2026 Exhibition Hours
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Exhibition Open to Registered Designers Only
9:00am – 11:30am
Eligible attendees for Designer Hours include lighting designers, architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and engineers.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Exhibition Open to All Registered Attendees
11:30am – 6:00pm
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Exhibition Open to All Registered Attendees
9:00am – 3:00pm
2026 Conference Hours
Virtual Sessions Thursday, April 9, 2026
9:00am – 6:15pm ET
Virtual Sessions Friday, April 10, 2026
9:00am – 6:15pm ET
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
In-Person at the New York Hilton Midtown
9:30am – 5:00pm
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
In-Person at the New York Hilton Midtown
9:00am – 4:00pm
IESNYC Student Lighting Competition
AWARDS CEREMONY
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 5:00pm Trianon Ballroom
Since 2000, the IES New York Section has invited students from New York City art and design schools to compete in a citywide design competition exploring light as an art form and creative medium, resulting in a diverse, annual showcase across disciplines.
The 2026 challenge: “Everything Old is New Again”
Adaptive reuse offers a powerful way to breathe new life into outdated spaces, objects, and technologies: reinventing the past to meet today’s needs or even those of the future! This year’s competition invites students to creatively transform the old into the new through visual delight, improved functionality, or through their own imagination. Entries may focus on spaces, objects, concepts, or a combination of all three.
The Student Lighting Competition Exhibition Open to All Attendees
Tuesday, April 14 | 11:00am – 8:00pm
Wednesday, April 15 | 9:00am – 3:00pm