Barcelona once again confirmed why it has become the global capital of professional audiovisual. ISE 2026 closed an edition that delivered a clear signal about the moment the industry is going through: scale, diversity, and an ever-deeper integration between technologies, content, and experiences.
With 92,170 unique visitors, 1,751 exhibitors, and an exhibition space exceeding 101,000 m² at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the event functioned as a true thermometer of the global AV ecosystem.
Without a doubt, the most striking figure was the more than 212,000 attendees who toured the 9 halls and demo rooms over the course of 4 days.
But the impact of ISE 2026 was not measured solely in numbers. The show once again set “the audiovisual pulse of the industry,” combining product launches, strategic content, and experiences that went beyond the show floor.
The agenda unfolded both inside and outside the venue, with keynotes, urban interventions, architectural mapping, and activations that engaged with the city. “A lot of interesting things are going to happen at the same time,” anticipated Mike Blackman, and that sense of constant movement became one of the hallmarks of this edition. “So many product launches, so many things happening,” he summed up with the kind of enthusiasm that only comes from anticipating success.
Push Beyond as a transversal reading
The concept “Push Beyond” ran throughout the entire edition as a statement of principles. It was not about imposing a single focus, but about reflecting how each sector of the audiovisual industry continues to move forward. “There is no main focus. Push Beyond is our focus in every sector of the AV industry,” explained Blackman, reinforcing the idea of a show that is no longer structured around rigid compartments.
That logic was evident both in the content and in the overall experience of the event. The industry does not stop or settle for what already exists. “We want to show how this industry doesn’t stay here, but continues moving forward. We see it in what happens at ISE every year,” he added, connecting the growth of the show with the real transformation of the market.
Latin America, increasingly closer to the center
ISE 2026 once again made evident a relationship that continues to strengthen: that between the show and Latin America.
The regional presence was felt in the aisles, on the stands, and in networking spaces, driven by accessibility, language, and the possibility of meeting, in one place, manufacturers, integrators, and developers from all over the world.
From the organization, the message to the region was direct. “To everyone coming from the different countries of Latin America, if you weren’t at this edition, make sure to register and come next year,” said Blackman. The reason is clear: “If you’re in the AV world and you want to discover what’s new, what’s coming, and what you should be doing, you’ll see it at ISE.”
The return of the European–Latin American AV Forum reinforced that connection, offering a space for deeper dialogue between both markets and consolidating Barcelona as a natural meeting point for the region.
After ISE, looking at what’s next
With the close of this edition, ISE 2026 left more than a snapshot of record-breaking numbers. It left a roadmap. The show confirmed that professional audiovisual is going through a moment of transversal expansion, where technological innovation, experience, and strategic vision advance together.
And for the Latin American industry, the invitation is clear: not to observe the future of AV from the outside.
At ISE, that future is not announced. It is explored, listened to, and built.
