Hong Kong

Flat panels for $3.30, persistent salesmanship, and the search for hidden gems in a massive expo

For most North American lighting people, the phrase “trade show” conjures something predictable: a polished exhibit space, several bold architectural fixtures hanging in booths, perhaps a cocktail mixer on the perimeter. What unfolded last week at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was something else entirely — a dizzying, often exhilarating collision of global ambition, low-cost innovation and relentless salesmanship.

The 2025 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), and its sister shows — the Outdoor and Tech Light Expo and Eco Expo Asia — drew nearly 62,000 attendees and more than 3,000 exhibitors. For many U.S. and Canadian visitors, the sheer scale and tone of the event marked a profound shift from their usual circuits. As architectural lighting veteran Scott Hershman put it, “You have to be willing to dig through a lot of dirt to find the diamonds. But it’s worth it.”