For years, projection has been the backbone of live events, conferences, and touring shows. It’s familiar, flexible, and when done well, still capable of delivering excellent results. But increasingly, the question we hear on site is a simple one: why aren’t we just using LED?

LED walls have changed expectations. Higher brightness, better contrast, and consistent performance in challenging lighting conditions make them an obvious choice for many modern productions. They work just as well in daylight as they do in blackout, and they remove a whole category of problems around sightlines, shadows, and ambient light.

That doesn’t mean projection is obsolete.

Projection still makes sense where scale, cost, or creative intent demand it. Large scenic surfaces, unusual aspect ratios, and immersive environments can still favour projection — particularly when budgets are tight or rigging constraints are complex. In controlled lighting conditions, a well-specified projection system can look excellent.

What has changed is the default assumption.

LED is no longer the premium outlier. For many clients, it’s now the starting point — reliable, predictable, and visually impactful with fewer compromises. Projection has become the specialist tool rather than the universal solution.

The smart approach isn’t choosing sides. It’s understanding the brief, the environment, and the audience, then selecting the right technology for the job. Sometimes that’s LED. Sometimes it’s projection. Often, it’s a combination of both.

Projection isn’t dead — but it no longer owns the stage.