Belgium - At the Onder de Brug location in Vroenhoven, just across the border near Maastricht, Limitzz Outdoor 2025 delivered another successful event. At the heart of the mainstage design stood the Infinity Furion FX402 Bar, impressing crowds and artists alike. Highlite International’s brands played a key role in shaping the visual identity of this popular edition.

Organised by Pro Light Events, the lighting and technical production of Limitzz Outdoor was designed to surprise and immerse visitors in a fresh, high-impact atmosphere. “Even for returning guests, we aim to create a completely new experience every time,” says the lighting designer. “Lighting, video, FX and decor all come together to form a cohesive story – and this year, the Infinity Furion FX402 Bar was our visual centrepiece.”

Despite initial doubts about

USA - To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Holland Centre for the Performing Arts, Omaha Performing Arts recently undertook a major capital upgrade to modernise the venue’s lighting system. For this milestone project, the venue turned to longtime local partner Theatrical Media Services (TMS) to design and integrate a lighting solution that would ‘honour the space’s acoustic and aesthetic sensitivities while bringing its technology into a new era’.

The venue’s previous lighting rig, which combined conventional ellipsoidal fixtures with early-generation LEDs, was beginning to show its age, both in colour output and flexibility. Driven largely by the acoustical considerations for the Omaha Symphony, Holland Centre’s primary resident, the TMS team knew the updated lighting system had to operate silently while still providing impactful visual effe

Saudi Arabia - Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) provided technical expertise at the E-Sports World Cup (EWC) opening ceremony at ANB Arena in Riyadh, delivering an impactful visual experience with the support of nearly 600 Elation lighting fixtures.

EWC 2025 brought together over 2,500 players from around the world, competing for $70m in total prize money. Headlined by rapper and singer Post Malone and EDM star Alesso, the opening event celebrated weeks of competitive gaming with a production that merged LED panels, projection, and lighting into ‘a cohesive, cinematic showcase’.

The visual design, led by Emmy Award-winning designer Jon Kusner of 22 Degrees, featured a monumental setup and included more than 1,500 lighting fixtures and 388sq.m of LED screen. Integrated across the stage floor and overhead triangular trusses, the LED system wo

Ireland - Chauvet Professional Colorado PXL Curve 12 were deployed by Steven Douglas when working on Hozier’s global Unreal Unearth tour.

“Everything came from the initial creative conversations with Andrew (Hozier) about the album,” said Douglas. “The album is heavily inspired by Dante’s Inferno, so in a loose fashion we tried to sculpt the show to have different moments -- also we progressed with a kind of arc that sees us go through different levels and return to the world at the end.

“Also, because the artist’s closing song is traditionally Work Song for most of his career, the show ends on an acapella vocal moment that slowly fades out,” continued Douglas. “It was important to mirror that, so the opening cue was a single narrow light that Andrew steps into from the darkness and then grows as the song

Germany - The Laserworld Group presented the tarm Vanquish during their recent open house event at Monopol in Berlin.

Martin Werner, CEO of tarm AG, announced the market launch of the tarm Vanquish. The technical basis is a new technology featuring a 500W RGB Direct Diode Laser Engine, which was co-developed by tarm and LaserAnimation Sollinger.

The fixture achieves an illuminance of 2,400,000 lux at 20m and is billed as ‘the first high-powered laser-based RGB moving head to feature a complete hybrid optical system’. The direct RGB laser source generates intense colours across the entire colour spectrum with up to 16.5m colour hues. Conventional colour wheels or CTO filters are rendered obsolete by the direct RGB source modulation.

The unit boasts a wide zoom range, enabling both narrow, parallel beams with minimal beam angle of just 0.29

UK - Push The Button (PTB), which specialises in theatre electrical infrastructure and production systems, has transitioned to 100% employee ownership, securing the company's long-term independence and rewarding the team that has driven its success. The transition was announced to staff on 20 October 2025 with managing director Nick Ewins, confirming that he will remain in place.

"In simple terms, this means the business is now owned collectively by the people who know it best, our amazing team,” said Ewins. “This isn't just recognition of their hard work, commitment and care for our customers; it's an investment in our future. Employee ownership will strengthen our ability to deliver innovative solutions for our clients, whilst maintaining the collaborative culture that defines us."

