Light + Building 2028

Light + Building takes place from 5–10 March 2028 at Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. The international trade fair covers lighting, electrical engineering, home and building automation, and connected safety and security technology. It brings design-oriented and technical disciplines together so visitors can compare products and systems, examine application fit and plan informed sourcing or specification decisions.

Light + Building 2028 at a glance

The 2028 dates and hours are announced. The ticket shop and programme details were not yet available; check organiser updates before arranging your visit.

Why Light + Building matters

Connect lighting design with technical performance

Compare luminaires, controls, light management and application rather than treating a fitting as an isolated purchase. Designers can examine distribution, materials and control options against project conditions.

Evaluate systems across the building

Electrical installations, automation and connected safety are related parts of building services. Engineers, contractors and system integrators can ask how components communicate, are installed and commissioned, and what information is available on compatibility, maintenance and service.

Compare products against a real project

Buyers can compare manufacturers and product approaches. Bring defined requirements—project type, operating conditions, control needs and target performance—so discussions move beyond general introductions.

Understand the previous edition’s scale

Messe Frankfurt reported 1,927 exhibitors from 49 countries and 144,767 visitors from 143 countries in 2026. These are organiser-reported previous-edition figures, not a forecast for 2028. Advance prioritisation helps focus on the product groups and conversations most relevant to you.

Exhibition sectors and product groups at Light + Building

Technical and architectural lighting

• Office, administration and commercial lighting
• Industrial and workplace luminaires
• Exterior and street lighting
• Emergency and safety lighting
• Human Centric Lighting and application-specific concepts

Decorative and design-oriented lighting

• Residential and commercial decorative luminaires
• Architectural pendants, surface lights and accent lighting
• Hospitality lighting for hotels and restaurants
• Outdoor lighting for homes, gardens and public spaces
• Design materials and lighting effects for interiors

Lighting components, control and measurement

• Lamps and LED light sources
• Lighting components and accessories
• Lighting controls and connected control devices
• Lighting-management systems
• Light measurement and product-performance information

Electrical engineering and installation

• Electrical engineering products for buildings
• Electrical installation systems and components
• Building electrical infrastructure and power distribution
• Interfaces between electrical systems and building services
• Installation technologies for new and existing buildings

Home and building automation

• Home automation and connected building controls
• Building-management and system-integration technologies
• Connected control of lighting and building services
• Energy- and load-management concepts
• Digital planning and operation tools

Connected safety and security

• Connected safety and security systems
• Security technology and software
• Building access and monitoring solutions
• Interfaces between connected building systems
• Technology for residential, commercial and industrial premises

These groups reflect the organiser’s published product segments. Examples describe product areas, not confirmed 2028 exhibitors; check the catalogue and stand allocation when released.

Who should visit Light + Building?

Architects, interior architects and lighting designers

Useful if you specify lighting or develop spatial concepts. Focus on technical and decorative luminaires, light quality, controls and materials. Compare products against room use, visual priorities and maintenance needs. The organiser names architects, interior architects and designers among important visitors.

Electrical contractors, engineers and system integrators

Useful if you install, design or integrate building systems. Explore electrical engineering, installation systems, automation and connected safety. Record installation constraints, interfaces, commissioning needs and service questions. The organiser identifies electrical trades, planners and engineers.

Wholesale, retail and procurement teams

Useful if you select products for a portfolio, project or supply channel. Compare specifications, ranges, documentation and supplier support. Retail and wholesale are included in the organiser’s profile; purchasing managers and senior decision-makers are highlighted for its Business Club.

Manufacturers and technology suppliers

Useful if you supply lighting, electrical engineering, automation or connected safety. Consider audience fit and what technical evidence buyers need. Confirm 2028 exhibiting terms with Messe Frankfurt.

Relevant roles: architects, lighting designers, electrical contractors, electricians, engineers, planners, system integrators, procurement managers, wholesalers, retailers and manufacturing professionals.

Why visit Light + Building?

1. Compare lighting for a project: review luminaires and controls against performance, design and operating requirements.
2. Map a building-systems question: examine how electrical installation, automation and connected safety relate.
3. Shortlist suppliers: when the 2028 search is available, compare specifications, documentation, service and compatibility.
4. Follow design developments: assess luminaires, materials, light quality and controls across settings.
5. Assess retrofit approaches: ask how modular products may apply in existing buildings and request project-specific installation information.
6. Choose useful learning formats: previous editions included design presentations, guided tours and technology forums; check the 2028 programme.

Why exhibit at Light + Building?

Lighting, electrical, automation and connected-safety suppliers may consider exhibiting to present products to architects, designers, engineers, electrical trades, retail, wholesale and industry. The previous edition’s organiser-reported international reach does not guarantee a particular audience or commercial result in 2028.

Define the audiences and product groups you need to reach, prepare demonstrations and technical information, and plan follow-up capacity. International suppliers should assess distribution, after-sales service, spare parts, product documentation and applicable EU requirements.

What makes Light + Building distinctive?

Light + Building combines lighting with systems that electrify, automate and secure buildings. Its published scope spans lighting, electrical engineering, home and building automation, and connected security technology.

The 2026 programme included the Design Plaza, guided tours, the ZVEI Technology Forum, AI Lounge, Young Design, The Living Light and activities for electrical trades. These are previous-edition examples, not confirmed 2028 sessions.

What should you try to achieve?

If you specify lighting

Shortlist three approaches for a defined project and record performance, control and maintenance questions each supplier must answer.

If you integrate building systems

Identify interface and commissioning requirements for relevant lighting, automation or safety products.

If you buy or distribute products

Compare suppliers against range, documentation, availability and service criteria.

If you exhibit

Qualify conversations by application, project timing and technical fit, then agree a specific follow-up action.

