From 28 to 31 May, Areas A and B of the China Import and Export Fair Complex once again became an international meeting point for ProAV, entertainment technology, lighting technology, stage technology, audio, system integration and digital applications. The 24th edition of Prolight + Sound Guangzhou sent a clear signal: the industry is not only continuing to advance technologically, but is above all looking for solutions that prove themselves in real-world application scenarios.
With 220,000 square metres of exhibition space, 22 themed halls, 2,227 exhibitors from China and abroad, and 111,056 trade visitors, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 once again reached an impressive scale. International participation also continued to grow. Visitors from more than 100 countries and regions came to Guangzhou. The number of international visitors increased by around five per cent compared with the previous year.
What made Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 special?
A central feature of this year’s edition was its strong practical focus. Many exhibitors did not concentrate solely on new products, but showed how technologies work in specific fields of application. This allowed trade visitors to see the value that modern audio, lighting, video and system solutions can offer in everyday event, installation, production and integrated AV environments.
The fair was marked by strong business momentum on site.
Over the last four days, the fairground was alive with a high level of dynamic business exchanges, bolstered by robust international brand and visitor participation despite ongoing industry headwinds. We were delighted to see exhibitors stay firmly focused on applicable real-world scenarios, underpinned by new technologies, enabling visitors to truly experience the tangible value of these solutions in practice. Looking ahead, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou will continue to expand its specialised zones that emphasise emerging products, providing a constant high-quality indicator of where the future of the industry is heading.
Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd
This confirmed the event’s ambition not only to present product innovations, but also to provide an outlook on the future development of the industry.
Which topics took centre stage?
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 covered a broad spectrum of professional event technologies. These included ProAV, entertainment systems, stage effects, workplace networking technologies, smart displays and system integration. This breadth shows how strongly the industry is changing in the digital age. Audio, video, lighting and control systems are increasingly converging. For event organisers, planners, integrators, manufacturers and technical service providers, this creates new opportunities, but also new requirements in terms of compatibility, scalability and usability.
The fair was therefore not only a place for product launches. It also served as a platform for market observation, international exchange and concrete business development. For global buyers in particular, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou offered the opportunity to compare different market segments in one place: from components and finished products to complete system solutions.
International brands and Chinese manufacturers on one platform
One important success factor of Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is the connection between international brands and Chinese manufacturers. This strength was once again clearly evident in 2026. Exhibitors included ALLEN & HEATH, Audio-Technica, Ayrton, Bosch, Bose Professional, Chainmaster, Dante, DAS Audio, d&b audiotechnik, EM Acoustics, Funktion-One, Harman International, Hikvision, Martin Audio, Neutrik, Powersoft, QSC, RCF, Sennheiser, Shure, Yamaha and many other companies.
This mix makes the fair relevant for a wide range of visitor groups. International brands use Guangzhou to strengthen their visibility in the Asian market. At the same time, Chinese manufacturers present themselves as capable providers for global supply chains, OEM partnerships, components, system solutions and new product developments. For buyers, this creates a compact overview of the entire value chain.
Why is Prolight + Sound Guangzhou relevant for the entertainment and ProAV industry?
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is not just a platform for individual product areas, but represents a broad spectrum of modern event technologies. Audio, lighting, stage technology, visual systems, show effects, control technology, networking solutions and ProAV applications are becoming increasingly interconnected. This development was clearly visible at Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026. Classic product categories such as loudspeakers, mixing consoles, LED walls, moving lights, media servers and control systems no longer stand in isolation. What matters is how they interact in real production, installation and event environments.
One example was the Prolight + Sound Guangzhou x NDI Eco-system, which focused on the integration of IP-based AV technologies. Such networking technologies are important building blocks for modern productions, hybrid events, broadcast-related applications, corporate communications and fixed installations. At the same time, formats such as the Headphone Hub and the Recording & Production Zone showed the role that immersive audio applications, recording technologies and practical demonstrations play in the further development of professional audio and entertainment environments.
What really stands out is how efficient the show is: in just a single exhibition, we were able to find everything from raw material and component suppliers, all the way to full product manufacturers.
Mr Raul Del Trejo, Director of Renaer Participacoes S/S Ltda, Brazil
This makes it clear that Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is perceived not only as a product showcase, but also as an efficient sourcing platform along the entire value chain.
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou brings together all kinds of customer groups, integrators, distributors, and end users, which fits our needs perfectly. We have met a very diverse range of buyers at the fair from Europe, North America, and emerging markets, especially South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and even Africa.
