23/06/2026
From IALD Enlighten Europe in Paris, five topics stood out in the way lighting design is moving into 2026.
1. Less light. Better night.
The conversation is shifting from brightness to precision. Better lighting means placing light where it is needed, reducing spill, and allowing darkness to remain part of the urban experience.
2. Design it to be reused.
Circular economy in lighting is becoming part of the design process. Longer lifespans, modular systems, reusable components, retrofitting, and take-back programs are changing how lighting decisions are evaluated.
3. Light is never neutral.
From conversations around meaningful light to the keynote with Ian Ritchie, one idea stood out clearly: lighting choices are never passive. They shape what people see, how they read a space, and what a place communicates.
4. The site changes the plan.
Real conditions matter. Testing, measurements, installation limits, and site knowledge often reveal what simulations alone cannot. The talk “Teaching Clients to See” also reinforced the importance of helping clients understand light beyond drawings and renders.
5. People before presets.
Human-centric lighting is moving beyond standard scenes. Talks like “When Light Becomes a Care Tool” and “Designing Activity-Based Spatial Lighting for Schools” highlighted how lighting should respond to care, learning, behavior, comfort, and the way people actually use a space. Another point raised was the growing number of light sources we are exposed to, from screens to glare-heavy environments, and how this is linked to rising concerns around visual comfort and myopia in children.
Lighting design in 2026 is not about adding more light.
It is about designing more considered light.
