ISE will expand beyond its traditional Fira Gran Via home and into a second Barcelona venue in 2027, as the show increases its physical footprint and pushes further into broadcast, content production, creative technology and other markets increasingly overlapping with AV.
Speaking to Installation and other media at a press briefing in ISE’s Munich office on Tuesday, managing director Mike Blackman revealed that the 2027 edition will be 7 per cent larger than this year’s event, with the show maximising its available space at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via while also expanding into the historic Fira Montjuïc venue around Plaça Espanya. Running from February 2-5 under the theme When Worlds Unite, ISE 2027 will see Spark and EdTech Congress Barcelona take over Hall 8 at Montjuïc on February 3-4, extending the ISE ecosystem across two Barcelona venues.
Blackman told the briefing that the expansion is about considerably more than finding additional exhibition space. Instead, it reflects what ISE sees as a wider reshaping of the industry, as boundaries between AV, IT, broadcast, content production and creative technology become increasingly fluid.
“The most interesting opportunities increasingly exist at the points where different disciplines meet,” he said.
Technologies developed for broadcast, gaming and entertainment are increasingly finding applications across corporate, education, retail and other environments, while AI and digital transformation are changing how content and experiences are created and delivered. Blackman also highlighted consolidation and M&A, the growing importance of software and services and continuing skills shortages among the wider trends reshaping the market.
At the Fira Gran Via, ISE will maximise its available footprint, including the return of exhibition space at the East Access and a new outdoor structure at the South Access. The expansion into Fira Montjuïc will provide additional space while also allowing ISE to bring new communities into the event.
Spark, ISE’s event connecting AV with the creative and production communities shaping content and experiences across broadcast, live events, advertising, gaming and immersive media, will return in an expanded format in 2027, featuring two stages, an immersive pavilion and live showcases. Speaking in Munich, Blackman positioned Spark as part of ISE’s push further “upstream”, connecting the AV industry with the creators, commissioners and technologists whose ideas ultimately drive demand for AV technology.
EdTech Congress Barcelona will also take place at Fira Montjuïc on February 3-4 following ISE’s partnership with the event, bringing the education community further into the ISE ecosystem and strengthening connections between learning, technology and AV.
ISE is also significantly expanding its content programme for 2027. Its Megatrends programme will double in size, covering AI, robotics and machine learning, cybersecurity, smart spaces, sustainability and Tradescape. Three dedicated half-day summits will focus on digital signage, cybersecurity and control rooms, while the four-day CEDIA Smart Home Technology Conference will provide a dedicated programme for the residential technology sector.
An expanded Open Content Programme will include the Live Event Stage, Investor Forum and Fast Forward Friday, alongside free-to-attend partner programmes and the ISE Insights programme.
The keynote programme will follow the wider When Worlds Unite theme by bringing perspectives from different industries to the show. Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer at Google [X], bestselling author and chief AI officer at Flight Story, will deliver the Tuesday business keynote. On Wednesday, Crestron will bring FC Barcelona CIO Miriam Ferrando to the stage to explore the role technology plays in one of the world’s most prominent sporting and entertainment environments. ISE’s creative keynote speaker will be announced at a later date.
One of the clearest examples unveiled in Munich of ISE’s convergence strategy is the new ISE Broadcast Enterprise Studio, powered by AVIXA TV, in Hall 4. The studio will explore the growing overlap between AV, broadcast, IT and content production as organisations across corporate, finance, retail, education, healthcare, government and sport increasingly invest in professional production capabilities to communicate directly with employees, customers and audiences.
“You no longer need to be a broadcaster to broadcast,” said Blackman.
The studio will demonstrate technologies including production cameras, broadcast microphones and headsets, studio lighting, production switching, branding and captioning, AV distribution, live streaming and video editing. Staffed by AVIXA TV professionals, it will also explore enterprise production workflows and business cases, including studio design, AI, cloud production, content distribution, security and measuring return on investment.
ISE will also introduce a new VIP experience for 2027, providing a dedicated environment for business meetings and networking away from the main show floor. The pilot initiative will include a VIP lounge in the Tibidabo Suite and Garden, early access, hospitality, dedicated meeting and workspace, access to the full paid content programme and reserved keynote seating.
Beyond the four-day show, ISE is continuing the development of the ISE Foundation, its year-round initiative focused on talent, innovation and culture. Led by chief executive officer Gloria Boix, the Foundation is intended to connect the industry with institutions, academia and civil society while extending ISE’s impact in Barcelona throughout the year.
For Blackman, the expansion reflects an industry in which traditional boundaries are becoming less important and connections between different technologies, markets and disciplines increasingly valuable. When Worlds Unite is therefore intended to describe not simply the convergence of technologies, but the meeting of industries and communities that increasingly influence one another.
“ISE brings the world to Barcelona for one week,” said Blackman. “The ISE Foundation helps ensure that the opportunities created during that week continue throughout the year, creating lasting impact in talent, innovation and culture.”
ISE 2027 will take place from February 2-5 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via and Montjuïc venues. Registration is scheduled to open in October, with one badge providing access to ISE, Spark and EdTech Congress.
