The Lighting Industry Association (The LIA) has announced the draft programme for TECH-X 2026: Technical Excellence Conference, scheduled for 2 July 2026 at the Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre in Birmingham. This event promises a comprehensive day dedicated to discussions and knowledge-sharing, supporting professionals throughout the lighting supply chain.
TECH-X 2026 will feature four specialised stages, allowing delegates to focus on their specific technical interests: Connected Lighting, Lighting Design, Technical Updates, and Sustainability. The draft programme, subject to adjustments, emphasises regulation, safety, sustainability, human-centric lighting, and the expanding role of connected systems. Sessions will address the Building Safety Act, changes to emergency lighting standards, flicker and temporal light artefacts, remanufacturing, compliance responsibilities, and the impact of European regulations on UK lighting companies.
Attendees on the design and standards stages can anticipate sessions on lighting for human health and wellbeing, healthy homes, later-life living, designing lighting for retrofits, and integrating lighting with broader building performance factors such as acoustics, air quality, and daylight. The connected lighting and sustainability content will delve into whole-life carbon performance, net zero expectations, BREEAM 2026, digital product passports, and data transparency, alongside practical discussions on managing software-driven lighting systems over a building’s lifetime.
Neil McLean, Chair of The LIA’s Technical Management group, stated, “TECH-X was established to provide a specialised forum for advancing technical expertise in the lighting industry. Releasing the draft programme allows the sector to preview the comprehensive, technical content we are developing, demonstrating our commitment to equipping members and the wider industry with knowledge-driven insights and good practice through technically-led events.”
Dan Griffiths, Technical Operations Manager at The LIA, added, “This year’s TECH-X programme reflects The LIA’s continued focus on compliance and advocacy, while also recognising the growing importance of health and wellbeing in lighting. As we continue to better understand the effects of artificial light on humans, it is becoming increasingly clear that light can play a positive and beneficial role when it is properly designed, specified, and applied. The programme brings these themes together, highlighting the need to balance technical compliance with quality, performance, and human outcomes.”
TECH-X 2026 targets manufacturers, lighting designers, specifiers, consultants, engineers, and contractors. Delegates are encouraged to attend with colleagues to maximise access across all four stages. Delegate booking is now open, with member pricing at £125 + VAT and non-member pricing at £150 + VAT.
