difference is made in the backlight driver, which can individually control each red, blue and green light source in the TVs.

The obvious benefit with more precise backlight control is better color reproduction, and, indeed, Sony says these new BRAVIA TVs have the highest color volume yet. However, digging down deeper, the story goes well beyond color reproduction, with Sony explaining that the new driver also helps improve brightness and drastically reduce blooming.

In fact, according to Sony representatives, development of the driver was a collaboration between BRAVIA teams and Sony’s Pro Monitor teams, giving the new True RGB BRAVIA’s extra connective tissue to Sony’s film legacy in terms of picture fidelity.

That may be why Sony is choosing to kick off the launch with its “Cinema is Coming Home” message. From all appearances, while color is the bright, shiny takeaway for marketing, having seen the new BRAVIAs perform in person, it’s clear that Sony is gunning for reference-level cinema production when it comes to its new BRAVIA line. That might also explain why a 115-inch BRAVIA 9 II runs around $30,999.99 MSRP.

Having seen them side-by-side in person, it’s definitely not a 1:1 comparison, but it’s astounding how close the mini LEDs on the new BRAVIAs are able to approach the picture fidelity of Sony’s professional monitor displays.

A look at the BRAVIA 7 II and BRAVIA 9 II

Sony’s True RGB TVs encompass two models: the BRAVIA 7 II and the flagship BRAVIA 9 II. Both models will be replacing the BRAVIA 7 I and the BRAVIA 9 I, respectively, with production of the prior models being discontinued after launch.

The BRAVIA 9 II, as mentioned, is the bigger of pair, offering more premium features on top of having a larger maximum screen size, ranging from 65 to 115 inches. The BRAVIA 7 II, meanwhile, runs from 50 to 98 inches.

The BRAVIA 9 II. Photo courtesy of Sony

The BRAVIA 7 II. Photo courtesy of Sony

Both get that Pro driver mentioned earlier for backlight control, and both also offer a wider viewing angle compared to Sony’s other TVs, maintaining a fairly consistent brightness and color ratio based on in-person viewing.

Over the BRAVIA 7 II, the BRAVIA 9 II also comes with:

• Luminance Booster Pro, which creates color using both mini LEDs and LCD, allowing for more boosted colors on the 9,
• Immersive Black Screen Pro, which minimizes reflections, allowing for fuller blacks even in brighter rooms,
• A top located Beam Tweeter to provide more cinematic 3D sound,
• And a “Mirage Stand” accessory that is meant to give it a floating appearance while eliminating the visuals of any cables being run behind it.

Both TVs also support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX Enhanced out the gate and come with a built-in midrange speaker and subwoofer for cinematic audio. There’s also multiple pre-calibrated modes viewers can select based on platform and viewing preferences, as well as ambient light optimization that runs baseline.

Even at an angle, the image quality of these new BRAVIAs holds up substantially. Photo by Nick Boever

The two BRAVIA models will also be getting their own custom Leon Studio Frames as optional accessories.

Additional considerations for integrators

One thing to note is that while these new True RGB TVs are really leaning into that reference-level picture reproduction, the brightness these models can output (alongside the BRAVIA 9 II’s black screen treatment), shows that Sony is anticipating their use in high-ambient light environments as opposed to theater displays.

That’s not to say they couldn’t be installed in a theater if someone really wanted to (just look at how microLEDs are being used), but it does point to the idea that these TVs are being designed to bring cinematic-level video to the more casual open area living space/flex rooms, slotting into the same niche as OLEDs and mini LEDs while punching up and over with regards to picture quality.

Additionally, these two models are being launched with a new Sony product offering, the BRAVIA Theater Trio, which is a wireless home theater system consisting of a left and right speaker paired with a center channel soundbar tuned in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, again tying another thread to the cinema connection. According to Sony, the system can generate up to 24 “phantom speakers” to create a wider, more immersive sound field, using an in-built USB-C microphone to help with calibration.

In talking with Sony representatives, the Trio was designed with the 115-inch BRAVIA 9 II in mind, but neither require the other in order to function.

Also, one last note, considering the recent developments with the BRAVIA line: During the press viewings, Sony did mention that the development of these BRAVIA models were not affected by the new deal with TCL, meaning production and development of the models was done purely by Sony, in case there were any questions regarding that.