USA/Europe - The DALI Alliance and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) have announced a collaboration aimed at ‘strengthening the connection between lighting design professionals and cutting-edge digital lighting control standards’.

This partnership aims to empower specifiers, designers, and architects by sharing knowledge, launching educational initiatives, and fostering more substantial alignment across the lighting ecosystem. It focuses on joint efforts in education, outreach, and the promotion of open standards to enhance lighting outcomes in architectural, commercial, and public space projects.

“Lighting designers play a critical role in shaping the built environment,” said Paul Drosihn, general manager of the DALI Alliance. “Partnering with the IALD allows us to build a direct bridge to the design community, ens

USA - Djo’s Another Bite 12-city tour concluded 20 October at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Carlos Katsurayama’s light show mirrored the artist’s ambition for the fall tour, which for many shows, drew on the versatility and power of 137 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Colour Sound Experiment.

“This show was challenging to execute because we wanted to take a less conventional approach to lighting,” Katsurayama said of his design. “Our goal was to make bold, sometimes ‘weird’ choices that captured the music’s dynamics as accurately as possible - whether that meant visually matching the sound’s intensity, or creating moments of chaos by introducing light in unsettling, unexpected ways,”

Dark space played a key role in that vision. “We used dark space to create depth and transport the audience into different

UK - ETC dealer and lighting control systems integrator, Control Lighting Ltd has selected ETC’s Sensor3 power control, Paradigm and Mosaic systems as the solutions for the large-scale Kings Cross central development in London.

For the last 10 years Control Lighting Ltd has been working on the design and implementation of a site-wide lighting control system for the public realm lighting. The site is a 67-acre development that has re-imagined the blend of residential, commercial, retail and public space, and has won many awards over the years for the development.

The company was appointed to design and implement a holistic lighting control system that could provide usable performance data, as well as ensure the maintenance and events teams could quickly make adjustments for the operational side of the lighting system.

Control Lighting Ltd se

South Africa - The ADJ Lighting Roadshow toured Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban in July, and was hosted by DWR Distribution. The event provided a comprehensive and hands-on demonstration of ADJ’s latest lighting innovations.

Led by ADJ’s Jos Reulen and Rob Lang, the showcase highlighted the performance, design, and value of ADJ’s product range. The response from lighting designers, rental companies, technicians, and students was “overwhelmingly positive”.

“The DWR team, with special mention of Jaques Pretorius, really put the fixtures through their paces and Jos and Rob were very impressed, saying they had never seen such attention to detail from a distributor,” said Kevin Stannett, ADJ brand manager at DWR. “The demo rooms looked outstanding.

“In Cape Town, Johnny Scholtz completely cleared out his demo space t

South Africa - Southern Lighting, a film lighting rental company in Johannesburg, has added MA Lighting’s grandMA3 and compact XT consoles to its inventory, supplied by DWR Distribution.

Southern Lighting has been in business for more than 55 years, providing specialised lighting equipment for TV, film, and events of any size. Their recent upgrade to the grandMA3 compact and compact XT supports both their staff and freelance users.

“When it was time to upgrade our existing consoles, we reached a point where it wasn’t just about control,” say Sean Boyce and Vincent van Niekerk from Southern Lighting. “Freelancers are now being trained on MA3, and with so few experienced LDs left in the country, we have to accommodate everyone’s needs. It just made sense.”

Duncan Riley of DWR Distribution adds: “That’s why we offer ongoing MA

USA - Obsidian Control Systems has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website at obsidiancontrol.com. The refreshed site features an uncluttered layout and more responsive design with improved navigation and enhanced functionality.

“Our new website not only presents product information in a more visual way, but also makes it easier for visitors to explore the Obsidian ecosystem and understand how Onyx and Netron provide a powerful backbone for any project, venue, or event,” said Koy Neminathan, business development director at Obsidian Control Systems. “The website upgrade marks another important step as we continue to serve our users and grow the Obsidian community around the globe.”

