LEDucation 2026 Designer Hours: A New Program Designed for the Design Community
LEDucation 2026 will mark the 20th anniversary as the North American lighting industry’s most influential trade show. Organized by the Designers Lighting Forum of New York, LEDucation continues to grow year after year. To improve the experience for the design community, the team is adding new programming. For event details and registration, visit LEDucation.org.
Your humble editor spoke with co-chairs Burt Grant and Jamie Eck about what participants can expect when LEDucation returns next month. One of the biggest additions this year is the LEDucation 2026 Designer Hours program. It gives lighting designers, architects, engineers, and other design professionals more meaningful time with exhibitors on the show floor.
Over the past several years, LEDucation attendance has exceeded 10,000 professionals. That growth demonstrates the event’s success, but it also creates crowded aisles and leaves limited time for deeper discussions with manufacturers. Designer Hours tackle that issue head-on. “We’ve had people complaining over the years that there wasn’t enough time for the lighting designers to interact with the exhibitors,” Burt explained. “So we thought about it and said maybe what we need is an exclusive time frame just for the designers.” EdisonReport has previously written about the crowded aisles.
The dedicated window takes place Tuesday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. During that time, designers get a focused opportunity to explore products and speak directly with manufacturers before the broader audience enters the exhibit halls.
LEDucation 2026: How the Designer Hours Program Will Work
Designer Hours evolved from an earlier system. In prior years, platinum sponsors hosted private product showings before the show floor officially opened. That approach helped some designers, but the short window made it difficult to meet with multiple exhibitors. The new format expands the concept and opens early access to the broader design community.
“Because LEDucation is a program of the Designers Lighting Forum of New York, we wanted to focus even more on the design community,” Jamie Eck noted. “Designers really need that time for meaningful one-on-one discussions with manufacturers.”
To manage access, attendees who register for Designer Hours receive a specially designated badge. Security staff at each exhibit hall allow entry only to those with the correct badge during the early access period. Organizers emphasize inclusivity. Lighting designers who work within engineering firms, distributors, or contractors can register as part of the design community and take advantage of the early hours.
A Growing Event with Expanding Programming
Even before the show begins, LEDucation will offer a series of virtual educational sessions. These sessions are scheduled for Thursday and Friday prior to the event and include around a dozen online presentations across a range of lighting topics. The in-person show begins with a special 20th anniversary celebration on Monday evening. The gathering brings together presenters, media, sponsors, and past board members to recognize two decades of growth.
That growth has been substantial. When LEDucation first launched, it featured just 31 exhibit tables and a few hundred attendees. Today, the show includes nearly 400+ exhibitors across multiple halls and attracts more than 10,000 professionals.
LEDucation has also become a major networking and career-building platform. The student lighting competition has grown into a key feature of the program. Many students secure positions at lighting design firms after firms discover them during the event.
Looking Ahead to the Future of LEDucation
Even at today’s scale, organizers expect LEDucation to keep growing. Manufacturers are already preparing new products for the exhibition. The introduction of the LEDucation 2026 Designer Hours program shows how the show adapts as attendance increases.
Burt summed up the excitement simply: “We’re looking forward to the show. It should be very exciting, especially with the 20th anniversary.”
With new programming, expanded education sessions, and a continued focus on the design community, LEDucation 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most significant editions yet. For lighting professionals planning to attend, the show offers a look back at two decades of collaboration. It also previews where the lighting community is headed next.
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