The 3rd Smart Lighting Expo and the 17th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, running from April 20 to 23. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the twin fairs, themed "Go Smart, Live Green," bring together approximately 900 exhibitors, including newcomers from the Netherlands and Vietnam. This year introduces the debut of "Light Lab," a new zone focusing on lighting solutions that combine innovation and sustainability, unveiling the latest lighting trends for 2026.
Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, highlighted the significance of the event, noting that industry leaders such as Absen, which supplied LED displays for the World Cup and World Expos, and Shanghai Sansi, which provides over 60% of screens in Times Square, are participating. The Smart Lighting Expo, part of Business of Innovation and Technology Week (BIT Week), features the new Smart Commercial Display & Stage Audio-Visual Zone, emphasizing lighting for cultural tourism and performing arts. Koo stated that the twin fairs support Hong Kong's role as an international innovation and technology hub and foster cross-industry collaboration for the megaevent economy.
The global smart lighting market is projected to reach US$44 billion by 2030, according to Statista. An International Energy Agency analysis from March indicates that a second wave of LED transformation is imminent, with low LED penetration in regions like Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia Pacific. About 30% of residential lighting fixtures worldwide have yet to be upgraded, and early-generation LEDs nearing end-of-life create opportunities for efficient and intelligent systems.
The "Light Lab" in Hall 3 features three scenario-based designs: Lumin Garden, Lumin Arena, and Lumin Gallery. Shanghai Sansi LED Lighting presents plant lighting fixtures with proprietary ceramic technology for superior heat dissipation. Foshan Electrical and Lighting showcases the FSeries stadium lights, which are 20-45% lighter than traditional fixtures and have a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. Guangdong ThinkGisp displays ultra-low glare spotlights that reduce eye stimulation through specialized optical design.
Group pavilions include the Zhongshan Smart Home Zone, with the Zhongshan Guzhen Pavilion and Zhongshan Henglan Pavilion, and the Shanghai Pudong Intelligent Lighting Association's Smart Ecosystem and IoT Supply Chain Area, featuring brands like BWEETECH, AIDimming, Darkoo, and TYF. Other pavilions from Shenzhen, Xiamen, Changzhou Zouqu, and Zhejiang further expand industry exchange.
Four major lighting trends are showcased: smart lighting, green lighting, entertainment lighting, and human-centric lighting. In smart lighting, BWEETECH (Booth: 1B-E18) presents the Bwee Smart Control Knob, supporting Zigbee and Apple Home integration. KC Lighting (Booth: 1E-A02) exhibits the M7 Micro 48V Track System with Casambi and DALI control. Xiamen PVTECH (Booth: 1E-B02) introduces an off-grid intelligent lighting control panel with preset scenarios.
For green lighting, Absen (Booth: 1BB01) showcases the A25 Series low-carbon LED display, consuming under 1 kWh per square meter per day. Guangdong Zhongqian New Energy (Booth: 1B-E02) presents solar street lights with sleep mode, and Ningbo Yadu Lighting (Booth: 1D-E18) introduces solar garden lights with USB-C charging.
Entertainment lighting includes Zhongyuan Innovation (Booth: 1B-D11) with the Ambit 3 + Spot GREENTEK dynamic backlight, and Zhongshan Walton Lighting (Booth: 1BC05) with Gobo Projection Lights for stages. Ledmy (Booth: 3E-B02) features a 360-degree neon lighting series for stadiums and landmarks.
Human-centric lighting products include Shenzhen Norming Lighting (Booth: 1E-C24) with dim-to-warm track lights, and Mascuge (Booth: 3E-A03) with an aroma diffuser humidifying lamp for relaxing environments.
The twin fairs also host forums: the Asian Lighting Forum on April 20-21, focusing on immersive entertainment and landscape lighting, and the Smart Lighting Solution Forum on April 21, discussing smart home and human-centric lighting. Exhibitor Opple Lighting, as the official partner of the buyers' VIP lounge, showcases its SDL smart spectral lighting technology.
