PRG Hex Panels Gen 2 made their first live appearance at the opening ceremony of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The ceremony launched the 35th edition of the tournament and was a fully choreographed stadium-scale production for both a live audience and global broadcast.

The Hex Panels Gen 2 were deployed as a primary visual element within the choreography, operating as a handheld, performer-driven video system designed for large-scale live events. The system was used to create dynamic, reconfigurable video surfaces directly on the pitch, allowing visuals to evolve continuously through movement rather than relying on fixed LED infrastructure.

During the performance, the panels were assembled into large-scale visual tableaux, including a full outline of the African continent and the shape of Morocco. Within this formation, content representing the flags of participating nations was displayed, surrounded by vibrant graphic elements such as stylised flowers and star motifs. The 8mm pixel pitch made it possible to showcase different video footage. These sequences highlighted the diversity of the tournament while demonstrating the system’s ability to form detailed imagery at any scale.

Application in a Live Stadium Environment 

Hex Panels Gen 2 were carried and operated by performers throughout the show, forming modular video shapes that reconfigured in real time. Built-in magnetic alignment allowed panels to connect quickly and maintain clean geometry during movement, enabling precise formations without slowing choreography. 

The system ran fully wirelessly, with video content distributed in real time via dedicated controllers and powered by battery packs worn by the dancers. With a runtime of up to three hours while displaying video, the panels were suited to rehearsals, pre-show holding periods, and live performance without battery changes. 

Technical Improvements in Gen 2 

Compared to the first-generation Hex Panels, Gen 2 introduces several key technical upgrades driven by live production requirements. A reduced pixel pitch of 8 mm delivers higher resolution imagery and improved readability for both in-venue audiences and broadcast cameras. Additional side magnets improve edge alignment and stability, reducing visible gaps during complex formations and fast movement. 

Expanded system functionality provides greater control flexibility for content playback and synchronisation, allowing designers and choreographers to integrate the panels more tightly into cue-based, time coded show control. 

The CAF Africa Cup of Nations opening ceremony demonstrated Hex Panels Gen 2 as a practical, scalable handheld video solution for stadium-scale productions. Designed to integrate seamlessly with choreography, lighting, and music, the system enables moving video surfaces that are not constrained by rigging, sightlines, or fixed positions.

Hex Panels Gen 2 continue PRG’s focus on developing specialist tools that address real-world live production challenges, expanding creative options while maintaining operational reliability.

Creative direction and executive production: @balichwonderstudio and @avantscene