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Z-Wave Spring Summit 2026
Member Meeting & Unplug Fest

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Unplug Fest, Z-Wave Feature Demo & Welcome Reception

Facilitator: Eric Ryherd

  • 13:00 – 16:00 | Unplug Fest  (ZWA Members Only)

    The Unplug Fest is where Z-Wave Alliance members can engage in unofficial device-to-device interoperability for Z-Wave and Z-Wave Long Range products. Take advantage of an invaluable opportunity to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and uncover new possibilities for seamless integration with the Z-Wave ecosystem.

  • 16:00 – 16:45 | Z-Wave Feature Demo (Open for Everyone)
    Fast Commissioning, No Popcorn, Low Latency
  • 18:00 – 21:00 | Welcome Reception
    Details Coming Soon

Thursday, May 28, 2026 | Opening Session & Joint Sessions

Coffee and light refreshments will be available for attendees. 

Spring Summit Welcome & Fireside Chat: The Road Ahead of Z-Wave

Our kick-off session opens with a welcome address from Z-Wave Alliance Chairman of the Board, Avi Rosenthal, setting the tone for the days ahead while providing a forward-looking perspective on the direction the Alliance is headed over the next several years. From new programs and organizational milestones to expanded market opportunities and ZWLR growth, this address charts the trajectory of the mature, member-driven organization the Alliance has become with clear momentum.

Welcoming remarks will then transition into an intimate fireside chat moderated by Janet Collins, the new Director of Marketing for the Z-Wave Alliance, bringing together a selection board members and companies new to the Z-Wave Alliance spanning the full arc of Z-Wave’s evolution. Drawing upon real-world experiences of long-standing and new members alike, this community-driven session will reveal lessons learned, explore where the Alliance has delivered value, and uncover where the great opportunities for growth and support still lie.

Unplug Fest represents the heart of innovation of the Z-Wave Alliance Summit. During this session, we’ll recap the standout moments, the tech triumphs, the obstacles overcome, and the collaborative spirit that continues to define the Z-Wave Alliance.

Break

Beverages and light snacks.

The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) is no longer on the distant horizon, enforcement obligations are now being set in motion, and the preparation window is closing. This session breaks down what the CRA means in practice for Z-Wave product manufacturers and installers operating within the EU market. Critically, this session will demonstrate that Z-Wave is not starting from zero. With mandatory encryption, a robust certification process, OTA update support, and local operation capabilities, Z-Wave’s architecture already aligns with core mandates of the CRA. This session will provide a clear picture of how Z-Wave technology provides a compliant foundation and how to position CRA readiness as a market advantage.

Lunch

In this panel, we’ll highlight the key characteristics of the new Wake On Event End Node device type, helping members envision an ecosystem that goes beyond traditional power methods. You’ll learn how this initiative took shape within the Z-Wave Alliance Technical Working Group and what it means for future innovations driven by member ideas. The session will also conclude with an opportunity to ask questions about certification, power-harvesting technology, and other practical considerations for developing around this new device type.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the smart home from a reactive environment into a predictive, adaptive ecosystem. In this session, the Z-Wave Alliance sits down with a leading voice from the Vienna research and technology community for a Q&A session exploring AI’s impact on connected living spaces. Offering a first-hand look at where the intelligent home is headed and what that means for the ecosystems support it, this session will bridge academic research and real-world applications with a focus on sensor-driven automation, embedded intelligence, and energy efficiency.

Beverages and Light Snacks

Join as we share Installer market insights followed by a panel of experienced installers as they share insights from the front lines of technology installation. Discover the elements they see driving customer adoption, common challenges they encounter, and how new solutions are enhancing the lives of their clients. This session dives into real-world project work, troubleshooting, and practical problem-solving, providing a look at what installers need to streamline their work and deliver seamless user experiences. Hear directly from experts about how emerging technologies are shaping their business opportunities and transforming customer satisfaction across the European market.

Closing Statement

Details Coming Soon

Friday, May 29, 2026 | Working Groups & Closing Session

  • 9:00 – 9:45 | Marketing the Future of Z-Wave: Strategy, Messaging, and Member Opportunities
    Join the Z-Wave Alliance Marketing Director for a focused look at the strategy and messaging shaping the future of the Z-Wave ecosystem. This session goes beyond updates, you’ll learn how to leverage Alliance marketing to your advantage. Discover how to tap into co-marketing opportunities, gain visibility through events and PR, and engage in working groups that elevate your brand and influence the market. If you’re looking to increase exposure, align with the latest messaging, and maximize the value of your Alliance membership, this session will show you how to make it happen.

