Dubbed the UK’s only dedicated AV and home automation trade show, EI Live! returned to the Farnborough International Centre this September to demonstrate the possibilities of smart home technology.
The two-day event showcased not only the latest technologies from manufacturers but also signalled where the industry is heading, with wellness and sustainability proving to be central themes. This year’s edition certainly marked some interesting milestones, from thought-provoking sessions in the Technical Theatre to the unveiling of a green initiative seen by many as long overdue. So, what did we learn from the show? Let’s take a look.
Thoughts on the ground
The exhibition floor featured a range of recognisable names including Stealth Acoustics, L-Acoustics, K-array and Monitor Audio. AWE Europe wowed visitors with its open-floor village, where projectors and smart mini-LED TVs sat alongside a dedicated biophilic lighting area. ADI | Snap One also used the show to mark the global debut of its X4 platform.
Beyond products and systems, EI Live! has always been a meeting ground for conversation. This year defined that role. The annual Smart Building Awards dinner on opening night gathered manufacturers, distributors, integrators and electricians for a celebration that mixed recognition with reflection: over three courses, the discussion turned to whether robust engineering principles should chiefly drive projects. Some argued the ‘why’ behind a product is now just as vital as the ‘what’, while others worried that rigid technical requirements could stifle the creative possibilities integral to custom install projects.
"The annual Smart Building Awards dinner on opening night gathered manufacturers, distributors, integrators and electricians for a celebration that mixed recognition with reflection."
Inside the Technical Theatre
The Technical Theatre again proved to be a hub of insight, offering ten sessions focused less on technology itself and more on the people skills underpinning its success. One standout session, The Formula for Better Quoting, was led by Lee Roche, co-founder of WeQuote. His talk addressed the industry’s ongoing challenges with clarity and transparency, highlighting new ways to improve communication in specifying products.
The theatre was also home to what could be deemed the show’s defining announcement: the launch of GivingBack.tech. This new initiative, spearheaded by Together for Cinema founder Ian Morrish, is a website for AV professionals to list second-hand AV equipment completely free-of-charge. The donations will go to charities and organisations in the third sector. Scheduled for launch in spring 2026, the platform seeks to deliver an end-to-end solution in an industry that has long sought more sustainable practices.
"The Technical Theatre proved to be a hub of insight, offering ten sessions focused less on technology itself and more on the people skills underpinning its success."
Lighting the future
Lighting attracted interest from installers and electricians at the show, particularly circadian and biophilic concepts designed around wellness. Ray Lighting, recently acquired by AWE Europe, hosted a self-contained lounge where a reclining chair invited attendees to experience full-spectrum chip lighting, which shifted the ambience from restful to restorative. The demonstration highlighted the negative health impacts of prolonged blue light exposure from screens and common LED lighting.
Statistics shared on the stand reinforced the need for change: globally, people spend 60–70% of their time at home which makes domestic environments vital for physical and mental wellbeing. Ray’s modular, customisable lighting solutions are designed to address this need in a compelling offering for residential integrators.
Elsewhere, Rako and Galleo Lighting drew attention with their take on integrated LED strip solutions, making human-centric lighting an emerging growth area for the UK market.
"Statistics shared on the stand reinforced the need for change: globally, people spend 60–70% of their time at home which makes domestic environments vital for physical and mental wellbeing."
Sound and vision
No AV trade show would be complete without impressive demonstrations of audio and display technology, and this year was no exception. K-array showcased the Dolomite after its debut at ISE 2025, demonstrated both individually and in a two-channel setup. With 10-inch built-in woofers, the system delivered balanced sound to wow visitors. L-Acoustics, meanwhile, used its stand to highlight the Xi Series loudspeakers, discreetly positioned in cabinetry to illustrate how concert-grade sound can support residential interiors.
Stealth Acoustics continued to reinforce its reputation for invisibility with its latest in-wall speakers, also generating excitement with talk of its outdoor popup TVs.
On the video front, the star was Hisense’s 116-inch Mini LED TV. Powered by RGB Mini LED technology, the display replaces standard blue or white backlighting with a tricolour LED system to deliver spectacular pictures. Retailing at over €28,000, the model is an alternative to high-end projectors and boasts the HI View Engine X processor with AI-driven calibration. Enhanced by multiformat HDR support, CineX Sound, Dolby Atmos and a 4.1.2 Hi-Orchestra system, the television offered one of the most immersive demonstrations of the show.
Across the floor, CinemaLuxe contributed a different angle by focusing on the design of home cinema spaces. Complete with textured walls, luxury seating and tailored fittings, its purpose-built entertainment room demonstrated how interior design and AV integration can merge seamlessly.
"On the video front, the star was Hisense’s 116-inch Mini LED TV."
Training and automation
Automation, though less prominent than AV systems on the show floor, nevertheless drew strong interest at ADI | Snap One’s Skills Station. The company hosted four sessions exploring its ecosystem, chief among them being Control4’s new X4 platform with its redesigned home screen and customisable control options. Additional sessions examined OvrC, Snap One’s remote management platform, and updates to Luma camera surveillance systems.
Beyond technology
While EI Live! 2025 showcased some impressive products, the broader themes of wellness and sustainability resonated the most with attendees. The focus on circadian lighting reflects a wider awareness of healthier living, while the GivingBack.tech initiative represents a sea change for environmental responsibility in the professional space.
This year, visitors were left with a clear sense that the UK AV and home automation industry is entering a new era. The maturing market may be plateauing in some areas, but innovation is now being measured as much in terms of wellbeing and sustainability as in specifications and features. If there’s one dominant takeaway from the demos, thought leadership and community spirit we saw at this year’s show, it’s that progress in AV is less about technology and more about making a meaningful impact.