Indian integrators weigh in on the ISE 2026 experience, as the show celebrates its most well attended show yet.
ISE 2026 has become a truly global show. The show broke all records with 92,170 visitors entering the Fira from around the world. A total of 1,751 exhibitors, including 323 making their debut at the event, contributed to the largest total show floor space in the event’s history at 101,000 sqm.
ISE 2026 delivered exceptional attendance growth, underlining the continued expansion and global appeal of the show. By Tuesday, the event had already welcomed 55,156 unique attendees, a 10% increase compared with Tuesday 2025 (49,981).
A growing Indian presence
This growth can also be seen in the strengthening Indian presence at the show. ISE 2026 saw the highest attendance figures from Indian participants yet, in figures shared exclusively with Inavate India which show that a total of 721 Indian attendees made their presence known at the show.
For the Indian AV industry, attendance at this once regional show has become an imperative. The focus isn’t just on products anymore, but the wider ecosystems that are making a difference for integrators and end customers. This represents a 17% year-on-year increase, with a total of 616 attendees in 2025, and 550 Indian participants in 2024.
“I come here for two main reasons” explains Thilipan Krishnan, 02K, “One is to understand what’s new in the industry, and the second is to see how the AV ecosystem is evolving. Earlier, when I used to visit ISE, it would be more of a product orientation, but when I visit booths at ISE today, it’s about solutions here now. We understand that AV is evolving and we get to see new solutions from every OEM. From the OEMs, the integrators, the customers, this show has become a temple for them, it’s where they find solutions.”
The Inavate team on the ground shared this sentiment, highlighting the reach and appeal that ISE has for a global audience: “One thing has been consistent the whole way through - this is the global hub for the AV industry”, explains Reece Webb, editor, Inavate India, “The integrators are here, the consultants are here, the manufacturers are here, and even the end users are here. If you’re going to be anywhere, you don’t want to be at a regional show, that’s the message that has been parroted to me by everyone from all over the world [that I’ve spoken with].”
For Indian integrators, ISE 2026 offered a hub to strengthen, expand, and develop relationships with manufacturers and distributors that are increasingly looking to do business in India as more brands strengthen their presence in the Indian market.
E.B. Devan, vice president, Cosmos Business Solutions, explains: “What’s happening in India is that we have been more of a consuming market. Most of the vendors or OEMs come from global companies, so for us, ISE is important to come and see the latest trends and new products.
“We get to meet industry colleagues here, develop relationships which help business, and then there are guys like Inavate with the Inavation Awards, we get nominated through the good work that Inavate does, so that’s why ISE is important to us.”
Inavation Awards
As a truly global competition between the best and brightest in the AV industry, 11 Indian projects were nominated as finalists. Indian integrators, consultants, and projects strengthen their presence year after year at the Inavation Awards, held at the prestigious MNAC overlooking the Barcelona skyline.
Entry numbers were high, the range of sectors was broader than ever, and the quality was consistently exceptional. This pushed the Inavation Awards judging process harder than any year to date, prompting extra sessions, revisiting close calls, and even the creation of two new categories.
Indian projects were front and centre in the 2026 awards lineup, with an especially strong presence in the Corporate category, where almost half of all finalist projects hailed from India. Innovative Systems and Solutions’ HDFC bank project, Office 2000 Solutions’ BNY Mellon, Online Instruments’ Siemens HQ, Sigma AVIT Technology Solutions’ SAP Labs Innovation Park all made it to the finals.
In the Education category Cosmos Business Machines’ BITS Pilani, Mumbai Campus and Innovative Systems and Solutions’ HDFC Bank training centre and Nilaya Anthology in the Retail + Signage category.
Office 2000 Solutions was also nominated as a finalist for the Connected Meeting Space category with its Electronic Arts town hall project, and Pro FX Tech also receiving a nomination for its Adani Experience Centre project.
Big wins
It was a big night for Metahive Design Consulting + BT Convergence Technologies with a winhome in the Experience Centre category with its Wipro, India project.
Indian companies also demonstrated their success in projects outside of the Indian market, with Granteq securing a win in the Education category with the Gems School of Research and Innovation in the UAE.
Online Instruments also scored a win in the Connected Meeting Space category, winning with its Schneider Electric town hall project in the UAE.
Reflecting on the post show experience, it is clear that the Indian presence will continue to strengthen as the market continues to mature and make a wider impact on the global stage. As Indian attendee figures increase and more OEMs enter the Indian market, the importance of the region will continue to scale alongside its presence at the show.