The Z-Wave Fall Summit 2026 brought industry leaders and Alliance members together in Boca Raton for three days of insightful discussions, technical collaboration, innovation and networking, highlighting the strength of the Z-Wave ecosystem and the opportunities ahead.
If you joined us in Boca Raton for the Z-Wave Fall Summit 2026, you already know. This was one of our best Summits yet!
Held September 29th – October 1st in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida, the Summit brought together Z-Wave Alliance members, industry leaders, technology innovators and partners for three incredible days of meaningful conversations, collaboration, industry insights and networking.
From engaging industry discussions to hands-on technical collaboration and memorable networking opportunities, the energy and enthusiasm throughout the event were unmistakable. The Summit highlighted the strength of our growing ecosystem and the exciting opportunities ahead as Z-Wave continues to expand beyond the smart home into multifamily, hospitality, commercial IoT and beyond.
An Exceptional Welcome from ADT
What a way to kick off the Summit! Our Diamond Sponsor, ADT, welcomed attendees to its Boca Raton headquarters for an outstanding Welcome Reception that truly exceeded expectations. From the Halloween theme decorations in their beautifully designed Main Street area to the incredible food, warm hospitality and engaging conversations, every detail was exceptional.
A highlight of the evening was the panel discussion, Open Standards, Intelligent Homes, moderated by Tai Nguyen of ADT. The discussion featured panelists Gilles Drieu of ADT, Paulus Schoutsen of the Open Home Foundation, Avi Rosenthal of the Z-Wave Alliance and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge. Together, they explored how open standards, interoperability, artificial intelligence and consumer trust are influencing the future of connected living.
Attendees also had the opportunity to tour ADT’s Callahan Family Home, experiencing firsthand how connected technologies, including Z-Wave, come together to deliver practical smart home and security solutions.
A huge thank you to the entire ADT team for making this such an extraordinary evening! The attention to detail, exceptional hospitality and commitment to creating a memorable experience for our members and guests did not go unnoticed. We are incredibly grateful for ADT’s partnership, continued leadership and generous support as our Diamond Sponsor.
It was the perfect way to launch what would become an incredible Summit.
Industry Insights and Conversations That Matter
The first full day of Summit programming was packed with important industry topics, engaging presentations and thought-provoking panel discussions. From cybersecurity and evolving market opportunities to professional installation, consumer expectations and emerging technologies, the agenda brought together industry experts and Z-Wave Alliance members to explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of connected IoT.
We were especially pleased to welcome several external industry experts who contributed valuable insights and fresh perspectives:
- Grace Burkard, ioXt Alliance: Joined a timely discussion on evolving cybersecurity requirements, including the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark and the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act. Moderated by Jennifer Kent of Parks Associates, the conversation explored the changing regulatory landscape and what connected device manufacturers need to consider as security requirements continue to evolve.
- Jennifer Kent, Parks Associates: Brought valuable market research and industry perspectives to the Summit, moderating discussions on cybersecurity and the expanding opportunities for connected technologies beyond the traditional smart home. Her insights helped frame conversations around market trends, consumer adoption and emerging applications across multifamily, hospitality and professionally managed properties.
- Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge: Shared a valuable consumer and industry perspective on what people really want from smart home technology. Her discussion explored consumer expectations, purchasing decisions and the opportunities for the industry to deliver more intuitive, reliable and interoperable connected experiences. Jennifer also participated in the opening evening’s ADT panel discussion.
- Mitch Klein, Strategic Advisor: Presented the latest research and insights into the professional installation market, followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring Tim Rader of Versa and Tony Trew of ADT. The conversation explored evolving customer expectations, market trends, business opportunities and the technologies shaping the future of professionally installed smart home and security solutions.
The day’s programming also featured the Z-Wave’s Next 25 Years Start Here panel, bringing together member company leaders to discuss the future of the standard, the importance of collaboration and the opportunities ahead for the Z-Wave ecosystem.
Additional sessions explored Wake-On-Event End Nodes (WOEEN), real-world performance comparisons of Z-Wave Long Range and other sub-GHz technologies, and the continued innovation expanding the capabilities and applications of Z-Wave.
A sincere thank you to all our speakers and panelists! The depth of expertise, thoughtful discussions and willingness to share perspectives made for an incredibly valuable day of learning and collaboration.
Where Collaboration Turns into Action
One of the things that makes Z-Wave Alliance Summits so valuable is the opportunity for members to roll up their sleeves, share ideas and work together on initiatives that move our ecosystem forward.
