THAILAND: Jointly organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and VNU Asia Pacific, the inaugural edition of Prolight + Sound Bangkok (PLSB) concluded successfully after three busy days, creating new opportunities across Southeast Asia’s entertainment, event and music technology industries. Held from 30 September – 2 October 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre, the fair combined Messe Frankfurt’s international industry network with VNU Asia Pacific’s strong local and regional connections. Across 7,000 sqm of exhibition space, it hosted more than 160 exhibiting companies and brands and attracted 4,547 trade visitors from 51 countries and regions. Local Thai visitors accounted for 65.4% of the total, while international visitors made up 34.6%, underscoring the event’s regional influence and international engagement.

Ms Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, commented: “By extending the Prolight + Sound portfolio into Southeast Asia, we are creating new possibilities for the industry. The energy we have witnessed over these three days confirms the demand in Southeast Asia for a platform of this scale. Bangkok’s location, venue and growing entertainment sector make it a natural gateway to ASEAN. Drawing on the Prolight + Sound brand’s 30 years of experience, we have brought leading global players and innovators together, bridging East and West. We are committed to developing this show into a cornerstone trade fair for the region.”

Also commenting on the event’s success, Ms Panadda Kongma, Vice President – Business, VNU Asia Pacific, said: “The successful debut of Prolight + Sound Bangkok underscores the strong potential of Thailand’s entertainment, event and technology sectors. In partnership with Messe Frankfurt, we are building a platform that bridges international expertise and innovation with Thailand’s dynamic market and the broader Southeast Asian business community. At VNU Asia Pacific, we will build on our local market knowledge, industry partnerships and regional network to further strengthen the show’s presence in Thailand, attract high-quality buyers and industry players, and generate lasting business opportunities for the industry.”

International exhibitors and brands came from nine countries and regions including China, France, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand and the UK. Leading participants included: ACME, Acoustic & Lighting System, Adamson, ADZ, AI Media, Allen & Heath, Altimate, Analog Way, Avolites, Ayrton, Barco, Betopper, Botai, Celestion, Christie, CJS, Crestron, Dante, DirectOut, DJPower, Doughty Asia, Earthworks Audio, EKC, ETC, Faital Pro, Flykeys, Giant Truss, GIS AG, Golden Duck, Hirender, Hive, ICE Prosound, Image AV, INFiLED, IQ Plus Music, JDP, Linear Audio, Luminex, MA Lighting, Marani, Moveket, Netgear, Neutrik, New Wave Display, N-Labs, Penn Elcom, Pharos Architectural Controls, Pixera, PlexusAV, Prostage-FX, Protos, RCF, Reyn Audio, Robe Lighting, Roxtone, Silver Star, Sixty82, Skyedge, Smart Broadcast, StageSmarts, Stagetec, Taylor LED, Total Solution Marketing, TT Audio, Tycoon, Unearthed Productions, Visual Productions, VL Audio, V-Show, Wolfmix, Yamaha and more. Alongside these brands, visitors could explore a dedicated Singapore Pavilion led by the Pro Audiovisual & Lighting Integration Association of Singapore (AVLIAS), and the Musical Instruments & Gear Zone, a new PLSB-exclusive product focus that extended beyond the traditional instrument market to showcase a wider music ecosystem.

The three-day fringe programme further strengthened PLSB’s role as a knowledgesharing hub, featuring 53 sessions presented by 42 industry experts. Combining interactive workshops, technical masterclasses and industry forums, the programme addressed key developments shaping the entertainment and event technology sectors, from AI and immersive experiences to sound engineering, acoustic design, music and wellbeing, and cross-border business opportunities across ASEAN.

Highlights included the Sound Healing Workshop by Tycoon & IQ Plus, which offered an immersive sound journey infused with Thai wellness elements; the Live Music Spotlight, an instrumental performance by three rising talents; and the FEEL THE BEAT! Interactive Drum Circle, where visitors joined a hands-on celebration of rhythm and percussion at the Main Stage. Further sessions covered Dante-enabled AV networking at PLSB X Dante Day, changes in ASEAN’s entertainment sector and the role of universities in building Thailand’s production talent. To strengthen regional industry ties, the ASEAN Pro AVL Friendship Meeting brought together leading associations from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to exchange perspectives and explore opportunities for closer collaboration.

“Prolight + Sound Bangkok connects us with professional buyers from Thailand and across the region, including rental and staging companies, system integrators and customer groups we had not focused on as much before, such as nightclubs. The fair is helping us expand beyond our established customer base and better understand the needs of different market segments. We have met visitors from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and India, and the feedback has been positive. It is a useful platform for introducing new technologies such as AI-enabled projection mapping and immersive audiovisual solutions, while starting discussions that we can follow up on afterwards” said Chanunkarn Boonmarkmee, Director, Golden Duck Group (Exhibitor).

“As a Southeast Asia-based distributor and system-solutions provider, we see Prolight + Sound Bangkok as an important regional platform for connecting with industry partners and customers. The exhibition enables us to engage with visitors from across Southeast Asia and demonstrate complete working solutions in a way that is not always possible in day-to-day meetings. The first day exceeded our expectations. We were pleased to reconnect with existing contacts and meet visitors from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. The Singapore Pavilion, supported through cooperation with the Singapore government, also made participation easier. We see strong potential for the fair to develop as a platform for technology-led engagement in Southeast Asia” commented Michelle Yeo, Business Development Director, Acoustic & Lighting System Pte Ltd (Exhibitor).

“Our company is based in Thailand, and at the show we presented Allen & Heath, Adamson, DirectOut and K-array products while sponsoring the main stage and Learning Hub. Having attended my first Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt many years ago, it is a pleasure to see it arrive in Bangkok, giving local distributors access to a professional industry platform. Visitor flow has been good and we were very busy. Southeast Asia is our main market, and I think there is still strong potential in Thailand and across the region. We’re delighted to have it right at our doorstep and hope it grows year after year” said Alfonso Martin, CEO, Sonos Libra (Exhibitor).

“We are a Bangkok-based Thai company focused on the wedding industry, providing audio-visual services including sound, lighting and everything related to weddings. At Prolight + Sound Bangkok, I was looking for new suppliers and technologies and found some interesting lighting products, particularly from Chinese suppliers. I have identified two or three potential partners and am still exploring. It’s a very good start for the fair. I expect it to grow in Thailand, creating more opportunities to meet suppliers, and I will definitely visit again next year” said Sutee Kumar Pathela, Business Owner, Elevate Pro Light & Sound (Buyer).

“The Asia Events and Equipment Federation (AEEF) brings together industry players from five Southeast Asian countries. Holding AEEF’s ASEAN Pro AVL Friendship Meeting alongside Prolight + Sound Bangkok has been valuable: it gives our members the chance to meet Thai and international buyers and develop business opportunities in an international setting. It also brings the region’s professional audio-visual associations together. As the market evolves with technology, international creative talent is needed to combine ideas and knowledge into reliable, immersive solutions. Prolight + Sound Bangkok provides an ideal platform for that exchange and for sharing knowledge with the local market” concludes Jackson Yeoh, Secretariat, Pro Audiovisual & Lighting Integration Association (AVLIAS) (ASEAN Pro AVL Friendship Meeting representative).