The Sessions We’re Most Looking Forward to at IES 26, The Lighting Conference
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) has assembled one of its most compelling technical programs in recent memory for IES 26, The Lighting Conference, 12–15 August at the Grand Hyatt Denver. While every attendee will build a different schedule, several sessions immediately jumped off the page as we reviewed the agenda.
What makes this year’s conference particularly exciting is the balance between cutting-edge research and practical application. Artificial intelligence, sustainability, controls, health, 3D printing, and human-centric lighting all receive significant attention. Even better, there are numerous opportunities for networking and professional development before the technical sessions even begin.
Beyond the technical program, The Lighting Conference remains one of the industry’s best networking events. Whether you’re reconnecting with longtime colleagues, meeting emerging professionals, or discussing the latest research with presenters, some of the most valuable conversations happen between sessions.
Here are the sessions that caught our eye.
Wednesday, 12 AUG, Starts with the Next Generation
One of the most encouraging developments at IES conferences over the past several years has been the Society’s growing investment in emerging professionals.
The Emerging Professionals & Leadership Forum Welcome Event on Wednesday evening continues that commitment by bringing together young professionals and future industry leaders before the conference officially gets underway. Leadership development remains one of the Society’s greatest strengths, and this event has become one of the conference’s signature networking opportunities for young people.
Later that evening, attendees can participate in the Wednesday Walking Tour, led by Lisa Bartlett of AKLD Lighting Design. Walking tours have long been one of the best ways to experience lighting in its intended environment rather than through photographs or presentations. The weather appears to be cooperating as well. While Denver is expected to reach about 90°F during the day, temperatures should cool into the mid-60s by the time the tour begins, making for a comfortable evening outdoors.
Thursday, 13 AUG: Workshops Worth Arriving Early For
Many conferences treat workshops as optional add-ons. This year, they feel like destination events.
The workshop that immediately caught my attention is Designing For 30 Plus Years of Use, presented by Jim Sanfilippo, Owner of Nila Inc., and Anne Kustner Haser, President of AKLD Lighting Design.
As our industry places greater emphasis on sustainability, serviceability, and lifecycle costs, designing systems that remain relevant for three decades has become an increasingly important conversation. Owners are demanding longer-lasting infrastructure, and this workshop addresses that reality head-on. Anne has become one of the industry’s strongest advocates for designing luminaires that can be serviced rather than replaced.
Another standout is 3D Printing for Lighting, presented by Jean Paul Freyssinier, Senior Research Scientist, and Indika Perera, Research Scientist and Lecturer, both from the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
A few years ago, 3D printing in lighting sounded futuristic. Today, it is becoming a legitimate manufacturing and research tool. This workshop should provide attendees with practical insight into where additive manufacturing is headed.
DALI Continues Its Evolution
Controls continue to evolve rapidly, making Wiring the Intent—Making DALI Work for Your Projects especially timely.
Casey Diers, Senior Designer at Morlights, joins Bill Ellis, President of Candela Controls, Inc., to explain how designers can successfully implement DALI systems in real-world projects.
Industry Progress Report
One session I’m particularly looking forward to is the Industry Progress Report. Last year’s presentation left many attendees wanting more. Judging from the attention surrounding this year’s conference, expectations are considerably higher, and hopefully the report reflects the industry’s momentum.
The day concludes with the always enjoyable President’s Opening Reception: Board & Society Awards, an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues while celebrating the volunteers who keep the Society moving forward.
Friday, 14 AUG: The Technical Program Takes Center Stage
Friday’s schedule is simply packed.
Everything begins with the Opening Session & Keynote, which always helps establish the conference’s tone and priorities. This year’s session features Elizabeth Hallas, Principal of Anderson Hallas Architects, and Jon Brooks, Principal of AE Design.
Ethics, AI and Lighting
Artificial intelligence will influence virtually every lighting professional during the next decade.
That’s why Augmented Futures: Ethics, AI and Lighting Practice, presented by Glenn Shrum, Associate Professor and Founding Principal of Parsons School of Design and Flux Studio, is high on my list.
I heard a preview of Glenn’s presentation at Parsons earlier this year, and it was outstanding. Rather than focusing on AI hype, he explores how designers can use AI responsibly while maintaining professional judgment and ethical standards. If the conference version expands on that presentation, it should be one of Friday’s strongest sessions.
Alzheimer’s Research Could Spark Conversation
Another fascinating presentation is Endogenously Triggered Visual Gamma Stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease, presented by Judy Luo, Wellness Lighting R&D Manager, and Matthew Maa, CEO of Aleddra LED Lighting.
Matthew has made some bold claims regarding the potential impact of his lighting technology on Alzheimer’s disease. Whether attendees agree with every conclusion or not, it’s encouraging to see serious discussion about how lighting might improve behavior and quality of life for people living with this devastating disease.
3D Printing Appears Again
The conference’s emphasis on additive manufacturing continues with Parametric Analysis of A 3D Printed Baffle Optics Geometry for Glare Reduction and Tailoring Output Beam Intensity Distribution.
