Several forces are accelerating this shift. Labour shortages across skilled technical trades mean integrators must deliver more with leaner teams just as installations grow larger, heavier and more complex. Esports arenas, immersive attractions, experiential retail and corporate studios all demand accuracy and safety tolerances that manual workflows struggle to meet. Meanwhile, advances in sensors, machine vision and safety-rated motorised automation are making robotics viable – and increasingly cost-effective – for deployment in real-world venues, outside of controlled industrial settings.

These trends were unmistakable at ISE 2025, where the Robotics & Drone Arena showed how precision motorisation and autonomous positioning can now be applied directly to AV tasks. ISE 2026 will push this evolution further, with robotics and intelligent motion systems featuring prominently across the Multi-Technology Zone, the Lighting & Staging Zone and the show’s expanded content programme – reflecting their rapid move from specialist tools to mainstream integration capabilities.

To take one example from ISE 2025, Moveket showcased its innovative modular automated rigging systems engineered for arenas, auditoriums and hybrid event spaces – particularly variable speed motors and motion control systems, focusing on trends like enhancing live events and seamless system integration for the entertainment industry. Returning for ISE 2026, the company’s platforms allow integrators to deploy and reposition equipment at height with dramatically reduced installation time and far lower risk. Large LED canvases are benefiting too: automated lifts and alignment rigs are replacing labour-intensive scaffold approaches, delivering faster, safer and more accurate results.

Away from ISE, automation companies are delivering advanced, durable, and precise touring-grade motion control technology designed for demanding live events, large-scale arena tours, and fixed installations. These systems are built to withstand the rigors of global touring and offer fully integrated, plug-and-play solutions. Designed for millimetre-accurate lifting and repositioning, they are capable of moving heavy LED structures, lighting grids and scenic elements with a level of repeatability no manual workflow can match. Once the preserve of live touring productions, such systems are now entering permanent AV installations to power dynamic scenography, kinetic ceilings and reconfigurable studio environments.

As physical robotics become increasingly common, integrator workflows are evolving. Traditional alignment, rigging and manual adjustments are giving way to commissioning automated subsystems, setting safe operating limits, programming motion profiles and connecting robotic elements into the wider control ecosystem. Remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance are also becoming expected components of service agreements, helping operators maximise uptime and reduce on-site intervention.

Challenges remain. Robotics, AV control and networked systems often rely on different protocol families, requiring careful integration and rigorous safety governance. The skills gap is widening too, as integrators require new competencies in motion control, systems engineering and robotics configuration.

But the direction of travel is undeniable. Physical automation is becoming foundational to how AV and broadcast environments are designed, delivered and sustained. As installations expand, safety expectations tighten and clients seek systems capable of fast reconfiguration and long-term reliability, robotics are transitioning from exceptional to essential. Integrators who embed these capabilities now will be best placed to deliver the precision, resilience and lifetime value that define the next generation of automated AV spaces.

Stay informed!

ISE 2026 takes place in Barcelona on 3-6 February 2026. For more updates on robotics or any of the other ISE 2026 Megatrends, and to discover more about ISE 2026 as details are released, sign up for updates.

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