Polski
Light Goes Underwater and Out onto the Streets of Łódź
This week in the lighting industry shows just how far the concept of a "light installation" now reaches – from fixtures submerged in pool and fountain water, to three evenings of mapping and projections that turned the center of Łódź into one vast luminous stage. Two completely different worlds, one common denominator: light as a tool for building experiences.
01 · Architectural Lighting
Acclaim Lighting Submerges Architecture Underwater
American manufacturer Acclaim Lighting, known for its premium architectural fixtures, has launched a new Aqua series – LED luminaires designed specifically to operate beneath the surface of water [1]. The solution is aimed at pools, fountains, and ornamental ponds – spaces where lighting has to contend not only with aesthetics but also with highly demanding operating conditions.
The Aqua series offers precision optics that allow fine control over how light spreads underwater, along with the ability to operate in both dynamic color and white light, depending on the nature of the installation [1]. A key feature is a housing with resistance ratings comparable to marine-grade applications, intended to ensure durability despite constant contact with water and pool chemicals.
This may look like a niche market segment, but it points to a broader trend: decorative and architectural lighting is increasingly moving into environments that, until recently, were the domain of specialized underwater electrical engineering. For interior designers, landscape architects, and lighting system integrators, it's a sign that the line between "building lighting" and "environmental lighting" – water included – is becoming ever more blurred.
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02 · Light Festivals
Łódź Lit Up for Three Evenings
From installation-level precision, we move to a grand scale – to the center of Łódź, which from September 25–27, 2026, transformed into a space full of light-based narratives during the 16th edition of the Light Move Festival [2]. This year's edition ran under the theme "Dreams," and its scale is impressive: the event brought together 46 artists from Poland and abroad.
Their work resulted in 16 art installations and nine large-format projections and 3D mappings, which appeared on Piotrkowska Street, in Manufaktura, and in nearby parks, among other locations [2]. It is precisely this diversity of locations – from a flagship street, through post-industrial space, to green areas – that shows just how flexible a medium light has become in urban space today.
For readers interested in architectural and decorative lighting, the Light Move Festival is living, tangible proof that projection and lighting technology have reached a level where it's possible to build coherent, multi-evening visual narratives on the scale of an entire city center. It's also a great source of inspiration – and a testing ground – for designers looking for ideas for public illuminations.
Summary
Summary
From precision fixtures working beneath the water's mirror-like surface, to monumental projections flooding building façades with light and color – this week shows that the lighting industry is developing simultaneously on both the micro and macro scale. And it's exactly these kinds of contrasts – from technical detail to large-scale public installation – that we'll be discussing at Light-Tech Expo 2027 – International Lighting Trade Fair. Stay tuned for the next installments of our industry roundup!
Invitation
From premium-class architectural underwater fixtures to large-format façade mappings – see live just how far lighting technology reaches today. Visit Light-Tech Expo 2027 – International Lighting Trade Fair and discover the solutions that could light up your city, pool, or fountain tomorrow. Let's meet where the lighting industry showcases its newest ideas.
Light-Tech Expo 2027Footnotes
[1] Edison Report (The Business of Lighting) — https://edisonreport.com/2026/09/30/linmore-led-20-vision-lumascape-global-vp-acclaim-aqua-series-september-30-2026/[2] TVP Łódź / Dziennik Łódzki — https://lodz.tvp.pl/95582002/light-move-festival-2026-lodz-co-zobaczyc-mappingi-atrakcje-mapa
This review was prepared by the Ptak Warsaw Expo editorial team.