PLASA Show Enjoys Robust Edition

	PLASA Show will return to Olympia London from September 7- 9, 2025.

Celebrating what its organizers say was its "best show for many years," PLASA Show once again took residence in the Grand Hall of Olympia London from September 1 - 3, occupying 10% more floor space, welcoming a 5% increase in visitors and showcasing over 30 new exhibitors.

Visitor figures for Sunday, the event's opening day, saw a 9.5% increase compared to 2023, while day two's footfall also exceeded previous years, according to the show's organizers.

The organizers report that 15% more students visited compared to 2023 and 79% of attendees declared "influential purchasing power." Key job roles of those in attendance included directors, CEOs, technicians, and programmers, followed closely by engineers, lighting designers, technical directors, and project managers. Over a third of attendees work across concert touring, theatre, and live events, with sectors such as corporate AV and events, broadcast, and film also being represented.

Leisuretec's Charlie Henden said, "The steady flow of visitors to our stand provided a number of opportunities to demonstrate our solutions and engage in meaningful conversations. The high level of interest in our offerings led to many promising leads, reinforcing our belief in the value of participating in the show."

Luke Edwards, of the first-time exhibitor KLSTR, added, "The enthusiasm of the visitors about KLSTR was incredible, and we had valuable conversations with potential partners and clients. Exhibiting helped solidify our presence in the industry."

Headline sponsor Robe wowed visitors with live demos featuring acrobatic performers and launched four products: the iForte Fresnel, the Painte Fresnel, the SVOPATT, and the SVB1, with recent release iBolt scooping a PLASA Award for Innovation.

Robe commented, "It was an honor to headline sponsor PLASA Show again for 2024! We were proud to debut brand-new Robe products, demonstrate our spectacular main show The Fifth Dimension, and interact with new and old faces from across the world. The team are excited to return in 2025 for another year of live demonstrations and entertainment!"

Among other lighting exhibitors, show sponsor beamZ introduced its new linkable Neutron-Dot; Avolites debuted the Diamond 7 console; Claypaky unveiled Tambora Rays, Tambora Stormy and Mini-B Sparky Aqua; FBFX introduced the DMXPro lighting controller; and Vari-Lite released the VL3600 LT. Meanwhile, Ayrton exhibited the Veloce Profile and Rivale Wash, ChamSys showcased its latest GeNetix GD4IP DMX splitter and MagicQ Stadium console, and Chauvet Professional displayed both the new Maverick Silens 1X and 2X Profiles.

AV professionals saw the international debut of the Theatrixx xVision Nomad TPEP LED, along with the latest products from ROE Visual, Unilumin, and Absen, while audio enthusiasts saw the launch of the DiGiCo Quantum326 and Quantum326T, EM Acoustics' R6 loudspeaker, L-Acoustics' X8i system, and Glensound's GTM Mobile, which won a PLASA Award for Innovation.

Rigging and staging companies also dominated the floor, with a PLASA Show debut for show sponsor TAF, while returning exhibitors Area Four UK, Harlequin, Steeldeck, and Total Solutions Group filled sizable stands.

Area Four UK's Theresa Gibson comments: "PLASA Show is the perfect platform for us to connect with existing customers, catch up with industry friends, and forge valuable new relationships, attracting visitors to our stand from all corners of the UK, Ireland, and Europe."

Seminars include presentations on the Glastonbury and Tomorrowland festivals. Others included explorative sessions on Tools for Tech and How Light Affects Human Behavior.

To generate awareness of the industry's impact on global sustainability, a selection of eco-conscious-themed sessions from the likes of Unusual Rigging addressed areas of improvement, while PLASA's Business Breakfast hosted expert sustainability consultants and encouraged open discussions. Well-being sessions on ear protection by HELA and mental health in the workplace by ABTT also raised important action points.

The program included numerous technical sessions, with electrical consultant and Lighting & Sound International columnist James Eade updating on the latest power regulations, fellow LSi journalist James Simpson presenting a glimpse into the future with Future Tech Live, and Wayne Howell raising awareness of the need for increased cybersecurity in the industry.

Also on the schedule were free-to-attend training sessions and product demos, including ones on Dante for live audio environments. Elsewhere, Nicolaudie ran focused workshops on its DMX lighting software from sub-brands, Daslight and Wolfmix. Meanwhile, new exhibitor and show sponsor AbsenLive presented an immersive festival experience, fitting out a dedicated room with large-format LED displays and a stage full of musical instruments.

AbsenLive's Darren Jackson commented, "This was the first ever PLASA Show for AbsenLive. Monday was fantastic -- a throwback to the 'good ole days' as the caliber of visitors was very good and the numbers incredible. It was undoubtedly one of the best PLASA Shows for many years, the whole show had a great atmosphere too."

On the audio front, visitors experienced focused sound blasts during drop-in demos. KV2 Audio showcased its award-winning SL 4.12 system, featured across world-famous nightclubs and theatre shows, alongside the newly released active 2.5-way double 8" EX 28.

RCF demoed the new NXL14-A and NX 932-A active full-range speakers, among others, which were brought to life through sonic choreography by TT+ Audio's Andy Magee who channeled an array of front-of-house engineer experience and expertise. RCF's Dean Davoile said, "This was our best PLASA Show ever; we saw a complete cross-section of customers; often visitors were struggling to get into the demo room! We have already written new business from PLASA Show."

Back by popular demand, the treasure chest of iconic vintage tech, Classic Gear Live, once again evoked a wave of nostalgia. Lighting designer and LSi journalist Rob Halliday, one of the hosts of Classic Gear Live (along with CH Vintage Audio) commented, "The Classic Gear Live stand was back bigger and better, with a wider selection of classics and another great field of experts there to talk about them...It became a remarkable social hub, with people telling stories and sharing memories of these, and other, products that have shaped and defined our industry over the years."

Sophie Atkinson, PLASA head of events, says, "This year's PLASA Show has once again exceeded expectations, reflecting not only the growth and innovation within our industry but also the incredible energy and passion of our community. We were thrilled to see such a remarkable turnout and engagement, and we look forward to continuing this momentum into the next event. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year's show a resounding success!"

PLASA Show will return to Olympia London from September 7- 9, 2025.