  • 9:45 – 10:30 | Z-Wave Certification for Marketers

    This session highlights why market certification is essential for maintaining brand integrity, ensuring compliance, and building customer trust across the Z-Wave ecosystem. Learn how to effectively use certification marks, follow branding guidelines, and align your messaging with certification requirements to avoid common pitfalls. By understanding the marketer’s role in certification, you’ll be better equipped to strengthen product credibility, support successful launches, and reinforce the value of Z-Wave in the marketplace.

  • 10:30 – 11:00 | Break

  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Built to Be Chosen: What Actually Drives Adoption
    In the European market, installers choose systems they can trust—day after day, project after project. Adoption is not driven by feature lists alone; it is built on stable foundations: predictable product behavior, reliable availability, responsive technical support, and workflows that fit professional installation practice. This session examines what manufacturers often miss when targeting the installer channel and why short-term campaigns fail when operational fundamentals are weak. Drawing on real-world integrator and training experience, we will break down the core factors that influence installer trust, repeat specification, and long-term brand preference. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for aligning product, support, and go-to-market execution—so Z-Wave solutions become easier to deploy, easier to support, and easier for installers to recommend at scale.
  • 9:00 – 9:45 | UCCCv3 and Aliro: Enabling Mobile Credential Access on Z-Wave Door Locks
    This session introduces Aliro — the CSA’s standard for mobile credential-based access control — and demonstrates how Z-Wave can support it through the upcoming UCCCv3 specification. We’ll cover the fundamentals of how Aliro works, the design decisions behind using UCCCv3 as the integration path, and the technical architecture that enables Z-Wave door locks to participate in the Aliro ecosystem. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the spec additions required and how their lock platforms can prepare for Aliro support.

 

  • 9:45 – 10:30 | Working with a Transceiver
    With the introduction of Z-Wave support in the Semtech LR2021 we face a new way of interfacing with a Z-Wave radio. For the first time we will now have a system where the PHY/MAC is running on one chip and the Network layer and application is running on another HW platform. How does that change products and certification in Z-Wave.

 

  • 10:30 – 11:00 | Break

 

  • 11:30 – 12:00 | New Generation of Z-Wave Protocol Controller
    Z-Wave controllers are essential components of the Z-Wave ecosystems. To better support controller products, Silicon Labs is planning to release a new Z-Wave host solution that focuses on the Z-Wave domain and accelerates product development through a modern design. This presentation provides insight into the motivation behind this initiative, its roadmap, and how it can enable and enhance future Z-Wave controller products.
  • 13:00 – 13:30 | Z-Wave Long Range for the European Market
    Z-Wave has evolved into the definitive, stable foundation for high-performance smart home products, empowering Alliance members to market superior value through unmatched scalability, battery efficiency, and extended range. By highlighting these technical advantages and leveraging a more efficient development ecosystem, members can position their solutions as the clear market choice over fragmented alternatives. This technological edge provides a decisive, customer-centric narrative that turns  Z-Wave Long Range into a powerful competitive advantage for our members.


  • 13:30 – 14:15 | Z-Wave Alliance Events Roadmap: Expanding Impact in 2026–2027

    Help shape the future of Z-Wave Alliance events. This interactive session will map out the 2026 and 2027 roadmap, with a focus on key regional priorities and a stronger push toward high-impact, localized events across Europe to increase engagement with members, partners, and industry professions.

    This is a working session. Bring your perspective, share regional insights, and influence where and how we show up. Your input will directly influence how the Alliance builds stronger engagement, delivers more value, and creates meaningful opportunities for collaboration across our ecosystem.

     

  • 14:15 – 15:00 | Workshop: From Concept to Campaign: Crafting Z-Wave Use Cases That Sell
    Roll up your sleeves and turn ideas into action in this interactive workshop. Working in small groups across key segments, you’ll build a mini go-to-market playbook: defining the customer, value proposition, messaging, channels, and a campaign idea.
    Each team will share their approach, giving you a fast-paced look at how different Z-Wave use cases come to life in the market. You’ll walk away with practical frameworks, fresh ideas, and ready-to-use strategies you can apply immediately.

     

  • 15:00 – 15:30 | Break
  • 13:00 – 13:30 | Z-Wave Controller in a Wall Switch? Z-Way Thin Gateway as a cost-effective Z-Wave Long Range Controller
    Presentation of a low-cost solution for a Z-Wave Long Range Controller for the European market.

 

  • 13:30 – 14:30 |  New command classes, new opportunities
    The open-source stack has recently been enhanced with new command classes and new versions of existing command classes. This creates new ways to implement functionality in applications and can improve your product if you take advantage of it.

 

  • 14:30 – 15:00 | Z-Wave Technical Roadmap Discussion

 

  • 15:00 – 15:30 | Afternoon Break

Speaker: Avi Rosenthal, BlueConnect Partners & Chairperson of the Z-Wave Alliance Board of Directors