The research is presented by Harithra Navaratnam, Graduate Student and Research Assistant, together with Narendran Nadarajah, Professor of Architecture and Physics and Director of Research at the Lighting Research Center.
Narendran is one of the leading researchers in our industry, making this another session worth watching closely.
Light Justice Continues to Grow
At 12:30 p.m., attendees gather for Lunch, Table Tops & the Light Justice NOW Awards. The program recognizes nine projects that demonstrate how lighting can strengthen communities, expand equity, and create safer public spaces. The Light Justice NOW Awards have become one of the most meaningful initiatives in our profession. designing lighting (dl) magazine and the Light Justice organization present the awards, with generous sponsorship from QTL.
Later that afternoon, Light Justice in Practice: Panel Discussion should continue that momentum. Featuring Neha Sivaprasad, Principal at Sol Light Studio and Associate Director at Light Justice, and Jennie Cannon West, Founder and Principal of Studio West Design, this discussion aligns closely with one of the industry’s most important movements.
Research with Immediate Practical Value
Transportation lighting expert and Past IES President Ronald Gibbons, Director of the Program for Infrastructure-Based Safety Systems at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, joins Rugved Kore to present Controlled-Environment Evaluation of Sidewalk Lighting: Pedestrian Visibility, Glare, Safety Perception, and Trip-Hazard Detection.
Few researchers have contributed more to roadway lighting than Ronald Gibbons, making this a session worth attending.
Bluetooth NLC Looks Ahead
Wireless controls have matured dramatically over the past decade.
Bluetooth NLC – A Decade of Evolution and the Roadmap Ahead, presented by Simon Slupik, CTO of SILVAIR, should provide an excellent overview of where Bluetooth mesh networks are headed next.
Parsons Researchers Continue to Impress
Another session that stands out is From Illuminance to Experience: Validating Mobile Luminance Capture as a Bridge Between Quantitative Metrics and Human-Centric Lighting Design.
Presented by Francesca Bastianini, Faculty at Parsons School of Design, and Craig A. Bernecker, Past President of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), both of Parsons School of Design, the session explores how luminance measurements may better represent the human visual experience.
AI Meets Standards
One of the conference’s most intriguing titles is Bridging the Gap Between Standards and Practice with RAG-Based AI, presented by Matt Kincaid, Senior Account Manager at LightStanza.
It will be fascinating to see how retrieval-augmented generation can provide designers with instant, cited answers grounded in verified IES documents–and how IES will be compensated for their content.
The conference concludes Friday with the sold-out Illumination Awards. That’s an encouraging sign for conference attendance and another indicator that enthusiasm for the event is strong.
Saturday, 15 AUG: Keeps the Momentum Going
Many conferences fade on the final day.
Not this one.
Circadian Design for Schools
Lighting Design in Education Environments: Circadian Rhythm Edition should be particularly timely as educators continue exploring the relationship between lighting and student wellness. The session features Alexey Kalinin, Senior Electrical Engineer at Stantec.
Storytelling Matters
At the same time, Sam Koerbel, Founder of Lytei, presents Storytelling for Technical Credibility: How to Get Your Work Adopted.
Technical excellence alone is no longer enough. Designers and engineers increasingly need to communicate ideas in ways that inspire action. Sam is probably the best storyteller in the lighting industry.
Sustainability Moves Forward
One Recommended Practice every lighting professional should watch is LP-10: Lighting for Sustainability: Overview and Action, featuring Alexandra Christiana, Associate and Sustainability Leader at HMFH Architects, and Melissa Mattes, Associate at Sladen Feinstein.
LP-10 has the potential to become one of the Society’s most influential documents in the coming years.
The Rise of the Integrator
As lighting systems become increasingly connected, integrators play a larger role in project success.
That’s why Who Is the Integrator—and Why Your Lighting Project Depends on Them, presented by Katie O’Connell, Architectural Regional Sales Manager at ETC, and Jon Weaver, Technical Director at Fantasee Integration, promises to be one of Saturday’s most practical sessions.
Naomi Miller Leads a Conversation
Industry veteran Naomi Miller moderates Hard Truths, Bright Ideas – Roundtable. Expect thoughtful discussion on the challenges facing lighting professionals today.
Finally Hearing Daniel Spiro
I’ve known Daniel Spiro, President of Exposure Illumination Architects Inc., for decades, but I’ve never had the opportunity to hear him speak publicly. That’s one reason Where Light Belongs is one of the sessions I’m most looking forward to.
Protect Your Specifications
Towards the end of the conference, there is a topic every lighting designer understands.
Protect your Spec: How “Equal” Fixtures get Value Engineered (and How to Stop it), presented by Kaitlin Page, Senior Engineer at CD Companies, addresses an issue that continues to frustrate designers throughout the industry. Practical advice on protecting design intent should resonate with a full room.
Final Thoughts
No conference can cover every topic in lighting, but The Lighting Conference 2026 comes remarkably close. Whether your interests are artificial intelligence, sustainability, controls, health, research, education, or professional development, this year’s program offers an impressive mix of practical knowledge and forward-looking ideas.
If these highlighted sessions are any indication, attendees can expect one of the strongest IES conferences in years. We’ll be in Denver covering the event, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.
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