The intersection of architecture, interior design, and automated technology has moved past conceptual novelty into a defining parameter of modern spatial design. Concluding its 23rd edition at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT) 2026 established a clear blueprint for the next generation of smart residential and commercial interiors. Running concurrently with the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE), the massive 210,000-square-metre event drew over 210,000 trade visitors, signaling an industry-wide pivot toward decarbonization and deeply integrated home automation.
Ms Lucia Wong, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, shared: “GEBT 2026 opened up new opportunities for low carbon intelligent buildings and home automation, in line with China’s focus on ‘Quality Homes’. As the sector moves towards more integrated building solutions, this year’s fair supported practical discussions on technology, standards and cooperation across domestic and international markets. Participant feedback was encouraging, particularly around the quality of business discussions and partnerships formed during the event. GEBT will continue to support overseas expansion, international cooperation and the wider development of the building technology sector. We look forward to meeting again in Guangzhou next year.”
Product displays covered building automation, equipment monitoring, energy management, new energy storage, smart audio-visual and home entertainment systems, sun-shading and curtain systems, home security, building intercoms, home cabling, smart lighting control and home appliances. The fair also featured three themed zones: the KNX Zone, the Matter Zone, and the Low-carbon Intelligent Building & Energy Management Zone. Together, the exhibits and themed areas presented developments in systems, products, technical standards and applications, provided an efficient business-matching platform for industry participants.
Exhibitors’ comments
“GEBT is an essential platform for showcasing technology in the home automation and intelligent control sectors. The exhibition attracts a high volume of our target clients, supporting our promotional efforts by allowing visitors to easily understand our systems through hands-on exposure to complete KNX solutions. With our booth attendance steadily growing and customer demands becoming clearer over recent years, this exhibition has become the most important fixture on our calendar.”
— Mr Wenhong Lu, Chairman, KNX China
“This is our first time exhibiting, and we are presenting several new smart shading products to connect with integrators and appliance companies, all while laying the groundwork for our international expansion. We have met numerous buyers from Southeast Asia, Europe and the US who showed genuine interest. Buying intent is high… Overall, we are very pleased with the results.”
— Mr Mutao Pan, Smart Omnichannel Marketing Manager, Guangdong Chuangming Smart Home Technology Co Ltd
“Participating for our sixth consecutive year, we view GEBT as the leading event in China’s electrical engineering and intelligent building sectors. By focusing our display entirely on smart technologies this year, we have helped traditional switch users affordably upgrade to a connected lifestyle. For us, the exhibition remains an indispensable in-person platform to reconnect with long-term clients, monitor evolving industry trends, and gain deeper insights into customer needs.”
— Mr Jian Kuang, General Manager, Zhongshan Gamder Electric Appliance Co Ltd
“This year, we showcased our energy and building automation solutions and AI-driven energy saving and diagnostic tools. The exhibition drew professionals from intelligent building, energy management and factory automation sectors, with a visitor profile that closely matched our target customers. We engaged with target clients from Malaysia, Singapore, and the Middle East who requested follow-up meetings.”
— Mr Haiqing Li, Chairman, Beijing HaiLin Control Technology Inc
Overseas delegations at GEBT 2026 included representatives from overseas KNX User Club, who returned to the fair to connect with local KNX ecosystem partners. Buyers specialising in luxury residential design, commercial planning, and hotel and villa development also attended through the fair’s first cooperation with the Malaysia Entrepreneurs’ Development Association. The fair also worked with the Thai IoT Association to help Chinese brands connect with potential buyers and partners in Thailand.
The Government Engineering Delegation from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region visited the fair to review intelligent system solutions for municipal venues, healthcare facilities, vehicle services and border control. Industry associations, media and design communities from 18 countries and regions also attended, alongside further delegations including the Malaysian Engineering Planning and Design Group and the Cambodian Trade and Economic Exchange Delegation.
Buyers’ comments
“As a Singaporean provider of one-stop home automation solutions, our systems span lighting, security, climate control, and audio-visual entertainment. Attending GEBT 2026 led to a major commercial milestone for us. We have long sought to deepen our supplier relationships, and the productive face-to-face discussions we have had here progressed into a signed distributor agreement right on the floor.”
— Mr Wai Hoong Loong, Director, INHAUS Home Smart Solutions (Singapore)
“My company focuses on landscape design and planning for construction projects. I came to GEBT to source smart lighting and sensor technology for hotel and resort projects. On my first visit I was already impressed by the show’s scale and professionalism, and the incredible range of products on display. With demand for advanced home automation growing rapidly among our local high-end hotels and resorts and upper-income families. This has been a highly effective trip.”
— Mr Sovan Ouk, Director, Tropic Planners & Landscape (Cambodia)
Forums and influencer activities extend industry dialogue
GEBT’s first Influencer Programme featured more than 60 content creators, digital influencers and lifestyle bloggers from home automation, home design and related fields. Across major social platforms, their coverage of exhibits and technology highlights generated numerous online engagements.
More than 60 forums sessions and discussion panels also took place throughout the exhibition, with participation from industry associations, experts, academics and leading company representatives. Topics included the KNX ecosystem, OpenClaw proactive services, PLC interconnection standards, building automation, system integration, energy management and AI-enabled power distribution.
Speakers’ comments
“At the 2026 China (Guangzhou) Smart Integrators Conference, I co-hosted an interactive session with integrators focused on commercial public buildings and home automation systems. We discussed how AI agents can support home automation, and presented the latest integrated solutions, agent concepts and case studies to help integrators develop differentiated offerings that better match specific user segments.”
— Mr Zhonghong Xiang, Founder & CEO, Qianjia Smartech
“The CSHIA Startup Camp Home Automation Evolution Summit focused on how manufacturers, solution providers, and integration partners collaborate across the supply chain. Together with our partners, we highlighted the latest developments in home automation, opening up a productive dialogue on the floor and helping attendees better adapt to industry changes through the summit.”
— Mr Shengyang Wang, Chief Editor, ZN Toutiao; Head, CSHIA StartupCamp
Audience comments
“As a residential automation provider covering smart lighting, automated blinds and energy monitoring systems, we came here not just to source products, but to understand the latest technical developments and market trends. The speaker line-up at the ‘KNX Home and Building Control Technology Workshop 2026 was excellent, leading companies such as Siemens shared some highly practical insights in their session.”
— Mr Jinyuan Xia, owner of Guangzhou Yunshan Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
“I came to the ‘2026 Forum on AI Technology and Smart Building Power Supply and Distribution looking for practical AI implementations, and the presentation on office building automation was very well done. The case study demonstrated how AI models analyse peak and off-peak elevator data to perform energy-saving analyses, which greatly improves operational efficiency. I believe the forum content brings significant inspiration to future real estate design.”
— Mr Jingbin Lin, Chief Electrical Engineer, Guangzhou R&F Properties Co Ltd
The next editions of Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT) and Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) will be held from 9 – 12 June 2027. Both shows are part of Messe Frankfurt’s Light + Building Technology fairs headed by the biennial Light + Building event. The next edition will be held from 5 – 10 March 2028 in Frankfurt, Germany.
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