Pricing and availability

The BRAVIA 9 II True RGB TV is available for pre-sale at Sony, and other authorized dealers now. Pricing is as follows:

• 115-inch Class: $30,999.99 USD MSRP / $41,999.99 CAD MSRP (available this
• fall)
• 85-inch Class: $6,499.99 USD MSRP / $8,999.99 CAD MSRP
• 75-inch Class: $4,599.99 USD MSRP / $6,499.99 CAD MSRP
• 65-inch Class: $3,599.99 USD MSRP / $4,999.99 CAD MSRP

The BRAVIA 7 II True RGB TV is available for sale at Sony, Best Buy and other authorized dealers.

• 98-inch Class: $8,999.99 USD MSRP / $12,999.99 CAD MSRP (available this
• summer)
• 85-inch Class: $3,999.99 USD MSRP / $5,599.99 CAD MSRP
• 75-inch Class: $3,099.99 USD MSRP / $4,399.99 CAD MSRP
• 65-inch Class: $2,599.99 USD MSRP / $3,699.99 CAD MSRP
• 55-inch Class: $2,099.99 USD MSRP / $2,999.99 CAD MSRP
• 50-inch Class: $1,599.99 USD MSRP / $2,249.99 CAD MSRP (available this summer)

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On paper, the 2026 CE Pro 100 represents more than $8.2 billion in combined revenue, which immediately gives the impression of an enormous and rapidly expanding market. However, that figure changes significantly once ADT and Vivint are removed from the equation, since both companies operate at a fundamentally different scale and business model than a traditional custom integration firm. Without those two national players, the remaining companies account for just under $1 billion in combined revenue, and nearly half of that total comes from only the top 10 firms on the list. What emerges is an industry where a relatively small number of companies occupy the upper tier, while the majority of integrators continue operating as smaller, highly specialized businesses built around reputation, service, and long-term client relationships.

An Industry Built on Smaller, Experienced Businesses

The range between the largest and smallest firms on the list reinforces that reality. Outside of the top three companies, the highest-ranking firm reported approximately $151.8 million in revenue, while the lowest company on the list came in just above $1 million. The median revenue figure settled around $4.7 million, which arguably paints the clearest picture of the custom integration industry as it actually exists day to day. Most firms are not large regional enterprises or national operations. Instead, they are experienced, relationship-driven companies that have carved out sustainable businesses by staying focused on a specific market, maintaining a strong reputation, and operating with relatively lean teams.

The median CE Pro 100 company employs 17 people, has been in business for more than 20 years, and operates from a single location. Those statistics suggest an industry filled with mature businesses that are often intentionally designed to remain manageable rather than aggressively scaled. While it is relatively easy to launch an integration company, expanding beyond a certain size requires an entirely different operational structure that includes formal management layers, larger service departments, dedicated project infrastructure, and a willingness to sacrifice margin in pursuit of long-term growth. Many owners ultimately decide that the trade-off simply is not worth it, particularly when their existing model is already profitable and sustainable.

Residential Work Still Overwhelmingly Defines the Market

The data also reinforces how heavily residential-focused the industry remains despite years of discussion surrounding commercial diversification. Of the nearly 50,000 projects completed by CE Pro 100 companies in 2025, roughly 89% were residential installations, amounting to approximately 44,800 homes compared to about 5,500 commercial projects. Although many integrators continue exploring commercial opportunities, the custom integration industry is still overwhelmingly centered around designing and supporting technology experiences inside private residences.

A More Disciplined Post-Pandemic Environment

The numbers also reflect an industry that appears to be settling into a more measured and disciplined phase following the unusual growth cycle created during the pandemic years. Demand surged during that period, project backlogs expanded dramatically, and supply chain delays often created conditions where customers were willing to wait months for products and installations. That environment no longer exists, and the 2026 CE Pro 100 data instead points toward companies that are prioritizing operational efficiency, process refinement, recurring revenue opportunities, and long-term predictability over aggressive top-line growth. Profitability and stability increasingly appear to be replacing rapid expansion as the primary focus for many firms.

Ecosystems Continue to Shape the Brand Landscape

That same sense of maturity and consistency appears throughout the Brand Analysis data as well. Across more than 60 tracked categories, platform ecosystems continue to strengthen their hold on the market because integrators naturally gravitate toward brands that fit within the systems and workflows they already know well. Companies such as Control4, Crestron, and Savant continue showing up across multiple categories because once an integrator commits to a platform, that familiarity tends to influence purchasing decisions throughout an entire project. Challenging those ecosystems in any single category requires competing not only against the product itself, but also against years of installer training, programming familiarity, and operational integration.