A key highlight is the platforms section, which puts the technology behi

France - Marc Brissonnet, technical director of the L’Eden multi-performance venue, led the way in the initiative to convert it to an all-LED system, inaugurated in 2018 by the City of Saint-Jean-d’Angély. The actual process started in late 2024 when the theatre installed eight Ovation Rêve E-3 colour rendering ellipsoidal fixtures, and 10 Ovation Rêve F-3 colour rendering Fresnels from Chauvet Professional.

As a multi-disciplinary house, the performance venue hosts a wide variety of productions, and Marc acknowledges that initially some touring companies were hesitant to perform under LED lights.

“Some companies came in with preconceived notions - concerns about colour rendering, intensity, or beam quality,” said Marc. “But once they saw what the Rêve units could do, most of those doubts disappeared. LED technology has come a long way,

Argentina - Ayrton has announced the appointment of Nash Ingenieria as its new exclusive distribution partner for Argentina, with immediate effect. This is the first time Ayrton will be actively represented in Argentina.

Nash Ingenieria will be responsible for distributing the entire Ayrton range of LED and laser-sourced lighting fixtures across the country.

Established in 2005 but with a legacy stretching back to 1993, Nash Ingenieria specialises in professional lighting, stage consultancy, system design, installation, and programming, and stage machinery projects, and is currently involved in ‘the most significant projects in the Argentine entertainment industry’.

“We are proud to be able to work with Ayrton in Argentina,” says Nash Ingenieria CEO, Jorge Barcala. “We are convinced that Ayrton is the company with the best product d

UK - For its 2025 season, English Touring Opera (ETO) is presenting The Elixir of Love and The Rape of Lucretia in repertory, touring a diverse range of venues across the UK. Supporting this ambitious tour is White Light (WL), providing technical expertise and equipment to realise the creative vision of lighting designer Jamie Platt and production electrician Joe Kirk.

Jamie’s approach to lighting opera is deeply rooted in musical storytelling. “In opera, the narrative unfolds as much through musical leitmotifs as through sung text,” he explains. “Lighting becomes a second layer of narrative. I can shift the look of the stage simply because of an oboe or a violin.” This sensitivity is vividly expressed in The Elixir of Love, where a pivotal aria sees the lighting transform to reflect Nemorino’s emotional world. “We le

Canada - Lighting designer Michael ‘Herk’ Herkimer of HLX experienced a slight career epiphany when lead singer Raine Maida, of popular Canadian alt-rockers Our Lady Peace (OLP), briefed him ahead of the band’s 2025 Canadian tour.

Raine asked if Herk could possibly look at a link to a 2013 Nine Inch Nails touring show video from the Staples Centre in LA – among his inspirational sources. Herk has admired NIN designs for many years. He took this and other elements as a starting point and produced a a look and original style for the OLP30 tour, which celebrated 30 years as a band.

Robe Forte and MegaPointe moving lights were prominent on the lighting rig, with six of the 50 x Fortes running on three RoboSpot Base Stations, all supplied by rental vendor Soundbox.

This was Herk’s first time working with OLP. He was offered the gig when

USA - Officially, Hudson Westbrook’s 26-city Texas Forever Fall Tour, which began 4 September in Cleveland, is supposed to conclude 21 November in St. Petersburg. But Brock McNeely, the artist’s lighting designer, has a slightly different take on things.

“Really when you think about it, the touring never stops,” he said as he prepared for another fall show. Earlier this year, Westbrook added 29 dates to his already packed summer tour, which crisscrossed the USA - and there’s a promise of more to come.

This heavy touring schedule can present a challenge for a lighting and production crew. So too can the wide variety of venues that Westbrook performs in. “This tour has been a really unique experience, considering the speed at which Hudson has exploded in popularity over the past year,” said McNeely. “One day we could be playing

UK - New York design group Yellow Studio unveiled its newest large-scale installation Within Water, at the 2025 River of Light Festival in Liverpool. Taking place from 24 October to 2 November, the festival transformed the city’s waterfront into a walking trail of illuminated artworks and installations by national and international artists. Yellow Studio’s installation for this year’s edition is inspired by bioluminescence, exploring the relationship between water, light and human interaction.

