InfoComm 2025: Focused on Users, Fueled by Connection

What happens when almost 31,000 AV professionals descend on Orlando in the middle of June? You get three days of tech talk, product reveals, hallway deals, and some very real community moments. InfoComm 2025 didn’t reinvent the industry—but it reinforced something more powerful: connection.

Newsworthy at InfoComm 2025

The show officially ran Wednesday through Friday, but the conversation started well before the ribbon was cut. As usual, we in the press received the post-show release late Friday night. Buried in the standard metrics—registrations, exhibitors, floor space—was the real story: InfoComm 2025 marked the largest number of AV end-users in the show’s history.

That’s a big deal. During a fireside chat I had with Joe Way and the HETMA crew on Tuesday, I noted that AVIXA has begun recognizing the end-user’s critical role in the AV sales cycle. If something is important, you track it—and AVIXA has been tracking AV user attendance since the 2021 show. This year’s growth tells us that end-users aren’t just walking the floor. They’re shaping the future of our industry.

And while we’re on the topic, AVIXA deserves credit for continuing to report on “qualified attendees”—a designation that excludes exhibitors, press, and others who aren’t potential buyers. It’s a level of transparency other shows would do well to adopt.

What’s New at InfoComm 2025

Let’s be honest—this year didn’t deliver seismic tech shifts. The AV market continues to mature, and we may be riding a plateau for a bit. That’s not a bad thing. It means stability, refinement, and real-world use cases.

That said, there were innovations worth noting:

• Artificial Intelligence: Netspeak and X-Ten showcased AI-powered support and design automation. UC and camera manufacturers continued leaning into AI for camera tracking, signal processing, and real-time adjustments—capabilities that used to require a dedicated TD. In audio, automated DSP processing is becoming more powerful and intuitive.
• Displays Evolve: Transparent OLED is gaining traction, and DVLED manufacturers are pushing turnkey, all-in-one display solutions. LCD panels are getting bigger, brighter, and packed with features—without reinventing the form factor.

These weren’t moonshots. They were refinements. But they mattered—especially for integrators and tech managers looking for reliability at scale.

Breaking Ground: The Real Story Is Connection

So what was truly groundbreaking? Not the gear. The connections.

InfoComm lands roughly halfway between each year’s ISE, making it a perfect mid-year touchpoint for North American AV professionals. Yes, we all complain about Orlando or Vegas in June, but the chance to reconnect with colleagues, meet new voices, and swap war stories in person is what keeps people coming back.

AVIXA continues to excel at fostering community and belonging. From Tuesday night on, there were countless opportunities to learn, network, and recharge—whether at official events, manufacturer-hosted gatherings, or impromptu lobby meetups. If you didn’t have something to go to, you weren’t paying attention.

And if you didn’t? Reach out before InfoComm 2026. I’ll help you get in the right rooms with the right people.

My Week in Orlando

A quick personal note: Monday night kicked off with the HETMA Awards, where I was honored to be inducted into the Higher Ed AV Hall of Fame—one of four recipients, and the only one not working directly in higher education. I’m truly humbled and grateful for the recognition.

Looking Ahead

There’s been talk that InfoComm is “staying in Vegas” beyond next year. According to AVIXA, that’s not true. The Orange County Convention Center is already booked for 2027, so this east-west dance will continue for now.

But before then, we’ll be back together June 17–19, 2026. Same mission: connect, collaborate, and see what the brilliant minds in AV cook up next.

Until then, we’ll keep the conversation going online. What stood out to you at InfoComm 2025? Let us know, tag us, or join us on AVNation’s shows and socials.