Commercial AV Trends for 2026: What’s New for Audio Systems and Unified Communications

Posted by Tom Brown on 15/01/2026

As we begin the new year, the commercial AV landscape continues to evolve. At AV Xpert, we work closely with manufacturers and clients across the UK to deliver AV solutions for commercial and corporate spaces, that are built for the future.

In this blog, we look at the general trend of AI-driven features, specifically within the Q-SYS ecosystem, and also consider two products that we feel will have a significant impact on integrated AV systems in the coming year. Firstly, the existing Allen & Heath AHM series, and additionally, the Barco ClickShare Hub, due to be released this summer.

We will look in-depth at how these products and trends are defining what’s next for audio systems and unified communications in 2026.

AI-Driven Features – AI as part of the AV System

From our experience of installing audio-visual solutions in meeting spaces, we have seen AI features evolve from being considered a luxury add-on, to becoming increasingly embedded into the core functionality of integrated unified communication systems.

AI in meeting room technology isn’t a new concept. All-in-one devices like video bars, such as the Logitech Rally Bar, have used AI auto-framing reliably for several years, making small rooms easy and intuitive to use. The challenge has always been larger, more complex spaces.

Traditionally, enabling automatic camera framing in these environments involved relying on ceiling microphones, manually inputting coordinates, and triggering pre-set camera positions. Whilst effective, this process was time-consuming - often taking several days to design, commission, and fine-tune, leaving rooms out of service for extended periods. This downtime not only drives up engineering costs but also results in significant opportunity costs, as the space remains unavailable for important meetings.

That’s where recent advances in Q-SYS make a tangible difference. Since last year, AI auto-framing has been built natively into the Q-SYS platform for larger room systems. Instead of depending solely on audio location data and preset recalls, Q-SYS now uses a combination of both audio and video intelligence to understand where people are and how the room is being used. The result is smoother, more natural camera movement that adapts in real time, without the heavy programming overhead. Rooms become faster to deploy, easier to adjust, and far more reliable day to day.

For end users, the experience is streamlined. Cameras frame speakers accurately, conversations feel more engaging for remote participants, and there’s no need to “drive” the room or call IT for adjustments. For AV and IT teams, Q-SYS reduces commissioning time, simplifies ongoing changes, and delivers consistent performance across spaces of all sizes. It’s a practical application of AI, saving time, reducing complexity, and improving the meeting experience in real, measurable ways.

We are confident that as we progress through 2026, further real-world enhancements will become available, as a result of AI. Q-SYS control processors are becoming far more powerful, ensuring systems are future-proofed as new developments and updates emerge.

Allen & Heath AHM

Having recently used the AHM audio matrix processor as the backbone of our recent sound system installation at Peterborough United FC, we immediately saw that this product has so much potential in many different environments and use cases. Allen & Heath's AHM series of audio matrix processors were released in stages, beginning with the AHM-64 in February 2020. The smaller units, the AHM-32 and AHM-16, followed in January 2022. We believe this product will continue to grow in popularity in 2026.

Due to the variety of user interfaces and control surfaces supported by the product, offering neat, intuitive control, we can safely say this is a highly versatile product. We have since installed AHM into a local church system, helping to simplify daily operation, whilst enhancing audio quality. Moving forward, we feel this will be an exceptional product for future projects at village halls, public community spaces, and cinema clubs, as well as other corporate and commercial spaces.

Whether it’s a small public venue or a large, multi-zone installation, there’s an AHM model sized to match your needs.

When it comes to delivering great sound across multiple zones, flexibility and scalability are key - and that’s exactly what the AHM processors offer. Designed to centralise audio systems at an accessible price point, these processors make it easy to manage complex setups in stadiums, factories, retail spaces, and beyond. Using networked audio protocols like Dante, the AHM line lets you effortlessly distribute crystal-clear sound wherever you need it, no matter how many zones or channels are involved.

Built on the proven technology of Allen & Heath’s D-Live platform, the AHM processors deliver exceptional audio quality and reliability. Unlike typical control processors, the AHM allows for real-time, on-the-fly changes during live events, giving users the flexibility to adapt instantly without interrupting the audio experience. This makes them an ideal choice for environments where performance and adaptability matter most. The AHM processors provide scalable, dependable audio control that grows with your space.

Barco ClickShare Hub

To conclude our blog, we will look in-depth at an upcoming product that we are very excited about, due to be released later this year.

The Barco ClickShare Hub builds on the years of experience Barco have in wireless video conferencing and meeting room Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technology.

The Barco ClickShare Hub represents a significant shift from simple wireless presentation and video conferencing, to a fully integrated, modular video conferencing room system.

Built on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP), ClickShare Hub is designed specifically for Microsoft Teams Rooms, making it suitable for organisations standardising on Microsoft Teams for unified communications, but also supports the native BYOD experience that existing ClickShare users have become accustomed to.

Starting a meeting with Barco ClickShare Hub is designed to be effortless and intuitive. With a simple tap on the ClickShare Control Panel, users can launch their meeting and begin sharing content wirelessly using the next-generation ClickShare Button.

The ClickShare Hub solution consists of a Base Unit, Control Panel, and one or two ClickShare Buttons.

About AV Xpert

As the AV landscape evolves, we are commited to remaining focused on identifying new ideas and products that add real value for our clients, helping them stay ahead with technology that is both relevant today and ready for the future. At AV Xpert, we work closely with our clients to deliver bespoke audio-visual solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Contact us today to find out how we can support your next installation project.