An Industry Settling into Maturity

The broader takeaway from both the CE Pro 100 and Brand Analysis is not necessarily that the industry is experiencing dramatic disruption or rapid reinvention, but rather that it is continuing to mature into a more disciplined and self-aware market. The largest firms continue getting larger, many smaller firms are becoming increasingly intentional about how they operate, and the brands seeing the greatest success are often the ones that have earned long-term trust from the integration community. Altogether, the data describes an industry that understands its strengths, recognizes its limitations, and appears increasingly focused on building sustainable businesses designed for consistency rather than volatility.

The post The Numbers Behind the 2026 CE Pro 100 and Brand Analysis appeared first on CEPRO.

The findings highlight that more than one-third (35%) of NKBA members report needing an integrator but not knowing who to engage. This is occurring as 68% of members say demand for integrated technology, from lighting to automation to wellness systems, is increasing in their projects.

Why this matters to integrators

The gap underscores a broader industry shift: as technology becomes central to how spaces function, the need for earlier, more seamless collaboration between design professionals and integrators is becoming more critical. Pathways for engagement remain few and far between, though, and as such, the pathways that do exist are seeing substantial transformations to accommodate the shift.

The design-build connection at CEDIA Expo/CIX

This aligns with some of the recent trends observed at CEDIA Expo/CIX, where an increase in attendance from the design build community has placed a greater emphasis on panel discussions during speaking opportunities, in addition to training programs from brands now including more components tailored for the design build community.

Additionally, the innovations and products showcased by exhibitors have increasingly incorporated architectural and design elements.

Taking place at the Colorado Convention Center from September 1-4, 2026, CEDIA Expo/CIX brings together thousands of industry leaders where design and technology converge, offering a dynamic platform to discover how integrated systems are redefining both residential and commercial environments.

Why the shift

Jason McGraw, Group Vice President and Show Director of CEDIA Expo/CIX, speaking on the findings, explains that designers and architects are being asked more frequently to create spaces for clients that go beyond traditional aesthetics.

“They’re expected to create environments that are intelligent, responsive, and seamlessly integrated,” says McGraw. “CEDIA Expo/CIX is where these worlds come together. It’s where design professionals can engage directly with the technologies shaping modern environments and collaborate with systems integration partners that bring these visions to life.”

Speaking separately on the matter Daryl Friedman, Global President and CEO of CEDIA, seemed to agree with McGraw.

“Designers and architects are being asked to think beyond aesthetics and consider how a space truly performs,” said Friedman. “Through our partnership with CEDIA Expo/CIX, we’re bringing education and industry collaboration together, so designers, architects, and integrators can create more seamless, responsive environments.”

How changes continue to take shape on the show floor

The evolution of architecture and design and its intertwining with the custom integration (CI) space is being actively reflected across the new show experience for CEDIA Expo/CIX, from curated programming and networking to an expanded focus on design-forward products and solutions throughout the show floor.

At the center of this is the Day of Discovery, a curated, immersive program designed specifically for design build professionals. The experience includes guided and self-guided tours, curated education sessions, and targeted networking opportunities, all designed to translate complex technologies into practical design applications.

On the show floor, the Smart Stage serves as the live forum for conversations shaping the future of design and integration.

Through its Design Build educational track, the CEDIA Educational Conference also delivers targeted learning experiences that help design professionals better understand, specify, and collaborate on integrated systems.

How designers are interpreting the change

For Natasa Obradovic, Founder & Interior Designer, KN Design, the resources give her an opportunity to build a better understanding of the technology clients are asking for.

“CEDIA Expo/CIX gives designers a stronger understanding of how technology impacts the way we design and collaborate on projects today, she says. “It’s an opportunity to bridge the gap between design and integration while gaining insights, resources, and connections that directly influence future project outcomes.”

Marina Skiles, Principal of Marina Skiles Architecture & Interiors, who has been attending CEDIA Expo/CIX for several years, says the show provides an “informative and energizing experience” for her practice each year.

“The show is where I reset for the year ahead — where I see innovative new products, learn of exciting integrations, cross-reference experience with peers, and meet new people and new brands,” she explains. “It’s a creative reboot and sets me up for the new year!”

Finding out more

To learn more about CEDIA Expo/CIX, readers are instructed to visit cediaexpo.com or register for this year’s show.

The post Designers, Architects More Frequently Turn to CEDIA Expo/CIX for Understanding CI appeared first on CEPRO.