How to prepare before Light + Building

1. Define your purpose

Choose the decision the visit should support: a lighting specification, product shortlist, integration question, distribution review or participation assessment. Write down conditions that will help you judge each option.

2. Build a target list

Use the 2028 exhibitor search when published. The 2026 search included names, hall and stand details, contacts and filters; those listings do not confirm 2028 participation. Keep A priorities for essential conversations, B for useful comparisons and C for exploration.

3. Prepare technical questions

• Which application and operating conditions is the product designed for?
• What light output, distribution, colour and control information is available?
• Which interfaces or system components are required?
• How does it connect with building-management or electrical systems?
• What installation, commissioning and maintenance steps are needed?
• What conformity and energy-label documentation is available?
• How are software updates and support handled for connected functions?
• What replacement components, service arrangements and lead times should be evaluated?

4. Check participation details

The fair is for trade visitors only. The 2028 ticket shop was not yet open. Recheck registration, travel and programme details before departure. The organiser advises international visitors to apply for a visa early because waiting times may be longer.

How to make the most of Light + Building

Record useful conversations as Company → product or system → project fit → evidence requested → contact → next action. A building-services engineer might note a lighting-control product, required interfaces, project conditions and technical data still needed. A distributor might record range, documentation, service model and channel fit. Keep literature tied to a question, and note the conditions behind performance claims.

Plan your time realistically

With several sectors and more than a thousand exhibitors reported for the previous edition, a multi-day visit may help with cross-sector comparison. A focused visit may work when your objective is narrow; this is guidance, not an official timetable.

Before opening

Review priority companies, scheduled conversations and confirmed sessions.

During the day

Handle essential technical discussions first, then compare alternatives and explore adjacent sectors. Record evidence and next steps.

At the end of each day

Review your shortlist, unanswered questions and follow-up plan. Avoid collecting catalogues without a project or sourcing question.

Beyond the exhibition floor

The 2026 edition included the Design Plaza, guided tours, ZVEI Technology Forum, AI Lounge, Young Design, The Living Light and activities for electrical-trade professionals. Some talks were available afterwards on the organiser’s industry platform. These are not confirmed 2028 sessions; prioritise announced formats that answer a design, technical or procurement question.

Networking at Light + Building

Prepare a concise introduction explaining your role, project or product and the question you want to resolve. Bring relevant specifications and system constraints; for sourcing, know the range, target market and support requirements you need to compare.

Agree what information should follow: specifications, compatibility details, conformity documents, service terms or a further technical discussion. Record who owns the next step and when it should happen.

Light + Building visitor profile and business opportunities

Travelling to Light + Building

Messe Frankfurt provides information for reaching the exhibition centre by air, train and car, with public-transport, travel-time, parking and accommodation guidance. Check current arrangements for 2028. The venue is at Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1 in Frankfurt am Main.

The organiser reports 5,000 beds within a 15-minute walk of the venue. Check availability and location against your schedule. Visitors needing a German visa should check requirements for their nationality and apply early.

Practical information for international visitors

Confirm travel, registration and entry requirements before departure. The 2028 ticket shop was not yet open when visitor information was reviewed.

After Light + Building: where the value starts

• A – Immediate: a product fits an active project and the next step is defined.
• B – Potential: specifications, compatibility, service or timing need checking.
• C – Market intelligence: the discussion informs your view of products or building-system developments.

Request performance and control data for lighting products. For electrical and automation systems, follow up on interfaces, commissioning, security and maintenance. Compare suppliers using consistent criteria and send the information agreed.

Light + Building visitor checklist

Before

• ☐ Define a project, sourcing or learning objective.
• ☐ Check trade registration and ticket-shop status.
• ☐ Review the 2028 exhibitor search and programme when available.
• ☐ Prepare technical questions and a priority list.
• ☐ Confirm travel, accommodation and visa requirements.

During

• ☐ Compare products against written criteria.
• ☐ Record product, evidence needed, contact and next action.
• ☐ Check compatibility, installation and service requirements.

After

• ☐ Sort contacts into immediate, potential and market-intelligence groups.
• ☐ Request agreed technical or commercial information.
• ☐ Compare supplier responses and set follow-up dates.

Is Light + Building worth visiting?

Light + Building is most useful for professionals working across lighting, electrical engineering, building automation or connected safety. It can support product comparison, supplier research, technical evaluation and design exploration when requirements are defined in advance. The 2026 reported scale shows the previous event’s breadth; 2028 exhibitors and programme details remain to be confirmed. A clear shortlist and disciplined follow-up are more valuable than trying to see everything.

Make your next decision count

Ask yourself: What do I need to compare, specify or source at Light + Building that I cannot resolve from a desk? Arrive with a question, leave with a decision path. Discover. Compare. Specify. Follow up.

Lighting and building-services technology opportunities in Germany

Market-entry conditions for lighting products

The European Commission states that mandatory Ecodesign requirements apply to manufacturers and importers placing covered lighting products on the EU market, including Germany. Requirements for light sources and separate control gears have applied since 1 September 2021; the EU light-source energy label uses classes A to G. Product-specific conformity, energy-performance information and documentation matter when evaluating relevant suppliers.

What this means for exhibitors

Lighting suppliers may explain how products meet requirements for their specific category and intended use. Scope, evidence and labelling depend on the product and current EU rules, so confirm obligations before making a compliance claim.

What this means for visitors

Buyers and designers may compare performance data, labels, controls and application fit. Request documentation for the exact model and intended use. These rules establish compliance conditions; they do not demonstrate demand for a particular product.

Explore Event Opportunities

Use Light + Building to find relevant suppliers, compare lighting and building-system solutions and plan a focused participation strategy with support from ilikevents.

Get Expert Assistance from ilikevents to plan your visit or exhibition participation.

See the ilikevents services for this event