Five trends shaping the role of lighting in hospitality
When lighting becomes the signature of hospitality
At a time when hospitality is being reinvented around experience, meaning and emotion, lighting has emerged as a strategic lever in its own right. Far more than a purely functional element, it shapes spaces, structures uses and embodies the identity of a venue.
In keeping with the theme of “plural hospitality”, EquipHotel 2026 places lighting at the heart of the hotel experience, showcased in the show’s Design sector.
Shedding new light on hospitality…
Choosing a light fixture is no longer just about illumination: it tells a story, supports different uses and contributes to the overall experience of a space. Lighting has become a language in its own right, capable of transforming a space and revealing its intent.
Five trends shaping the role of lighting in hospitality
Creating atmosphere
Lighting is softened, modulated and carefully staged. Lighting evolves throughout the day, adapting to the different moments in the life of a venue.
In this spirit, light fixtures are becoming mobile and adaptable, as illustrated by Danish manufacturer Design By Us, whose marble Trip lamp stands out for its cordless, rechargeable design. This scenographic approach to lighting can also be seen at DCW Éditions, the French design publisher known for its collaborations with international designers, with pieces such as the ISP model, conceived like a contemporary torch emerging from a brass sheath.
© Design By Us
© Ilia Sergeevich Potemine / DCW éditions
Using colour boldly
Light fixtures are moving beyond traditional codes to assert a genuine visual signature. This approach is embodied by Designheure, a benchmark for 100% Made in France, which champions creative forms and bold colours, notably through its Résonance pendant light, composed of coloured rings and links.
In a different register, Bronzetto, the Florentine company founded in 1963 and specialised in brass and bronze craftsmanship, explores a palette inspired by nature through its Hortus collection, where colour highlights the sculptural quality of each piece.
© Franck Beloncle / DESIGNHEURE
Showcasing materials
Wood, metal, glass, textiles… materials play a full part in the identity of a light fixture. They express craftsmanship, add depth to spaces and also respond to the growing demand for durability and authenticity in hospitality projects. This can be seen in the work of Finnish company Secto Design, which handcrafts lighting in locally sourced birch as part of an eco-design approach in which design serves the environment. In Nice, Riviera Light designs ribbed-glass lighting in its own workshop, as seen in its Sagano collection, which combines aesthetic finesse with durability. Forestier works with wire materials and plays on transparency to create pieces that are both airy and structuring, revealing the full richness of artisanal expertise.
As for Bronzetto, it continues an exceptional tradition of metal craftsmanship, at the crossroads of heritage and contemporary creation.
© Babette / Secto Design
© Riviera Light
Embracing sculptural forms
Lighting becomes a statement piece, capable in itself of structuring a space. This is notably the approach of Brossier Saderne, the French manufacturer, designer and editor based in Angers, whose pieces are all handmade, produced through short supply chains and conceived as works of art with a strong bespoke dimension. That same monumental and poetic quality can also be found at Forestier, with creations such as the Libellule pendant light designed by Elise Fouin.
In a similar spirit, Bronzetto offers light fittings that resemble works of art, inspired by plant forms and crafted using artisanal techniques.
© Nicolas Anetson / Brossier Saderne
Not overlooking materials
This emphasis on materials can also be seen at Secto Design, the Finnish company renowned for its handmade lighting crafted from locally sourced birch, in an eco-design approach where design and environmental responsibility are closely intertwined.
The same attention is evident at Riviera Light, which create delicately lined ribbed-glass lighting in its Nice workshop. With its Sagano collection, the brand showcases glasswork that combines aesthetic refinement, plays of light and durability.
Thinking responsibly
Sourced materials, local production, durability… lighting is fully aligned with the sector’s environmental challenges. Brossier Saderne embodies this approach through French short-supply-chain production and a network of more than 400 local partners, while Secto Design prioritises local resources and sustainable manufacturing in Finland. Following the same logic, Jurie & Jarre, a company based in the Rhône region, stands out for its customisable light fittings, handmade in France, and will be exhibiting at EquipHotel for the first time in 2026.
Through their different approaches, these brands illustrate how lighting has now become a key component of hospitality projects in transformation: creating atmospheres, seeking differentiation and asserting strong identities.
Their expertise — spanning artisanal production, material innovation and aesthetic rigour — helps make lighting a true structuring element of spaces. It connects volumes, supports uses and helps shape singular experiences.
© Sébastien SASSOULAS / Jurie & Jarre
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