The pro AV market is set to grow by 21 percent to reach $258bn by 2030, with software, controls and infrastructure now accounting for the largest segment as the industry evolves beyond traditional hardware, according to new analysis from Caretta Research.
Tom Morrod, co-founder and research director at Caretta Research, said: “The pro AV $257.5bn market shift is more than a size increase. It represents a deepening of sophistication across all segments. Our comprehensive coverage of the full ecosystem, which includes live production, AV broadcast, digital signage, audio equipment and system integration among other areas, confirms a singular trend: AV is now critical infrastructure in many organisations and uptake in corporate, sports, events and retail is driving a huge volume of new spend to complement the more stable markets in education, hospitality and government.”
The research firm’s report reveals that controls, infrastructure and software represent approximately 37 percent of the total market value at $79bn in 2025, and are expected to grow at over 5 percent CAGR through to 2030. The shift is being driven by the transition to AVoIP and increasingly networked systems that favour centralised management platforms, the report says.
Audio and conferencing hardware represents one of the highest growth areas, accounting for $30bn or 14 percent of the market. Massive upgrades to audio systems in stadiums, transport hubs and offices are fuelling expansion, alongside meeting room overhauls as video communication becomes ubiquitous.
The projectors and displays segment totals $34bn in 2025, representing 16 percent of the market. However, growth is uneven, with digital signage expanding across retail, transportation and public spaces whilst professional projectors decline at around 5 percent annually. The projector market remains strong only in immersive environments.
The analysis reveals that professional services has emerged as one of the more robust segments, forecast to reach $60bn in 2030 at around 2.5 percent CAGR from 2025. System integration remains core, but growth is concentrated in consulting and system design to support increasingly complex implementations, alongside software development helping cloud products integrate into AV workflows.
The capture and production equipment market accounts for approximately $19bn, or 9 percent of total spending. Whilst high-quality video production is being driven by demand for engaging internal communications and direct-to-consumer content, price erosion from cheaper equipment is limiting revenue growth to around 1.4 percent CAGR to 2030.
The financial landscape has also transformed dramatically, the researchers reveal. Recorded M&A activity tripled in 2025, with the number of significant deals jumping from 13 in 2022 to 31 completed transactions last year. The consolidation reflects larger firms acquiring niche companies specialising in networking, software-based control and meeting room management.
The Caretta Research team will be presenting their findings at ISE 2026.
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