{"errors":[{"message":"Cannot return null for non-nullable field PageInfo.currentIndex.","locations":[{"line":13,"column":13}],"path":["newsBetween","pageInfo","currentIndex"]}],"data":{"newsBetween":{"items":[{"title":"GILE 2026 concludes with a bold new vision for “Light-Enhanced Living”","date":"2026-06-25 13:45:41","id":6337,"author":"Eric Ooi","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2026/06/1782366759632_GILE26_01.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) concluded on 12 June 2026 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. Held alongside Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT), both shows welcomed 210,128 visitors from 164 countries and regions and hosted 2,802 exhibitors. Under the theme “Light-Enhanced Living”, GILE 2026 presented advanced lighting products and solutions for residential, commercial, urban, and cultural tourism applications. It also showcased how the industry is navigating rapid technological change, shifting market needs and growing sustainability demands.

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Key Figures from GILE and GEBT 2026:

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Visitors: 210,128 from 164 countries and regions

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Exhibitors: 2,802 from 18 countries and regions

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Scale: 210,000 sqm across Areas A and B of the China Import and Export Fair Complex

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Ms. Lucia Wong, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, shared: “Our 2026 edition centred on five application pillars: Biological, Emotional, Digital, Ecological and Immersive, showcasing a wide range of lighting solutions, fixtures and intelligent technologies. We were delighted to see the lively atmosphere of exchange at the show and the cross-sector collaboration that followed. We look forward to welcoming you back to Guangzhou next year!”

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“I’ve been coming to GILE for many years and have never been disappointed. I am mainly looking for indoor and outdoor industrial lighting, specifically products integrating sensors and remote controllers that expand product functionality. While exploring the fair, I’ve had some fantastic experiences with local suppliers and even got a chance to chat face-to-face with some of our existing suppliers. Meeting in person is a great way to signal that we are heavily invested and involved in the industry.” said Mr. Kenneth Pedersen, CEO, NORDIKLED Denmark.

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“One major reason why so many overseas professionals travel to Guangzhou for GILE is the inherently competitive nature of the modern lighting industry. Because the market has become so fast-paced, you absolutely have to be at the forefront of where technology is heading and where product development is moving. I have found the hospitality from exhibitors and the community this year to be overwhelmingly welcoming, perhaps even more so than in previous years, and that is something you can really only find here at GILE.” Mr. Marc Rudman, Global Product Manager - Lighting, Luceco Group (UK), added.

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Industry perspectives align to shape future applications

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GILE 2026 hosted more than 100 forums and seminar sessions, bringing together industry professionals from across sectors to exchange insights on topics ranging from AI-driven lighting and health-focused lighting to residential aesthetics and urban applications. The programme highlighted the industry’s expanding scope, as lighting increasingly intersects with health, design, and the built environment.

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For the \"Luce e Design International Design Forum\", GILE once again welcomed leading Italian design magazine Luce e Design as co-organiser. The forum explored the relationship between light and interior design, architectural design, industrial design, lifestyle, and culture.
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\n“Lighting can perform miracles. It can elevate an ordinary space or transform a poorly designed one. Designers attending a forum like this should leave feeling inspired, empowered, and thinking, ‘Yes, this is absolutely something we can achieve.’ What keeps me coming back to GILE year after year is a deep sense of tradition and the strong network the fair has built. It serves as a phenomenal, constructive platform for professionals to gather, socialise, and reconnect with long-time industry peers and trusted suppliers.” Mr. Hen-Chao Shih, General Manager & Design Director, J+B Studios Architectural Lighting

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At the deLIGHTed Talks Asia Forum, guests from around the world came together to discuss future trends and applications in health lighting, covering topics from science and market development to industry standards.
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\n“GILE 2026 is truly ahead of the curve. Through collaborations like this panel, organised by the Good Light Group Asia, we are building a movement to promote healthier lighting. I hope it will gain even broader support from international scientists and major corporations alike, advancing the global lighting market toward real, scientifically validated well-being solutions. Beyond the discussions, I was also encouraged to see exhibitors developing new scientifically validated eye care solutions.” Dr. Anne Berends, CEO/CTO and Co-founder, SunLED Life Science (Netherlands)

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The Lighting Design Forum for Rural Hotels and Guesthouses explored how thoughtful lighting design can enhance living environments and elevate the guest experience in rural hospitality settings.

