The 3rd Smart Lighting Expo and the 17th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Running from 20 to 23 April under the theme "Go Smart, Live Green", the twin fairs introduce new zones, including the debut of "Light Lab", which focuses on lighting solutions that combine innovation and sustainability, unveiling the latest lighting trends for 2026.
Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "This year’s twin lighting fairs bring together some 900 exhibitors, including new exhibitors from the Netherlands and Vietnam. A number of industry leaders are participating, including Absen, whose LED displays were in use at the World Cup and World Expos, and has been ranked first nationally in LED display exports for 16 consecutive years, and Shanghai Sansi, which supplies over 60% of the screens in Times Square, New York." She added that the Smart Lighting Expo, as part of Business of Innovation and Technology Week, focuses on cutting-edge technologies and applications, with a new Smart Commercial Display & Stage Audio-Visual Zone featuring lighting products for cultural tourism and performing arts.
According to Statista, the global smart lighting market is expected to reach US$44 billion by 2030. An analysis by the International Energy Agency in March indicated that a second wave of LED transformation is imminent, with regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific (excluding India and Chinese Mainland) having relatively low LED penetration. Around 30% of lighting fixtures worldwide have yet to be upgraded, creating opportunities for high-efficiency LED technologies. Additionally, early-generation LED products with an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years are reaching end of life, spurring demand for more intelligent lighting systems.
The newly introduced "Light Lab" in Hall 3 features three scenario-based designs: Lumin Garden, Lumin Arena, and Lumin Gallery. Lumin Garden displays garden lighting and solar luminaires, with Shanghai Sansi LED Lighting presenting plant lighting fixtures using proprietary ceramic technology for superior heat dissipation. Lumin Arena showcases professional-grade stadium lights, including Foshan Electrical and Lighting's FSeries stadium lights, which are 20% to 45% lighter and have a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. Lumin Gallery focuses on high-end museum lighting, with Guangdong ThinkGisp presenting ultralow glare spotlights that reduce eye stimulation.
The twin fairs also feature group pavilions, with Zhongshan City as a Special Partner City, bringing the Zhongshan Guzhen and Henglan Pavilions to form the Zhongshan Smart Home Zone. The Shanghai Pudong Intelligent Lighting Association returns for the third year, setting up the Smart Ecosystem and IoT Supply Chain Area with brands like BWEETECH, AIDimming, Darkoo, and TYF. New pavilions from Changzhou Zouqu and Zhejiang further expand industry exchange.
Four major lighting trends are highlighted: smart lighting, green lighting, entertainment lighting, and human-centric lighting. Smart lighting exhibitors like BWEETECH (Booth 1B-E18) showcase the Bwee Smart Control Knob, supporting Zigbee and Apple Home integration. KC Lighting (Booth 1E-A02) presents the M7 Micro 48V Track System. Green lighting solutions include Absen's A25 Series low-carbon LED display, consuming less than one kWh per square metre per day. Entertainment lighting from Zhongyuan Innovation features the Ambit 3 + Spot GREENTEK dynamic backlight with 16 million colours. Human-centric lighting from Shenzhen Norming Lighting includes dim-to-warm track lights with flicker-free design.
The Asian Lighting Forum on 20–21 April will cover immersive entertainment lighting and landscape lighting design, while the Smart Lighting Solution Forum on 21 April will discuss smart home lighting and supply chain ecosystems. Opple Lighting, as official partner of the buyers' VIP lounge, showcases its SDL smart spectral lighting technology.