Mr Aeolus Zhang, Product Manager at Empower Tribe
More than 100 fringe events for knowledge transfer
In addition to the exhibition, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 offered more than 100 fringe events, forums, seminars and demonstrations. These formats turned the fair into a space for knowledge and exchange across different specialist fields. They were aimed at audio professionals, lighting designers, system integrators, event service providers, manufacturers, technical planners, educational institutions and international buyers.
Key programme highlights included the Headphone Hub, the Recording & Production Zone, the “Hands-on Awareness and Risk Management for Events and Performances” seminar, the Prolight + Sound Guangzhou x NDI Eco-system and the Unicorn Series: Xtage. The programme was complemented by the First Exhibition of Stage Art Works from Chinese Higher Education Institutions, which strengthened the connection between education, creativity and industry. This mix of trade fair, demonstration, expert knowledge and talent development shows that innovation does not arise solely from new products, but also from the interaction between companies, educational institutions, associations and users.
Unicorn Series: Xtage as the creative centre of the fair
The Unicorn Series: Xtage was once again one of the most eye-catching formats at Prolight + Sound Guangzhou. The format combined modern entertainment technologies with a staged experience environment. Its aim was not merely to display integrated technologies, but to make them tangible as part of a creative overall setting. In this way, Xtage stood as an example of a trade fair approach that brings together audio, lighting, stage technology, visual effects and immersive applications.
I truly appreciate the forward-thinking planning of the organisers, such as the PLS Unicorn Series Xtage event, which draws in visitors and then naturally directs buyers from the stage to the booths.
Mr Aeolus Zhang, Product Manager at Empower Tribe
For exhibitors, this creates a direct bridge between show experience, product interest and concrete business contacts.
What role did international demand play?
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou once again had a strong international reach in 2026. Exhibitors reported contacts from Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other markets. What is particularly interesting is that the fair is not only relevant to the Chinese market, but is also perceived as an international sourcing, networking and trend platform.
From my perspective, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is very important for our association and members in Indonesia. This year, we had around 30 buyers attending, and the feedback has been very positive. Many of them were able to connect with new suppliers, especially from China, and even reach agreements for future cooperation. The show is also highly beneficial as it brings together international brands and Chinese manufacturers in one place, enabling us to discover new products, stay updated on industry trends, and take valuable insights back to Indonesia. It also gives our members a global industry perspective while allowing them to source high-quality products at the most competitive prices.
Mr Risyad Fauzie, Chairman of Rental Indonesia Event Support
Mr Tongjiang Chen, Audio Marketing Director at Hikvision, also emphasised that he had already made new contacts on the first day of the fair.
This year at the show we have also connected with many potential clients from Europe and Asia-Pacific, especially Southeast Asia, including markets such as India. On day one alone, I connected with more than ten new clients, who felt our products aligned with exactly what the market needs right now after watching our live demonstrations and presentations. Several projects have already shown strong potential to move forward.
Mr Tongjiang Chen, Audio Marketing Director at Hikvision
What does the fair mean for components, systems and standards?
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 also showed how important technical standards, components and system architectures are for the further development of the industry. Alongside finished products, the focus was on networks, audio and video standards, immersive applications, system integration and components for professional audio, lighting and AV solutions. As a result, the fair addressed manufacturers and brands as well as integrators, rental companies, planners and buyers.
The participation of UWA, the UHD World Association, underlined this development. The UWA Alliance is an international standards organisation focused on developing and promoting advanced audiovisual technologies. The organisation uses the fair to showcase progress in modern audiovisual technologies and to demonstrate applications of ultra-high-definition systems in real-world scenarios.
Participating in Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is highly valuable for us, as it serves as a key platform to showcase our technological developments and ecosystem progress to both industry professionals and consumers. The show’s scale and comprehensive industry coverage allow us to demonstrate how our standards are being applied in real-world scenarios, from ultra-high-definition systems to diverse end-user applications. At the same time, it enables us to engage with international partners and further connect domestic innovation with the global market.
Mr Yanger Jiao, Deputy Secretary-General of UWA
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou as a global industry meeting point
Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 has further consolidated its role as one of the most important international platforms for entertainment technology, audio, lighting and ProAV. The combination of record scale, international participation, a broad product offering, practical demonstrations and a strong fringe programme makes the fair an important point of orientation for the industry.
What became particularly clear in 2026 is that technological innovation is now more closely tied to concrete application scenarios than ever before. For manufacturers, this means that products must not only be powerful, but also function within complex system environments. For visitors, it means that fairs such as Prolight + Sound Guangzhou provide a direct overview of which solutions are already market-ready and which technologies are likely to gain importance in the future.
The next stage of development in the industry is therefore likely to be shaped less by individual product categories and more by the interplay of audio, lighting, stage technology, video, networking, control, safety, immersion and system integration. This is exactly the interplay that Prolight + Sound Guangzhou 2026 made visible.
