Shaping the Future of AV: Inside ISE 2026 with Cinos

This year, our journey began at the Inavation Awards, held on the opening evening of ISE. Cinos was proud to be shortlisted in the Connected Meeting Space category for our work with the Government Property Agency. It was a privilege to be recognised alongside such outstanding projects and industry peers, and we’d like to extend our congratulations to everyone involved.

Before diving into our technology highlights, it is only right to reflect on the Cinos Tapas networking event at El Nacional, Barcelona. A sincere thank you to Nathan Spencer for bringing it all together. Away from the pace of the show floor, the evening created valuable time for us to connect, share plans for upcoming projects and explore partner solutions in a more relaxed setting.

And now onto our show highlights…

Display technology took centre stage at ISE 2026. While reconnecting with key partners, we saw a strong focus on performance, flexibility, and long-term sustainability, with advances in Chip on Board (COB) technology standing out throughout the show.

Sony used ISE to showcase the next phase of its professional display portfolio, with highlights including the new BRAVIA Professional BZ-P Series and the Crystal LED S Series. We caught up with Karl Ingham, Mark Stanborough and Kevin Donnelly for an in-depth stand tour.

Set to ship in summer 2026, the BZ-P Series combines a slim, uniform bezel design with deep black, non-glare technology and a high-haze panel coating that significantly reduces reflections without compromising image quality. The newly launched Crystal LED S Series expands Sony’s commercial LED offering with two thinner models, providing a strong mid-market option that bridges the gap between BRAVIA professional displays and large-scale dvLED solutions.

While on the stand we saw immersive applications, combining Sony’s Spatial Reality Display with Ameria’s StarKit software allowing users to interact with 3D content without touching the screen. Sustainability was also a clear theme, reflected not only in the solutions on show but also in our discussions with the team around Sony’s Green Management 2030 initiative. The programme underlines sustainability as a guiding principle across the business, with commitments that include transitioning to 100% renewable electricity across operations by fiscal year 2030.

For PPDS the emphasis was on flexible, energy-efficient LED solutions, with the award-winning Unite LED 600 Series All-In-One taking centre stage. This foldable, height-adjustable 135-inch dvLED display is designed for classrooms, auditoriums and corporate spaces, featuring COB technology and a 1.5mm pixel pitch for sharp, reliable visuals. Its mobile design simplifies both transportation and installation, a practical feature that resonated strongly with our engineering teams.

Elsewhere on the stand, PPDS demonstrated a clear commitment to sustainability while ensuring their solutions continue to deliver outstanding visual performance. The 3650 EcoDesign displays deliver 4K UHD resolutions using significantly less power, while the Tableaux ePaper range offers power-free digital displays for static content, now fully compatible with the Grassfish IXM in-store platform. With Philips as a key partner, it’s reassuring to be able to recommend environmentally conscious solutions that maintain an exceptional experience for end users.

In Hall 3, we caught up with Kate Butcher on the Sharp stand who talked us through the newly launched EC Series dvLED displays. Available in pixel pitches from 0.9 to 1.8, the EC Series offers an accessible route into dvLED across commercial, retail, education, and leisure environments. A redesigned cabinet significantly improves installation time, while COB technology helps reduce energy usage without compromising brightness or reliability.

Sharp also showcased its expanded Smart Display Module series, featuring integrated BrightSign and Raspberry Pi-based solutions for applications ranging from retail signage to mission-critical information displays. For eco-friendly digital signage, the ePaper A2 series offers sustainable, standalone operation with optional solar and battery support, with larger A1 panels coming later this year to extend these solutions to bigger signage surfaces.

Leyard Europe and Planar complete our display partner highlights, showcasing a comprehensive portfolio of visual solutions. COB technology again played a leading role, with the new DirectLight Essential Series, promoting energy efficiency and exceptional durability. Demonstrated via an impressive 8K LED video wall the series features a 0.9mm pixel pitch to deliver exceptional clarity where impact and detail matter. The Komodo Series also made its ISE debut, adding a premium indoor LED signage solution to the Planar range with flexible pixel pitch and cabinet options.