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The next editions of Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) and Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT) will take place from 9 – 12 June 2027. Both fairs are part of Messe Frankfurt’s Light + Building Technology portfolio, which is led by the biennial Light + Building event. The next edition of Light + Building will be held from 5 – 10 March 2028 in Frankfurt, Germany.

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Messe Frankfurt organises several trade fairs for the light and building technology sectors in Asia, including smarteX Malaysia, International Smart Space Exhibition, Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology, Shanghai Smart Home Technology and Parking China. The company’s lighting and building technology trade fairs also cover the markets in Argentina, India, Türkiye, the UAE and the United States.

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The world witnessed a historic milestone on June 10 as the newly completed Jesus Tower of the Sagrada Família was illuminated for the first time, marking a major step toward the completion of Antoni Gaudí’s iconic basilica.

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More than a century after its conception, Gaudí’s long-envisioned masterpiece moved closer to realization with a ceremony that drew global attention. The inauguration and blessing of the tower were led by Pope Leo XIV and attended by members of the Spanish Royal Family, underscoring the significance of the occasion.

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For the lighting designers at Licht Kunst Licht (LKL), the illumination of the cross crowning the Jesus Tower represented both a privilege and a profound responsibility. The design responds to the spiritual, architectural, and global significance of the Sagrada Família while honoring the generations of craftsmen, architects, engineers, and builders whose collective efforts brought the project closer to completion.

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The lighting concept is based on a comprehensive masterplan developed by LKL in 2019, which considers the basilica as a unified symbolic composition. Reflecting Antoni Gaudí’s vision and the hierarchy of the temple’s 18 towers, the lighting guides the eye upward from the Apostles’ and Evangelists’ towers to the illuminated Star of the Virgin Mary, and ultimately to the central Jesus Tower. As the tallest religious structure in the world, the tower now completes the iconic silhouette envisioned by Gaudí more than a century ago.

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Extensive research into Gaudí’s writings and architectural symbolism informed the design approach. Rather than relying solely on brightness, the concept uses darkness and contrast to emphasize the tower’s presence within Barcelona’s skyline. Light appears to emerge from the architecture itself, reflecting Gaudí’s belief that illumination should be an integral expression of a building’s spiritual character.

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Realising this vision required years of development and close collaboration with the Sagrada Família team. More than twenty on-site lighting tests, supported by physical models, digital simulations, and detailed calculations, were conducted to ensure a precise and coherent appearance of the monumental cross from viewpoints across the city. Custom-developed optics enabled the careful coordination of lighting positions, while warm 3000K illumination enhances the stone’s materiality and preserves the sculptural depth and legibility of the architecture.

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Beyond the illumination of the cross itself, the design incorporates a feature rooted directly in Gaudí’s vision for the Jesus Tower. He conceived the structure not only as an illuminated landmark rising above the basilica, but also as a symbolic source of light radiating into the city. Narrow-beam projectors integrated within the cross can project four beams of light into the night sky above Barcelona on special occasions, transforming one of the architect’s most ambitious ideas into reality.

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For the first time, the illuminated cross now rises above Barcelona after dark, establishing a new landmark within the city’s skyline. With the completion of the Jesus Tower, a new chapter begins in the ongoing story of the Sagrada Família, an enduring testament to Gaudí’s vision and to the generations of people who dedicated themselves to bringing it to life.

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Project Details:

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Project: Exterior lighting of the Cross of the Tower Jesus of the Basilica Sagrada Família in Barcelona

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Client: Fundació Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona

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Architects: Antoni Gaudí, Fundació Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona

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Lighting design: LKL Design Hub Barcelona SL, www.lichtkunstlicht.com
\nProject team: Alejandra Kuri, Naiara Caballero, Nicolas Neira, Martina Weiss

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Completion: June 2026

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LIGHTING TODAY Archive Jun 2026