The 2023 edition of the world’s leading audiovisual and systems integration exhibition, ISE, took place in Barcelona from 31st January to 3rd February and exceeded all expectations. ISE 2023 attracted 58,107 unique attendees from 155 countries and saw record-breaking occupation in the city’s hotels, bars, and entertainment venues. Exhibitors reported exceptional footfall on their booths across the largest-ever ISE show floor.
Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, praised the show as “extraordinary” and said it was “hugely gratifying” to deliver such a successful event for the industry and the city of Barcelona. The show received royal and political recognition with visits from King Felipe VI of Spain on the first day and President of Catalonia, Pere Aragones, later in the week.
The first day of the show saw the highest number of opening day visitors in ISE history, visiting the 56,870sqm of floor space across the show’s six halls and audio demo rooms. Iconic French electronic musician, Jean-Michel Jarre, also made an appearance, unveiling his latest album at the Audio Demo Rooms.
ISE 2023 was a testament to the resilience and success of the global AV and systems integration industry. The final attendance count of 58,107 attendees and 133,606 visits to the show floor confirmed that the industry is back with a bang. The show also highlighted the strong presence of 70 Catalan-based companies exhibiting at Fira Gran Via Barcelona.
Exhibitors at ISE 2023 have expressed their excitement and satisfaction with the show. Christine Schyvinck, CEO of Shure, said, “It’s been a few incredible days at ISE. We had a very successful week and we look forward to continuing all our conversations.” Luis Garrido, executive director of Alfalite, said the show allowed them to showcase their products to potential distributors and was honoured by the visit of King Felipe VI to their booth.
One of the highlights of the show was the new Content Production and Distribution zone in Hall 6, which offered a blend of creativity and technical solutions for integrators and end-users. The zone will return next year in an even more impressive version.
Retail discussions at ISE 2023 centred around two crucial concepts: sustainability and connections. In the current retail landscape, it’s crucial to understand the importance of offering sustainable products that align with customer values. With a growing concern for the environment and reducing carbon footprints, a commitment to sustainability has become a necessity. Additionally, technology integration cannot be done simply for the sake of having technology; it must serve a purpose and connect with the customer.
Throughout the show, keynote speeches provided thought-leadership and inspiring stories. On the first day, BK Johannessen of Epic Games spoke about the technology trends in the gaming industry and how they drive audiovisual innovation. Stephen Nuttall, the head of television for the Americas Cup, shared his experience of the unique technical challenges in the sailing race. On the last day, Fran Chuan of InnoQuotient presented the results of the Culture of Innovation 2023 Survey.
The success of ISE 2023 has left the global AV and systems integration industry with high expectations for next year’s show, which will take place from 30 January to 2 February 2024 in Barcelona.
