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In a fortnight's time, Las Vegas will shine even brighter as hundreds, possibly thousands, of examples of digital signage are plugged in and switched on for the biggest trade show of the industry, Digital Signage Expo. DSE 2012 actually claims to be the biggest 'in history', which shows the impact of digital signage this year; the UK's Screenmedia Expo, Germany's own DSE and any number of crossover shows are testament to the maturity of the medium.

A major part of DSE is its educational programme, in partnership with the Digital Signage Federation. The trade show itself runs from March 6th to 9th, but the conferences begin earlier and finish later and will cover everything from content creation to reporting viewership, the cloud to interactivity, introductions to NFC to developments in autostereoscopy. The 32 seminars are designed to be inclusive too, with digital signage novices and end users catered for as much as veterans wanting a technology update. DSE is also known for taking delegates out into Las Vegas to highlight real-world examples of electronic signage.

Last year's DSE saw demonstrations of new products including 3D screens from LG, videowalls from Sharp, and software platforms from Flypaper, LocaModa and iSign, and the 2012 edition is unlikely to disappoint. DSE is also home to two awards programmes – the DSE Apex Awards which recognise developments in DOOH technology, and the DSE Content Awards.

Las Vegas is a long way from Europe during tight financial times, but fortunately Screenmedia Expo will return to London on May 16th and 17th to keep the UK digital signage market ahead of the crowd. Screenmedia Expo should really be classed as a digital place-based media trade show as it has a strong emphasis on the crossover between digital signage, mobile technologies and interactive media: you're as likely to experience the latest smartphone app as you are to see a new videowall – which is perhaps why Touch2view's Giant iTab system, which looks like a massive iPhone, was such a talking point in 2011. Helpfully, there is a four-track seminar programme for those unsure of how the pieces fit – or for anyone interested in the latest research on connecting and engaging with consumers. Screenmedia Expo is also, of course, a great networking and trade opportunity – out of the nearly 3,200 visitors last year, 30 percent were from outside the UK.

Europe is also represented at Digital Signage Expo in Germany, this year (June 12th and 13th) moving to central Berlin. It'll be co-located with the busy Kiosk Europe Expo again, which fits with its fresh approach of including more end-to-end interactivity and mobile technologies. Education is on the agenda here too, with last year's free Digital Signage Content and Solutions Forum featuring a range of case studies and applications.

If real-life examples and networking opportunities are more your bag than trade show stands, The Screen runs monthly breakfast briefings bringing together the digital signage industry and demonstrating what's possible with the technology. The January event saw The Screen host a bus tour around London's hottest DOOH spots, while past events have been held at Battersea Power Station and Heathrow Airport. The Screen is a partner of LoveContent, demonstrating the organisation's emphasis on combining technology and content for effective results.

As well as these dedicated events, the four Viscom trade fairs are featuring more digital signage alongside printing and sign-making. Viscom Paris (September 25th to 27th), Viscom Italia (October 4th to 6th), Viscom Sign (October 18th to 20th) and Viscom Frankfurt (October 25th to 27th) will all have an electronic presence and are a good place to see how some manufacturers are diversifying and combining different forms of media. Sign and Digital UK (March 27th to 29th) and its Irish counterpart (October 24th and 25th), as well as the new Cross Media 2012 (September 3rd and 4th), are likely to feature a smattering of digital exhibitors too.

Looking ahead to 2013, Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) will return to Amsterdam from January 29th to 31st. This year the audio-visual show attracted a record 41,000 visitors, with a rise in conference and educational events attendance too. It's a major show for the digital display industry with a huge amount of excitement generated around transparent and multi-touch screens in 2012.

As digital media matures, these established shows will only grow, while smaller and new events will appear on the horizon. All will feature technology developments and professionals excited to explain them, making them worthwhile for those new to the market and doyens alike.