Ahead of ISE, invidis spoke with leading digital signage organizations to understand how the market is really feeling. Our executive interviews provide the context needed to judge strategies and new solutions unveiled in Barcelona.
ISE 2026: Market Signals from Industry Leaders
As ISE approaches, invidis traditionally takes the pulse of the digital signage industry by speaking directly with its decision-makers. This backdrop helps us better assess the significance of the solutions and announcements that will be presented on the show floor in Barcelona.
At the start of this year, we again spoke with nine C-level executives from some of the industry’s largest and most influential digital signage organizations. While perspectives naturally differed depending on market focus and regional exposure, several clear themes emerged.
A market marked by delays – and deferred optimism
One of the strongest common threads across all conversations was the impact of project delays. Many executives reported that a significant number of deployments originally expected in 2024 or 2025 have been postponed and are now scheduled for 2026. Economic uncertainty, longer decision-making cycles on the customer side, and tighter investment controls have all contributed to this cautious approach.
However, this was not framed purely as a negative. Several executives pointed out that if these delayed projects materialize as planned, 2026 could turn into a very strong year for the industry. For solution providers and platform vendors alike, this creates a sense of cautious optimism heading into the next business cycle.
Consolidation accelerates across the industry
Another defining theme was the continued acceleration of mergers and acquisitions. Many leading organizations have been highly active in pursuing M&A strategies, driven by the need to scale, expand geographically, strengthen software portfolios, or secure strategic customer verticals.
The past year saw several high-profile takeovers, like the ones involving Navori, Broadsign, and Creative Realities – many of them have reshaped parts of the competitive landscape. Most recently, the announcement of Sony’s joint venture with TCL has highlighted the price pressures digital signage companies face from their Chinese competitors.
For many executives, consolidation is a strategic necessity. Scale, integration capabilities, and end-to-end offerings are increasingly seen as prerequisites to compete effectively in large international projects.
To get a better snapshot of the industry, read the full executive interviews here:
Jeff Weitzman, Navori: “A Very Special Year for Navori”
For Navori Labs, 2025 was a landmark year of advancement – marked by its acquisition by PE firm Maguar and the purchase of Signagelive. 2026 begins with another milestone: at ISE, Navori will unveil its third-generation platform.
Alberto Caceres, Trison: New Contracts Set the Stage for a Strong 2026
Major multi-country wins, strategic acquisitions, and new global hubs: 2025 may have slowed Trison’s growth compared with 2024, but it was a decisive year in the company’s push to become a truly global player. CEO Alberto Caceres shares his strategy for the road ahead.
Steve Durkee, Brightsign: “More than the Horsepower inside the Purple Box”
Brightsign faced the same challenges in 2025 as many hardware manufacturers. But despite the tariffs that the San-José-based company navigated, Brightsign ended the year on solid footing.
Maarten Dollevoet, Broadsign: “People Often Link Us Back Solely to Out-of-Home”
The retail media craze often creates the impression that in-store networks operate by an entirely different logic from OoH. Broadsign argues otherwise. In this invidis interview, CRO Maarten Dollevoet explains why the two worlds are more alike than many assume – and how Broadsign has positioned itself to claim market leadership in both.
Rick Mills, Creative Realities: “This Industry Is Go Big or Go Home”
By any measure, Creative Realities’ acquisition of Cineplex Digital Media (CDM) was a statement deal. Naturally, when I met CEO Rick Mills in December, I asked him where he now wants to take the combined §100 million company.
Bradley Hanrahan, Sony: “We Have the Best Reliability in the Industry”
Why the ProAV pioneer is repositioning itself in digital signage – and why reliability is Sony’s strongest, yet most underrated, asset. invidis met with Bradley Hanrahan, Sony’s Head of Global Alliances.
Gianluca Pasquali, M-Cube: “Digital Signage Touches Hearts and Moves Wallets”
Sian Rees: “AUO Display Plus Sets Its Sights on Europe”
AUO is stepping out from behind the scenes, evolving from a display component heavyweight into a provider of higher-value, application-driven solutions through its subsidiary AUO Display Plus (ADP). With an expanding portfolio, a stronger EMEA focus, and a resilient production network, the Taiwanese giant is gearing up for long-term partnerships in a shifting display market.
