CHINA: The 24th edition of Prolight + Sound Guangzhou (PLSG) came to a successful close on 31 May at Areas A and B of the China Import and Export Fair Complex. Organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, this year’s show once again reached a new record scale, covering 220,000 sqm across 22 thematic halls, and brought together 2,227 exhibitors from China and overseas. As the largest global trade fair for the entertainment, lighting, and pro AV industry, PLSG attracted 111,056 professional visitors. Global engagement continued to rise, with overseas attendees spanning over 100 countries and regions, increasing by approximately 5% year-on-year. In addition, more than 100 fringe events, forums, and seminars took place during the show period, sparking rich and diverse knowledge sharing.

At the show’s conclusion, Ms Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, commented: “Over the last four days, the fairground was alive with a high level of dynamic business exchanges, bolstered by robust international brand and visitor participation despite ongoing industry headwinds. We were delighted to see exhibitors stay firmly focused on applicable real‑world scenarios, underpinned by new technologies, enabling visitors to truly experience the tangible value of these solutions in practice. Looking ahead, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou will continue to expand its specialised zones that emphasise emerging products, providing a constant high-quality indicator of where the future of the industry is heading.”

The fair comprehensively covered the latest offerings across pro AV, entertainment systems, stage effects, workplace networking technologies, smart displays, and systems integration. By showcasing a wide range of products spanning key industry verticals, PLSG vividly illustrated the transformation of the entertainment and pro AV industry in the digital era. The show served not only as a launchpad for new products and a source of industry trends, but also as an efficient business platform that connected global buyers and sellers with diverse market needs under one roof.

This edition further strengthened the synergy between international brands and Chinese manufacturers, enhancing collaboration across the industry while simultaneously bolstering the exhibitor line‑up. Major domestic and overseas brands including ALLEN & HEATH, AUDIOCENTER, Audio Technica, Ayrton, BBS, BMB, Bosch, Bose Professional, Chainmaster, Charming, DAGE, Dante, DAS Audio, DJPOWER, DSPPA, d&b audiotechnik, EM Acoustics, Empower Tribe, EZPro International, Fine Art , Funktion-one, GOLDENSEA, Harman International, Hikvision, LIGHT SKY, Longjoin Group, Martin Audio, MODE, Neutrik, Nightsun, Philips, Powersoft, QSC, RCF, SE Audiotechnik, Sennheiser, SGM, Shure, Skyworth, Soundbox, Soundking, Taiden, Takstar, Thunderstone, TW Audio, YAMAHA, Yellow River Lighting, and many others were present, representing the full industry value chain. With Chinese and international brands sharing the same stage, the show further enhanced brand exposure, networking, business discussions and market expansion, reinforcing PLSG’s standing as a key global industry platform.

Over 100 fringe events were held during the show, bringing together professionals from multiple fields to help industry players get hands-on with cutting‑edge products, master key technologies, seize market opportunities, and find solutions to potential challenges. Key forums and signature demonstrations included the Headphone Hub and the Recording & Production Zone, featuring immersive demonstrations of advanced audio technologies; the Hands-on Awareness and Risk Management for Events and Performances seminar, which illuminated the latest in industry safety management capabilities; the PLSG x NDI Eco-system, which showcased a comprehensive range of NDI-enabled devices; the Unicorn Series: Xtage, the creative and experiential heart of the show, which was designed to wow the audience with the latest in integrated entertainment technology; and the First Exhibition of Stage Art Works from Chinese Higher Education Institutions, which promoted deeper integration between industry and education through a high-quality platform for communication and cooperation.

Aeolus Zhang, Product Manager of Empower Tribe who exhibited at the show affirms, “Our product portfolio covers multiple areas, from personal music and professional music gear to commercial fixed installation, broadcast background music, and even international brands like Behringer’s new digital mixing console. Prolight + Sound Guangzhou brings together all kinds of customer groups – integrators, distributors, and end users – which fits our needs perfectly. I truly appreciate the forward-thinking planning of the organisers, such as the PLS Unicorn Series Xtage event, which draws in visitors and then naturally directs buyers from the stage to the booths. We have met a very diverse range of buyers at the fair from Europe, North America, and emerging markets – especially South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and even Africa.”

Fellow exhibitor William Wong, General Manager, Global Center, Guangzhou DSPPA Audio CO Ltd adds, “Our participation at Prolight + Sound Guangzhou aimed to strengthen brand awareness, build closer trusted relationships through in-depth face-to-face engagement, and expand our network with support from the organiser through targeted invitations to integrators, end clients, consultants, and industry associations. From day one, customer feedback has been very positive, with multiple potential business connections forming on-site and additional outreach from industry media and design organisations. Overall, this edition of the exhibition offered strong value for money, and delivered well in terms of promotion and outreach, which really makes this fair stand out compared to others.”

Tongjiang Chen, Audio Marketing Director of Hikvision, who also exhibited at the show, asserts “This year at the show we have also connected with many potential clients from Europe and Asia‑Pacific – especially Southeast Asia – including markets such as India. On day one alone, I connected with more than ten new clients, who felt our products aligned with exactly what the market needs right now after watching our live demonstrations and presentations. Several projects have already shown strong potential to move forward. As the leading fair in the audio sector, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou has proven highly effective for our differentiated full‑network product showcase, and I feel that participating here is absolutely necessary.”

Risyad Fauzie, Chairman (Ketua Umum) of Rental Indonesia Event Support (RI), Indonesia (Buyer delegation leader) shares “From my perspective, Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is very important for our association and members in Indonesia. This year, we had around 30 buyers attending, and the feedback has been very positive. Many of them were able to connect with new suppliers, especially from China, and even reach agreements for future cooperation. The show is also highly beneficial as it brings together international brands and Chinese manufacturers in one place, enabling us to discover new products, stay updated on industry trends, and take valuable insights back to Indonesia. It also gives our members a global industry perspective while allowing them to source high-quality products at the most competitive prices.”

“We are at Prolight + Sound Guangzhou sourcing across three areas of our business: pro   audio, woofers, and musical instruments. For pro audio and musical instruments, we focus on finding reliable manufacturing partners and developing new products, while for woofers, we source key components that are not available locally in Brazil. What really stands out is how efficient the show is – in just a single exhibition, we were able to find everything from raw material and component suppliers, all the way to full product manufacturers. Having both international brands and Chinese manufacturers in one place allows us to track global trends, compare technologies, and understand how the industry is evolving” states Raul Del Trejo, Director, Renaer Participacoes S/S Ltda, Brazil (Buyer)

Yanger Jiao, Deputy Secretary-General, UWA (UHD World Association) (Vivid Immersive Park representative) concludes “The UWA Alliance is an international standards organisation focused on developing and promoting advanced audio-visual technologies. Participating in Prolight + Sound Guangzhou is highly valuable for us, as it serves as a key platform to showcase our technological developments and ecosystem progress to both industry professionals and consumers. The show’s scale and comprehensive industry coverage allow us to demonstrate how our standards are being applied in real-world scenarios, from ultra-high-definition systems to diverse end-user applications. At the same time, it enables us to engage with international partners and further connect domestic innovation with the global market.”