Creativity was equally prominent on the stand. The ALF Series LED floor introduced optional pressure-based touch interaction for wayfinding and branded experiences, while a striking oval LED installation powered by the LN Series demonstrated how large-format LED can transform retail, hospitality and corporate spaces into immersive visual environments.

While eye-catching displays often take the spotlight at ISE, the quality of audio is just as crucial to the overall experience. Our team met with key partners to explore the latest innovations.

Biamp’s Workplace platform continued to gain momentum at ISE 2026, collecting multiple industry awards. Designed to support every stage of the AV lifecycle, Workplace is evolving into a flexible, cloud-enhanced platform that can be deployed on-prem, in the cloud, or in hybrid configurations.

During our time on the stand, Robert McDougall demonstrated the latest enhancements, including the Workplace Tools desktop app for local and remote device configuration, automated discovery, and firmware management. With location-based views, controlled feature rollouts, and key integrations across mixed vendor deployments, Workplace is becoming an essential tool which will enable our teams to simplify installation, optimise performance, and provide consistent long-term support.

At the Nureva stand the HDX Series was making its European debut, a solution designed for larger collaboration spaces that need more than standard conferencing. Combining integrated audio bars, microphone pods, and a central hub, the system supports rooms up to 12 x 18 metres, delivering features such as Adaptive Voice Lift and Adaptive Voice Amplification to ensure everyone can be heard clearly. Powered by Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology, the HDX Series delivers consistent, room-wide coverage, making it a strong option for dynamic meeting and training environments that Cinos regularly designs and delivers.

Keeping up with the latest collaboration innovations is vital for our ongoing meeting room projects. At ISE, we saw many exciting developments, with the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) featuring prominently across several key solutions.

Cisco used ISE to unveil a new generation of collaboration devices, and it is safe to say our team were impressed with both the Room Kit Pro G2 and the Desk Pro G2.

For large and more complex environments, the Room Kit Pro G2 is recognised as Cisco’s most powerful and flexible integrator solution to date. As the first large-room integrator device certified for MDEP, the Room Kit Pro G2 delivers up to 8K video output while offering 8 PoE ports, a 10Gb Ethernet expansion and native IP connectivity for cameras and microphones. Its launch reflects the wider industry shift towards IP-based design, helping reduce system complexity, total cost of ownership and potential points of failure.

Now not just for individual desks but now focus rooms and huddle spaces too, the Desk Pro G2 has been redesigned from the ground up with a new dual-camera system, wider field of view and the ability to support intelligent framing features typically reserved for larger room devices. And of course, it is MDEP certified too.

Both devices can be paired with Control Hub’s single-pane-of-glass management and now with AI-driven insights, Cisco continues to simplify how global estates are monitored and optimised at scale.

We were grateful for the chance to sit down in Yealink’s client zone, because, as anyone who has been to ISE knows, a moment off your feet is not to be missed. We met with Alice Liu to discuss upcoming projects, as well as to explore the latest developments across Yealink’s collaboration portfolio. With Yealink among the early supporters of MDEP, the conversation naturally turned to its expanding range of MTR video bars, touch consoles, panels and IP Phones already built on the standard.

AV ONE was once again on show, a fully integrated Microsoft Teams ecosystem that brings audio, cameras, AVoIP, MTR systems, room control and booking into a single-vendor solution, designed to simplify deployment and long-term management. Visitors could also experience the One-Stop Immersive Workscape, a holographic walkthrough of real office scenarios, showing how these solutions integrate seamlessly in practical settings.

We’d like to thank Alice and the wider team for their time on stand; it was a really productive session.

