Dialogue Instead of Spectacle

Every year, the decorative and residential lighting industry gathers around Arnsberg to exchange ideas—and this March was no exception. “More than 3,500 trade visitors used Lichtwoche Sauerland to assess the market and make decisions in a challenging market environment,” report the organizers.

Retailers from Germany, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, and Southern and Eastern Europe met with manufacturers from the region as well as international brands and engaged in discussions. The Lichtwoche spokespersons, Alois Fischer and Navid Sanatgar, are convinced that this has become more important than large-scale productions in the current market situation. “Precisely because the market for decorative and residential lighting has become more demanding, this form of interaction is gaining in importance,” they emphasize.

This also applied to the Ledvance exhibition. The general lighting supplier presented itself in the Sauerland region as a partner to the retail trade. The focus was as much on dialogue as on the special solutions the company has developed for its retail partners, such as a lockable display case to secure products in-store or secondary placements and displays that support seasonal or promotional setups.

“Ledvance’s decisive market advantage lies in the exceptional breadth of its product range,” emphasized Isabella Lang, Head of Marketing DACH. As a full-range supplier, the company offers the perfect portfolio for every customer group and every requirement—from functional lighting solutions and technical light sources to wall and ceiling lights, decorative living room lighting, and the Smart+ portfolio. At the trade show, the manufacturer underscored this expertise and presented new products across all categories.

In the residential lighting segment, glass versions of wall and ceiling lights as well as decorative lights in a variety of shapes and colors were showcased. They are designed to complement various interior styles and stand out not only for their lighting ambiance but also for their decorative appeal.

The product groups of functional and technical lighting, as well as the LED tubes and replacement segment, were other key focuses.

Another major attraction was the Smart+ area with its walk-in smart home, which allowed visitors to interactively experience the interplay of numerous smart products. For example, a camera in the children’s room demonstrated the advantages of smart indoor and outdoor cameras.

“We designed our trade show presence to bring the brand world and its applications to life while simultaneously offering concrete support for the sales floor,” summarizes Martin Braun, Head of B2C EU-W and Head of ECOM Europe.

Just as with Ledvance, the showrooms of the other participating companies also focused on current lighting collections for living and private spaces, as well as for the home and garden. According to the organizers, major stylistic shifts were less evident this year. Instead, the market showed a stronger focus on refinement: new color nuances, refined materials, and nuanced design languages characterized many presentations. “Many companies are currently working to sharpen their profile,” said Fischer and Sanatgar. “That doesn’t necessarily mean radical innovations—but rather products that are convincingly designed, function well over the long term, and are clearly positioned within the product range.”

Sustainability remains the focus—not only in the products but also in the trade show format. While large trade shows set up entire exhibition worlds for just a few days, only to have them disappear again afterward, Lichtwoche Sauerland deliberately relies on existing structures, Fischer emphasizes. The products are displayed in the showrooms of manufacturers and importers. “This reduces effort and resources,” he is certain. 

This philosophy was also reflected in the details: This year, the organizers deliberately opted not to produce a printed Lightguide—a brochure providing information about exhibitors and their locations. Instead, visitors received spruce seedlings—a symbolic greeting from the region and a reminder that Lichtwoche is rooted in the Sauerland.

For orientation, the organizers instead used the LWS app, which was enhanced with new features in 2026: Luzi, a digital assistant within the app, is available to answer quick questions about exhibitors, locations, or organizational processes. Additionally, the new exhibitor updates allow users to view current information from participating companies.

During Lichtwoche Sauerland, participating companies also marked their exhibitions with a glowing Light Week sphere at the entrance. It served as a sign of official participation and was intended to facilitate on-site navigation.

At Lightnight, visitors, exhibitors, and partners gathered for conversations beyond the showrooms. As part of the “A Heart for the Hospice” campaign, visitors to the evening event received a glowing heart pin, thereby supporting hospice work in the region—an initiative that has raised more than 35,000 euros for charity in recent years, as the organizers point out.

With the end of Light Week, attention is already turning to the next edition—scheduled for the first week of March 2027.