LDI Tradeshow & Conference

What LDI Tradeshow & Conference does

LDI Tradeshow & Conference (Live Design International) is an annual tradeshow and conference serving the live entertainment design and technology industry. Owned and operated by Questex LLC, a privately held media and events company, LDI runs a single flagship event that draws 14,000+ professionals from 76+ countries to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The product is multi-tiered: the LDInnovation Conference delivers 125+ educational sessions, the LDInstitute offers hands-on professional training with ETCP renewal credits and manufacturer-led certifications (grandMA3, ETC Eos, Hog, Resolume), the Expo Hall hosts 350+ exhibitors across 30+ product categories, and supporting programs include XLIVE for concert touring, the Foster the Future initiative for emerging professionals, and special networking events such as Dining With Dinosaurs, Battle of the Busk, and the VJ Challenge.

The platform technology centers on the official LDI Mobile App, which incorporates AI-powered matchmaking to recommend attendee connections based on profile and in-app behavior, alongside exhibitor directory access, floor plan navigation, and personalized scheduling. Registration is delivered through the Xpressreg online platform, and the mobile app's AI functionality is supported by grip.events as a third-party service. Event logistics are coordinated through a dedicated operations team, with on-site housing managed via Connections Housing.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: tiered registration passes (VIP $849, Conference $399, Expo Hall free, Young Career Professionals $149, plus à la carte LDInstitute courses ranging $329–$995), exhibitor booth fees and sponsorship packages managed by a dedicated sales team, and professional training courses. Pricing follows an early-bird model with progressive rate increases. Marketing spans a LinkedIn group with 8,000+ members, email via the LDInsider newsletter, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube), and partnership channels through industry associations including ESTA.

Name

LDI Tradeshow & Conference

Legal name

Questex LLC

Website

https://ldishow.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

LDI Tradeshow & Conference is an annual tradeshow and conference operated by Questex LLC that serves 14,000+ live entertainment design and technology professionals from 76+ countries, featuring a multi-day expo, conference sessions, and ETCP-certified training at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Event Technology Trade Shows & Conferences

akta.pro primary industry

Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Staging & Rigging Services (MPAGAKAA), Special Effects (Pyro, Lasers, Confetti, Fog) (MPAGAKAF), Backline & Musical Instrument Rentals (Concert/Performance Support) (THAHAEAL), Backline & Musical Instrument Rental (MPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Live event technology trade show
• Entertainment design conference
• Professional lighting training
• Pro audio exhibition
• Rigging certification courses

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: LDI generates primary revenue through tiered registration passes. Multiple pass tiers include VIP ($849), LDInnovation Conference ($399), Expo Hall (Free), and LDInstitute à la carte courses. Registration fees vary by access level and early-bird timing with discounts of up to $300 for advance registration.
2. Exhibitor and Sponsorship Revenue: LDI generates significant revenue from exhibitor booth fees, sponsorship packages, and branded experiences on the expo floor. Sponsorship opportunities include dedicated pavilions (Pro Audio, Architectural Lighting), special events, and marketing presence throughout the event.
3. Professional Training Courses: LDInstitute offers à la carte professional training courses at additional cost, including certification programs (ETCP renewal credits), manufacturer-led training (grandMA3, ETC Eos, Hog), and specialized intensives (RIGZ! Rigging Intensive). Course prices range from $329 to $995.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

LDI (Live Design International) is a premier annual tradeshow and conference for the live entertainment design and technology industry, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The combined event delivers three core components: the LDInnovation Conference (125+ educational sessions across design and technology tracks), the LDInstitute (hands-on professional training in lighting consoles, media servers, rigging, and audio with ETCP certification credits), and the LDI Expo Hall (350+ exhibitors across 30+ product categories). Supporting experiences include the XLIVE concert touring track, Foster the Future program for emerging professionals, LDI After Dark networking, and dedicated pavilions for pro audio and architectural lighting.

