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The National Lighting Bureau (NLB) has announced the release of the first two programs in its 2026 Annual Lighting Forum video series, continuing a long-standing initiative designed to inform and inspire lighting professionals, decision makers, and the broader building community.
The Annual Lighting Forum brings together leading experts to explore timely topics affecting the lighting industry and the built environment. Through thoughtful discussion and expert perspectives, the series helps promote the principles of High-Benefit Lighting—lighting that enhances human performance, health, safety, and economic outcomes while improving energy efficiency and sustainability.
The first two releases in the 2026 Annual Lighting Forum series feature panel discussions hosted by Randy Reid, editor of the Edison Report, with industry leaders offering insights into key developments shaping the future of lighting.
Forum Session 1: “Something About Sustainability and Controls”
This panel discussion explores the intersection of lighting controls, sustainability, and embodied carbon in modern lighting design. The panel examines how lighting professionals are increasingly recognizing the environmental impacts of lighting systems and how intelligent controls can help reduce operational energy use while improving building performance.
Panelists include:
• Melissa Mattes, LC, LFA, associate and sustainability lead, Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting
• C. Webster Marsh, lighting controls designer and educator, Lighting Controls Academy, Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting
Moderated by Randy Reid, the discussion explores the current state of industry awareness around embodied carbon, emerging strategies to address it, and the growing role of controls in delivering high-performance lighting systems.
Forum Session 2: “Lighting is Too Hard”
The second program in the 2026 series continues the NLB tradition of exploring emerging issues affecting lighting professionals and the communities they serve. Experts examine how lighting practices continue to evolve as designers respond to technological advancements, sustainability goals, and the increasing recognition of lighting’s role in human health and well-being.
Continuing a Tradition of Industry Dialogue
Since its inception, the NLB Annual Lighting Forum has served as a platform for industry leaders to engage in meaningful conversations about lighting’s impact across sectors, from architecture and healthcare to transportation and urban design. The discussions help raise awareness and educate those responsible for decisions about lighting systems and policies.
The 2026 series will include four forum discussions, released throughout the year.
All videos in the series are available free of charge through the National Lighting Bureau website.
Learn about the Annual Lighting Forum: https://www.nlb.org/annual-lighting-forum/annual-lighting-forum-25-26
About the National Lighting Bureau
Founded in 1976, the National Lighting Bureau (NLB) is an independent, non-profit educational foundation dedicated to promoting lighting excellence. Through educational programs, publications, and industry initiatives, the Bureau works to create demand for high-benefit lighting, lighting designed to optimize human performance, health, safety, and commerce.
