14 Lighting Trends for 2026

We’ve shared that lighting is a significant segment in the electrical distribution industry. Typically, it is 15% of a distributor’s business. More so if they are in the commercial construction segment and in a metropolitan area (and yes, the percentage may be lower if the distributor is winning data center business.) So, it’s important. It’s also been stagnant / declining the past couple of years as Acuity’s lighting business shared (“tepid”) and our Pulse of Lighting report highlighted.

In the Pulse of Lighting, we also gathered market forecasts for 2026 as well as the macro trends (controls, VE) and segments.

David Shiller who authors LightNow and conducts research on emerging trends for lighting manufacturers, recently shared lighting trends that he sees for 2026. Some of these trends may represent opportunities for distributors and reps / agents in their markets … or product ideas for manufacturers.

14 Lighting Trends for 2026

Are you looking for fresh ideas on how to grow your business in 2026? There is a new resource to help. Lighting Industry Trends For 2026 is a free whitepaper covering many of the most important trends impacting the lighting industry today.

The whitepaper contains trends about: lighting technology, controls, the business of lighting, legislation & regulations, light + health, horticultural lighting, sustainability, lighting design, codes standards & metrics, electrification, reshoring, events & awards, and new materials.

I found a few surprises putting the report together:

1. Drivers are expanding many capabilities simultaneously: input voltage range, number of dimming protocols supported, and integration into dimmer devices to eliminate incompatibilities.
2. “Off-grid lighting” is expanding in new directions: new spec-grade solar lighting, solar turtle-safe lighting, and more radical ideas like solar mirrors in space, aerial drone lighting, and laser-beamed “wireless” power for remote lighting.
3. Tape lights are down to 2mm in width, and new high temperature tape lights are available for saunas, spas, etc.
4. RGBIC chip-addressable lighting is being applied to tape lights, outdoor lighting, and water feature lighting. This color changing technology allows “color chasing” capabilities.
5. Crazy integrations of lighting with TV projector and Bluetooth speaker. A UK manufacturer claims to offer an off-grid data center from networked solar streetlights containing AI chips.
6. NLC-HVAC integration is seeing significant activity.
7. New sensors for lighting automation, including solar CCT & brightness sensors for whole building tunable white, as well as new ultrasonic time-of-flight sensors that could potentially replace PIR & microwave motion / occupancy sensors.
8. Field-adjustable fixtures now offer CCT, power, and light distribution selectability.
9. Tariffs worsen the single-family home supply, spurring more remodeling, resi adaptive reuse of commercial buildings, and the multifamily market.
10. The data center boom is impacting the cost of electricity, political races, and causing some utilities to increase rebates, including on commercial lighting.
11. AI is changing how people shop and SEO. Cyber Monday became “Cyborg Monday,” and rep firms may reduce their line cards to only manufacturers that can provide clean, comprehensive data.
12. Commercial rebates are trending toward LED replacement of older LED, controls, horticultural lighting, and NLC-HVAC integration.
13. Building performance standards are increasing efficiency retrofits, including lighting. As are the 10 states with fluorescent lamp bans.
14. Near infrared (NIR) health benefits continue to expand, as well as cancer therapies involving NIR. Circadian lighting benefits continue to be quantified.

Download the free white paper, Lighting Industry Trends For 2026, here.

If you’d like to discuss growing your business, and get a fresh perspective, I’ll provide you a no-cost initial consultation to discuss your goals and potential solutions. You can reach me by email.

About David Shiller

David Shiller is a business development and marketing consultant to the lighting industry. He is also the Editor of LightNOW, a leading lighting industry online trade publication. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has co-chaired ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. He also developed MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million-dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, LEDs Magazine, enLIGHTenment Magazine, and more.