Our Unplug Fest once again provided a hands-on environment for members to test interoperability, troubleshoot, exchange knowledge and collaborate across products and platforms.
The second full day of programming featured member-only Technical and Marketing tracks, extending the ongoing work of our Alliance committees and working groups. These interactive sessions provided an opportunity to discuss current initiatives, exchange ideas, address challenges and help shape priorities for the year ahead.
Our committees and working groups are where collaboration turns into action. If you’re a Z-Wave Alliance member and aren’t currently participating, we encourage you to get involved! It’s an opportunity to share your expertise, contribute your perspective and have a direct voice in shaping the future of Z-Wave and our growing ecosystem.
These sessions reinforce what makes the Z-Wave Alliance special. Our members are not simply participating in an industry. They are actively helping shape its future.
Recognizing Outstanding Member Contributions
The Summit also provided an opportunity to recognize individuals whose dedication, leadership and contributions continue to strengthen the Z-Wave Alliance and our growing ecosystem.
The Summit also provided an opportunity to recognize individuals whose dedication, leadership and contributions continue to strengthen the Z-Wave Alliance and our growing ecosystem.
Marketing Contribution Awards
Agnes Lorenz, Zooz: A passionate advocate for Z-Wave whose leadership as Marketing Committee Chair, enthusiasm and commitment to collaboration continue to strengthen the Alliance and broader ecosystem.
Miranda Bishop, Open Home Foundation: As Marketing Committee Vice-Chair, Miranda brings valuable strategic insights and a strong European market perspective to Alliance initiatives. While unable to attend, she had a wonderful reason to celebrate, having recently welcomed her first baby! Paulus Schoutsen accepted on her behalf.
Technical Contribution Awards
Adam Feinstein and Andrew Hayden, Alarm.com: Recognized for their contributions to the User Credential Command Class specification, active participation in Technical Committee and Working Groups, and ongoing support of Alliance GitHub repositories. Adam was unable to attend and Andrew accepted the award on his behalf.
Outstanding Contribution Award: “Save Our Spectrum”
Avi Rosenthal, BlueConnect Partners and Z-Wave Alliance Chairman: Recognized for his exceptional leadership and tireless advocacy in protecting the sub-GHz spectrum essential to Z-Wave and the broader IoT industry amid NextNav’s proposed spectrum changes. Z-Wave Alliance Vice-Chair, Gustaf Lonaeus with Alarm.com presented Avi with his award.
Congratulations to all our award recipients! Thank you for your dedication, expertise and continued commitment to advancing Z-Wave and our Alliance.
Building Connections Beyond the Sessions
And what would a Z-Wave Alliance Summit be without a little fun?
Our member networking event at Topgolf was a fantastic evening of friendly competition, great conversations and plenty of laughs. Whether attendees were showing off their golf skills or simply enjoying time with colleagues, it was another great opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and build new relationships.
These informal moments are an important part of our Summits. Some of the best ideas, collaborations and partnerships begin with conversations outside the conference room!
Smart Homes Were Just the Beginning…
We also had some fun unveiling our newest Z-Wave Alliance T-shirt! Following the popularity of our original “My smart home is smarter than yours” shirt, which remains a fan favorite and can still be spotted at industry events years later, we knew the next one had to make a statement.
And what better message to capture the evolution and exciting future of Z-Wave than:
“Smart homes were just the beginning…”
It’s more than a catchy phrase. It’s a simple statement with a powerful message. Z-Wave has a long and proven history in the smart home, but the opportunities ahead extend far beyond it. With Z-Wave Long Range enabling new applications across multifamily, hospitality, commercial IoT and other connected environments, our ecosystem continues to evolve and expand.
Thank You to Our Sponsors, Members and Attendees!
An event of this caliber is only possible because of the incredible support, participation and enthusiasm of our community.
Once again, an enormous thank you to our Diamond Sponsor, ADT, for hosting such an outstanding Welcome Reception and for its continued commitment to the Z-Wave Alliance.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to all our event sponsors and demo table participants. Your support, innovative product demonstrations and engagement throughout the event contributed tremendously to the Summit’s success.
And to our members, speakers and attendees, thank you! Thank you for traveling to Boca Raton, sharing your expertise, contributing to important discussions, making new connections and bringing such incredible energy to the event.
Strength in Standards. Power in Partnership.
The Z-Wave Fall Summit 2026 was a powerful reminder of what makes our Alliance so strong: a collaborative community united by a shared commitment to innovation, interoperability and advancing the future of connected IoT.
We left Boca Raton energized, inspired and excited about what’s next.
