The Smart Home Industry Marks 20 Years With Beyond What You See

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Tickets are live for one of the biggest nights in the custom installation calendar, and we’re bringing you the essential details fast. The 2026 CEDIA Smart Home EMEA Awards lands on 23 October at the Natural History Museum in London, marking a 20-year milestone for the programme and a major meet-up for integrators, manufacturers, distributors, specifiers, architects, and designers across the region.

We dig into what you actually need to know to plan: early bird availability until 28 August, individual ticket pricing for members and non-members, and the table options (exclusive of VAT). We also talk about why the Black Tie format matters beyond the glamour, it’s a focused way to recognise excellence across smart home technology, from design and innovation to the technical expertise that makes systems reliable in real homes.

The theme, Beyond What You See, is the thread running through it all. We reflect on how the best connected living work isn’t just the visible wow factor, but the everyday benefits clients feel when lighting, audio, control, networking, and support are done properly. You’ll also hear a quick run-through of highlighted categories and the sponsor line-up, including Monitor Audio Group returning as headline sponsor, plus Control4, Xenio, CUK Group, Lutron, and Sonos.

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Transcript

Inside CI News Brief Opens

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Inside CI News Brief for Friday, 24th of July 2026. The latest custom installation news in minutes for busy integrators and industry professionals, written by humans, voiced by AI for your convenience.

Tickets On Sale And Date Set

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 CEDIA Smart Home EMIA Awards. Taking place October 23rd at the Natural History Museum in London, the event will honor the program's 20-year legacy while looking to the future of connected living through Cedia's global theme, Beyond What You See.

Early Bird Pricing And Tables

SPEAKER_00 0:37

Available with an early bird discount rate until August 28th, individual tickets are £235 for members and £265 for non-members. A table of £10 is £2,200 for members and £2,500 for non-members exclusive of VAT.

What The Awards Celebrate

SPEAKER_00 0:56

The Black Tie event aimed to spotlight excellence across the smart home technology sector, recognizing standout achievements in design, innovation, and technical expertise throughout the region. This year's theme encourages attendees to look beyond the visible impact of smart technology and explore not only the creativity but also ingenuity and everyday benefits it brings to modern living. Set against the striking backdrop of London's Natural History Museum, this year's Black Tie event will bring together integrators, manufacturers, distributors, specifiers, architects, and designers from across the region for a special anniversary celebration.

Categories, Sponsors, And Anniversary Mood

SPEAKER_00 1:37

Guests will gather to discover the winners across categories including Best Home Cinema, Integrated Home, Sales Representatives, Excellence in Business, and the Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a few. Returning as headline sponsor for its seventh consecutive year is Monitor Audio Group. Additional participants include Control 4 as Drinks Reception Sponsor, Xenio as Afterparty Sponsor, and CUK Group, Lutron and Sonos as associate sponsors. Excitement is building for our 20th anniversary edition of the Cedia Smart Home EMIA Awards, comments Matt Nimmons, Managing Director at Cedia EMIA. With tickets now available, we're looking forward to welcoming our members, finalists, and the wider industry to what promises to be a truly memorable evening. We're also incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their continued support, which helps us bring this landmark celebration to life and recognize the outstanding talent driving the smart home sector forward.

How To Book And More Listening

SPEAKER_00 2:41

To secure tickets, visit Cedia.org slash awards. Be sure to pop over to the InsideCI website for all the latest news, reviews, and interviews. Also, be sure to listen to our sister podcast Inside CI Te Tech Talk for all the latest interviews, discussions, and reviews by our hosts Stuart Burgess and Simon Gregory.