Commissioned by Culture Liverpool, this year's installation was inspired by the festival's theme The Science of Light. Through a grid of programmable lights embedded beneath the water’s surface, the installation mimics the gentle glow and movement of bioluminescent algae, creating an illuminated current that shifts in colour and inten

India - Superstar Anirudh recently played an incendiary homecoming show as the grand finale to his Hukum world tour, staged at a special site in Kuvathur on the East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai, complete with ‘a spectacular lighting design’ by Bala Subramanya (Vinod), Albin Biju and Guru Somayaji from Bangalore-based design studio 369 Design Lab.

It was the first time that Robe iForte LTX Follow Spots – running on RoboSpot remote following systems – were used for a live music show in India.

The RoboSpot system – six iForte LTXs and four BaseStations – was supplied to Anirudh’s production and the show’s main lighting contractor, Bangalore-based Reynolds, by SSL Media from Mumbai.

Guru and Vinod had pushed to get the iFortes and the RoboSpot system on to the show, as they needed a powerful follow spotting solution to co

USA - The San Francisco Opera (SFO) is bringing a new level of versatility to its repertory lighting with the addition of Elation’s multi-functional Paragon moving head fixtures. Under the guidance of Justin Partier, resident lighting director at the War Memorial Opera House, the company has integrated 26 Paragon LT fixtures across its season productions, including Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Parsifal, and upcoming show The Monkey King (opening 14 November).

Having served as SFO’s resident lighting director for seven years, Partier faced the challenge of updating the company’s aging inventory of 25-year-old 1200W discharge lamp fixtures. Based on his own observations as well as requirements from designers, his wish list for replacement fixtures was extensive: brightness to compete with the venue’s existing HMI lig

Ireland - ETC has announced a new distribution partnership with Dublin-based PSI Production Services (PSI), marking ‘a significant step forward’ in the company’s expansion across the Republic of Ireland.

Driven by the continued growth of ETC’s business in Ireland, this new appointment will enhance local infrastructure and strengthen the service and supply of ETC’s products to its sales and rental partners, venues, and end users across the country.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in ETC equipment use across Ireland, and appointing PSI as our official distributor is a key step in strengthening our local support,” comments Jeremy Roberts, regional sales manager at ETC. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with PSI, and their technical expertise, industry connections, and commitment to quality make them the ideal partner for thi

UK - Rise AV, the advocacy group championing gender diversity and professional development in the AV sector, has announced the delegates and mentors for its first-ever Elevate Programme. This six-week initiative is designed to ‘accelerate the growth of high-potential women in the AV sector, equipping them with the skills, support, and confidence to step into leadership roles and thrive’. The event will welcome 25 ‘outstanding women from across the AV sector’.

The programme includes:

Interactive Learning Day: Covering leadership authenticity, communication, conflict resolution, motivation, and finance fundamentals.

Industry Challenges: Small-group challenges tackling real business problems, supported by experienced mentors.

Final Event: Presentations, coaching, and opportunities to sharpen collaboration and impact.

Tool

Germany - At this year’s IAA Mobility in Munich, Mercedes-Benz showcased its brand universe in the open space of the Apothekenhof (Apothecary Courtyard) of the Residenzhöfe, a museum complex. The team from TLD Planungsgruppe was responsible for the technical planning, implementation and lighting design. High-performance LED systems from GLP, including the KNV Cube and the new JDC Burst 1, were at the heart of the presentation.

In addition to the freely accessible open space in Munich’s city centre, Mercedes-Benz also had a presence at the IAA Summit on the exhibition grounds, where the brand’s technical expertise was the focus. The open space, on the other hand, emphasised emotion, design and staging – and thus light as a central design element.

Early in the design phase, it became clear that replicating the distinctive radiator grille of th

Canada - Hundreds of ADJ luminaires were utilised by local production company Digital Media Integrations to transform the Heritage Park historical village in Calgary, for its annual Ghouls Night Out Halloween event. A combination of moving heads and static wash fixtures was used to create a spooky atmosphere throughout the park, with moody colours, crisp Gobo projections, striking silhouettes and theatrical strobe flashes all contributing to the immersive experience.

Established in 1964, Heritage Park has grown into one of Calgary’s premier tourist attractions. It brings to life the history of Western Canada, covering the 1860s to the 1950s, through period buildings, exhibits, and costumes that give visitors the opportunity to experience life in bygone times. The park’s historical collection comprises 50,000 artifacts and it features 180 exhibit

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