Product overview

LDI (Live Design International) is a premier annual tradeshow and conference for the live entertainment, design, and technology industry. The event operates as a unified platform combining multiple components: the LDInnovation Conference featuring 125+ educational sessions across design and technology tracks; the LDInstitute providing hands-on professional training in lighting consoles, rigging, audio, and media servers with ETCP renewal credits; and the LDI Expo Hall showcasing 300+ exhibitors across 30+ product categories. The event offers tiered attendance options including VIP, Conference, Expo Hall, and Young Career Professionals passes, with specialized programs like XLIVE for concert touring and the Foster the Future initiative for emerging professionals. Supporting experiences include LDI After Dark networking at Las Vegas venues, special events like Battle of the Busk, VJ Challenge, and Dining With Dinosaurs, alongside dedicated pavilions for architectural lighting and pro audio. The official mobile app provides AI-powered matchmaking and navigation features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LDInnovation Conference Four-day conference featuring 125+ sessions covering all aspects of entertainment design and technology, including programming, lighting, audio, projection, and architectural lighting topics. Designed for live event technology professionals seeking industry insights and continuing education.
• LDInstitute Comprehensive professional training program offering hands-on courses in lighting consoles, media servers, rigging, electrical systems, lasers, and backstage tours, with ETCP renewal credits available. Courses range from $329 to $995 and include manufacturer-led training (grandMA3, ETC Eos, Hog) and specialized intensives.
• LDI Expo Hall Three-day trade show featuring 350+ exhibitors demonstrating live event technology across 30+ product categories including audio, lighting, staging, rigging, and media servers. Serves as the central marketplace for manufacturers to connect with qualified buyers.
• LDI Mobile App Official show mobile application with AI-powered matchmaking capabilities that recommend who attendees should meet based on their profile and app usage. Includes attendee list access, exhibitor list, floor plan navigation, and personalized scheduling.
• Foster the Future Program Initiative supporting young professionals under 25 with the Young Career Professionals Program, Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships, and production assistant opportunities. Provides accessible career entry points into the live event technology industry.
• XLIVE: The Concert Touring Sessions Saturday intensive conference track focused on concert touring and festival industry, featuring expert sessions on set design, lighting, management, and logistics, with Dining With Dinosaurs networking dinner. Launched in 2025.
• LDI After Dark Seven-night networking experience offering access to eight iconic Las Vegas clubs with expedited entry and special drink offers for attendees 21 years and older.
• Pro Audio Pavilion Dedicated expo floor area featuring pro audio exhibitors with live demos and sessions on audio technology, targeting 16,000+ audio professionals with specialized conference tracks and newsletter coverage.
• Architectural Lighting Pavilion Dedicated pavilion showcasing architectural lighting products and designers, featuring exhibitors like Diode LED, Camelback Lighting, Lumenpulse, with a dedicated award category. Targets 40,000+ architectural lighting professionals.
• RIGZ! Rigging Intensive Two-day intensive rigging course covering load cells, cruise ship rigging, automation, floor loading, motor school, and truss analysis with industry expert instructors. Priced at $869 ($969 after 10/16).
• Stage Managers Academy Intensive training program for stage managers and tech directors covering precision, safety, and leadership skills for live production management.
• Backstage Las Vegas Tours Full-day behind-the-scenes tour of Las Vegas tech-savvy venues including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening show, showcasing production technology at top venues. Priced at $995 ($1,095 after 10/16).
• Battle of the Busk Three-day hands-on busking competition with lighting consoles and media servers culminating in a live competition judged by industry professionals.
• VJ Challenge Competition and showcase event for VJ artists and visual performers demonstrating real-time visual content creation skills.
• Dining With Dinosaurs Networking dinner event featuring industry veterans sharing concert touring experiences and career insights with emerging professionals.
• LDI Awards Annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in live design, recognizing outstanding achievements in lighting, audio, and production design.
• New Technology Breakfasts Morning networking sessions featuring technology demonstrations and discussions across lighting, lasers, projection, staging, rigging, and audio categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ live event technology professionals attend annually from 76+ countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Strategic partnership announced December 1, 2025 to enhance industry standards and professional development in entertainment technology. ESTA participates in LDI through a presence at the career fair, offering session credits, and promoting industry training initiatives. The partnership strengthens LDI's professional development offerings while expanding ESTA's reach to LDI's 14,000+ attendees from 76+ countries.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prolight + Sound: Prolight + Sound is a Frankfurt-based annual trade fair for event and entertainment technology. It is directly comparable to LDI because it features lighting, audio, staging, and rigging exhibitors alongside conference programming and training, targeting the same international buyer base.
• AES Convention: The Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention is the leading pro audio research and technology event. It is directly comparable to LDI's Pro Audio Pavilion because both attract audio engineers, sound designers, and equipment manufacturers for paper presentations, workshops, and product showcases.
• PLASA Show: PLASA Show is a UK-based annual trade event for live entertainment technology including lighting, audio, rigging, and staging. It is directly comparable to LDI because both serve the same buyer persona and feature overlapping exhibitor categories, with PLASA representing the strongest European regional counterpart.
• USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo: USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) runs an annual conference and stage expo serving theater designers, technicians, and managers. It is directly comparable to LDI because it targets the same lighting, rigging, staging, and stage management segments with conference sessions, training, and a manufacturer expo.
• NAMM Show: The NAMM Show is the premier trade event for the music products and pro audio industry. It is directly comparable to LDI because both feature large expo floors of audio/lighting manufacturers, professional training tracks, and audiences heavily weighted toward specifying and purchasing live event technology.
• InfoComm (AVIXA): InfoComm is the largest pro-AV industry tradeshow organized by AVIXA. It is directly comparable to LDI because both serve professional buyers of audio, video, lighting, and control systems technology with annual trade shows featuring exhibitor halls, certification programs, and educational conference tracks.

Others

• Questex (parent): Questex LLC is the parent company that owns and operates LDI alongside other B2B events and media brands. It is relevant contextually as the operating parent but is not a direct competitor; it instead provides shared services, sales infrastructure, and portfolio-level strategic decisions affecting LDI.

Broad incumbents

• IBC Show: IBC is a major broadcast and media technology trade show. It is comparable to LDI as a broad incumbent covering some overlapping broadcast/lighting/video technology categories, but its primary focus on broadcast and content delivery makes it a tangential rather than direct peer.
• Integrated Systems Europe (ISE): ISE is the largest AV and systems integration trade show globally, run by AVIXA and CEDIA. It is comparable to LDI as a broad incumbent operating in adjacent AV/lighting/control technology markets, but its core audience is systems integrators and IT/AV buyers rather than live event designers.

Emerging players

• Touring Connect: Touring Connect is an emerging networking and conference platform focused on concert touring professionals. It is comparable to LDI's XLIVE track because both target concert touring lighting, audio, and production professionals, though Touring Connect operates more as a niche networking community than a full expo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LDITradeshow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcZdkuP0KO-q0Toj3dvp9rA
• Facebookfacebook.com/LDIShow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/8175202
• Instagraminstagram.com/ldishow
• TikToktiktok.com/@ldishow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LDI Tradeshow & Conference