Audio Visual

ISE 2026: From products to experiences, how today’s AV is shaping what comes next

February 17th 2026

ISE 2026 offered a clear view of how the AV industry continues to evolve, moving towards more intelligent, securely connected, and sustainable digital experiences. As expectations change across workplaces, public spaces and commercial environments, the role of display technology is becoming broader and more strategic.

In this blog, Jack Wilders, senior solutions architect at Sharp Display Solutions, reflects on the key trends that shaped this year’s show and what they reveal about where the industry is heading. He also shares how Sharp is responding to customer needs today, while ensuring its products and solutions are ready to support what comes next.

Take a tour of the Sharp Displays booth at ISE 2026

Join Jack on a tour of the Sharp booth

Walking the halls at ISE this year, it was clear that the conversation has moved on. The show is no longer about individual products competing on specifications alone. Instead, the focus was firmly on how technology fits into real environments and real lives. Displays, collaboration tools and visual systems are now expected to be part of something bigger - connected, secure and sustainable digital experiences that continue to deliver value long after installation.

Intelligence becomes part of everyday AV

One of the strongest themes running through the show was intelligence built in by design. Artificial intelligence was everywhere, but not in a flashy or abstract way. It showed up quietly, improving how systems adapt, optimise and support users day to day. Displays that automatically adjust to their surroundings, systems that can flag potential issues before they become problems, and content that responds to context rather than following a fixed schedule all pointed to a shift from passive technology to smart technology. This has been Sharp’s approach for many years already, with products designed to support intelligent workflows through embedded computing, modular upgrades, remote management tools, and partnerships that allow customers to add smarter capabilities when and where they need them.

From standalone products to connected environments

Alongside intelligence came a clear move towards more connected environments. Whether in workplaces, retail spaces, transport hubs or public venues, technology is expected to work as part of a wider ecosystem. At ISE, this showed up in solutions that were easier to integrate, manage and scale across multiple locations.

Sharp’s approach here is consistent. A shared design language across ranges, common platforms for management and control, and displays that act as reliable building blocks within larger systems. The emphasis was not on complexity, but on making it easier for organisations to grow and adapt over time.

Greater connectivity brings security into focus

As AV and IT continue to converge, and as geopolitical tensions add new layers of risk, security has moved from a background concern to a central requirement. Every connected display is now a network endpoint, and customers are increasingly accountable for managing those endpoints. Across the show, there was a noticeable shift towards enterprise-grade security features becoming standard rather than optional.

Sharp’s long-standing focus on secure-by-design products was clearly visible, with native network authentication, secure firmware and compatibility with established IT management tools built directly into its professional ranges. This reassured visitors that performance and protection do not have to be traded off against each other.

Sustainability moves from ‘nice to have’ to essential

Sustainability was another area where expectations have matured. Rather than broad promises, visitors were looking for practical ways to reduce energy use, extend product life and support circular economy goals. The conversation has been sharpened further by new reporting requirements and growing pressure on organisations to measure and manage their environmental impact.

Sharp addresses this head-on, not only through energy-efficient technologies and long-life engineering, but also through initiatives such as second life warranties, recyclable packaging and built-in tools to help customers understand and manage carbon usage. The message is clear, sustainability is not a future ambition, it is part of how products are designed and supported today.

Designed for today, ready for what’s next

Visually, large format and modular LED solutions continue to dominate the show floor, but with a noticeable shift towards refinement rather than spectacle. Faster installation, improved consistency, lower power consumption and greater durability were recurring themes. Sharp demonstrated how meticulous engineering and modular design make its LED and large format displays serviceable, safe, and sustainable in everyday use.

At the same time, emerging technologies such as ePaper present a quietly transformative innovation, offering ultra-low energy alternatives for applications traditionally dominated by print, and reinforcing the idea that not every message needs to be loud, flashy, or delivered on a backlit display.

Taken together, these trends explain why Sharp’s ‘Focus – Now and Beyond’ theme resonated so strongly at ISE. The ‘now’ is about delivering reliable, secure and efficient solutions that customers can deploy with confidence today. The ‘beyond’ is about making sure those same solutions are ready to evolve, whether that means adding intelligence, meeting new sustainability targets or supporting new ways of working and communicating.

ISE this year did not feel like a glimpse of a distant future. It felt like a checkpoint in an ongoing shift, where expectations have changed and the role of technology has become more human-centred and experience-driven. Sharp’s showcase reflected a clear understanding of that shift, presenting products and solutions that are grounded in real-world needs while remaining flexible enough to support what comes next.