Further down Hall 2, Logitech’s stand centred on advancing intelligent camera technology, with the Rally Camera AI and Rally Camera AI Pro drawing particular interest from our team. Both feature 4K sensors and AI-driven framing, with the Pro model adding a larger lens and up to 15x optical zoom to support more demanding spaces. A range of mounting options provides the flexibility we value on projects while the recessed mount allows technology to blend unobtrusively into a room’s design.

Beyond cameras, Logitech Spot stood out for its simplicity and practical impact. This compact, battery-powered sensor can be installed in minutes and enables automatic room booking and release based on real-time occupancy, while also monitoring environmental conditions such as air quality and temperature. For organisations looking to improve space utilisation and user comfort without adding complexity, it represents a smart and scalable addition to the modern workplace.

With long-standing experience in command and control environments, we were keen to see the latest from VuWall at ISE 2026, where they appeared alongside sister company G&D. Conversations focused on how their collaboration brings KVM infrastructure, video wall processing and operational control together, helping to simplify and unify control room workflows.

Paul Brooks talked us through the upcoming VuWall TRx 3.12 release, the latest version of their centralised management software. Building on previous G&D integrations, TRx 3.12 expands support to additional devices, allowing teams to route and control video walls, sources and KVM systems from a single interface making day-to-day operations far easier in mission-critical spaces.

Also on display was PAK ONE, a compact single-output 4K decoder designed to extend visualisation beyond the main control room. Ideal for briefing spaces, management offices, crisis rooms and satellite locations, it enables secure distribution of selected real-time content to secondary displays and remote workstations. Fully integrated into the wider VuWall ecosystem and managed through TRx, PAK ONE is certainly a solution we look forward to incorporating into future control room projects.

In the digital signage space, we explored the latest developments from two key partners.

Appspace continues to position itself as a true workplace experience platform. On stand, they highlighted how organisations can deliver consistent and intelligent communications across digital signage, intranet, email, visitor management, and space reservation platforms within a single, unified ecosystem. The team also showcased the Microsoft Places integration, allowing kiosks and displays to show live room and desk data directly from the API, as well as their IoT sensor framework, with native integrations for a wide range of devices which enable automated room management and smarter, data-driven workspace optimisation.

NowSignage brought its enterprise-grade CMS to life under the theme ‘Bigger On The Inside’, inviting visitors to step inside a TARDIS-inspired booth and explore the platform that powers large-scale, multi-location networks. The experience highlighted how a seemingly simple interface can deliver extensive flexibility, control, and scalability making it ideal for retail, quick service restaurants, and other enterprise deployments.

Innovation was everywhere to be seen at ISE and while we cannot mention everything in detail our teams gave notable mentions to Lightware who showcased practical tools including the USB-C BOOSTER V1, a compact plug-and-play extender, and the TPN Matrix Management Unit which allows integrators to manage all SDVoE endpoints from a single platform. Q-SYS demonstrated its award-winning RoomSuite Modular System, allowing installers to configure and deploy standardised collaboration environments through a streamlined, web-based, no-code workflow.

Our engineers were impressed with Crestron’s Collab Compute platform which integrates connectivity for displays, peripherals, audio and video, with direct content sharing and touch panel control, ideal for education and corporate environments. Elsewhere, Netgear AV highlighted its new M4350-series managed switches built for mission-critical applications, while Arthur Holm showcased the DynamicCL motorised camera lift system, ideal for discreet 360º camera deployment in clear desk environments.

And we cannot finish without mentioning Yes Tech whose incredible 300sqm stand continuously drew crowds thanks to its LED extravaganza of interconnected displays, panels and artistic arrangements which delivered a truly immersive and dynamic experience.

ISE once again proved why it remains such an important date in the AV calendar. Beyond the scale and spectacle, it was the conversations, shared insights and time spent with partners that had the biggest impact for our team. If any of the solutions featured in our highlights have sparked an idea or requirement, the team at Cinos would be delighted to continue the conversation.