All Things Media Ltd (ATM) have made the difficult but unavoidable decision to remove EI Live! 2026 from the events calendar for the smart home and high-performance AV sectors for this year. The decision has been made and all companies already booked to appear have been informed.

The announcement comes at a challenging time for the smart home and AV sector and the UK/global economy, and the decision has been taken for the simple reason that there is not the demand or appetite for a UK smart home and AV show at this time.

ATM will be taking the opportunity to concentrate on the company’s other well-established and industry-leading platforms, Essential Install Magazine and Essential Install.com, to ensure the team continues to fully support the sector and allow companies to deliver their important messages to key audiences. Providing a high-quality printed title that differentiates Essential Install from an often crowded and confusing online world, the magazine will continue to provide a clear and concise way for manufacturers, distributors, and service providers to deliver clear messaging to a targeted audience. The magazine’s sister website will of course deliver all the capabilities that a digital platform can offer to engage and inspire an audience.

An announcement on the Smart Building Awards, usually held in conjunction with EI Live!, will follow shortly and it is fully expected this part of the portfolio will continue and be developed into its own stand-alone event.

A return for EI Live! has not been ruled out. The simple reason for not going ahead this year is a lack of appetite and demand for a show in the current challenging climate. Should this situation change in the future, all of the structure and drive that made the show a success over many years stands ready to return.

David Kitchener, Founder and CEO of All Things Media, says, “Our team this year have made a sterling effort to get the show on as normal, and ATM itself has made a significant financial investment to the same ends. However, it has become clear that there simply is not the desire and budgets for an EI Live! in 2026. We wish to thank everyone who has exhibited at and supported the show in the past. It is frustrating that global headwinds and economic factors out of our control have led to this decision, but we must deal with market realities and continue to develop our other platforms so that we continue to support the smart home and AV worlds in every way we can. If anyone has questions about the decision or the future of the show, please do get in touch.”