For four days, SILMO Paris once again set the pulse of the international optics and eyewear industry. New collections, breakthrough innovations, emerging talent and forward-looking debates: Paris Nord Villepinte brought together every player shaping the optics of tomorrow, from heritage houses to the boldest start-ups.
The show welcomed 32,108 professionals – 53% international and 47% French – from nearly 150 countries. More than 950 exhibitors and 1,500 brands showcased their expertise and innovations across 80,000 m² of exhibition space.
More than ever, SILMO Paris confirms its role as the leading platform where creativity, technology and commitment come together to open new perspectives for the entire profession.
SILMO Paris 2026 highlights
▸ SILMO NEXT – FUTUROLOGY & TECH VILLAGE
Connected optics enters a new era
Futurology is an invitation to look further ahead: to understand weak signals, anticipate change and act today to build innovation that is useful, responsible and sustainable. Smart glasses, artificial intelligence, predictive health… This year, SILMO Next shone a spotlight on an industry in the midst of transformation. At the Tech Village, demonstrations and hands-on experiences allowed visitors to try out the innovations set to transform both in-store practices and the way wearers use their eyewear. Throughout the conferences, the eye also emerged as a true window onto overall health, paving the way for more preventive optics driven by imaging and AI.
SILMO Next hosted the first international hackathon dedicated to health applications for smart glasses, using the HTC, EverySight, Solos and Engo platforms. The jury unanimously awarded Kimoo, an assistant developed by Mourdjen Bari and Carla Nykiel on the HTC platform to help people with ADHD stay focused, manage anxiety and reduce procrastination.
▸ THE TRENDS FORUM – An immersion at the heart of style
A true style compass, the Trends Forum offered a complete immersion in the shapes, materials and colours that will drive tomorrow’s collections.
This edition highlighted:
- FANCY – Unapologetic fantasy
- CHARISMA – Inspired contrast
- ADRENALINE – Vibrant tech
- AURA – The return of ’90s glam
A carefully curated selection of optical frames and sunglasses from exhibitors’ collections illustrated these directions, confirming the Forum as the must-attend event for capturing the spirit of the times.
▸ THE SILMO D’OR – 33RD EDITION
Chaired by Joachim Froment, a Brussels-based industrial designer and creative director and co-founder of the Futurewave studio, the SILMO d’Or celebrated an edition centred on the dialogue between design, technology and the wearer experience.
The 2026 winners bear witness to this: autofocus glasses for presbyopes, progressive lenses personalised using virtual reality, open-field binocular refraction and luxury smart glasses sit alongside creations of exceptional craftsmanship, from natural slate to Japanese titanium.
- Children: Karavan Kids – Zigzag (Design Eyewear Group)
- Sport: Julbo – Panora
- Vision: Mega Optic – EvosightVR
- Low Vision: Eschenbach Optik – optaro® XL
- Materials / Equipment: Nidek – PHANTOM™
- Technological Innovation in Eyewear: Laclarée – Autofocus glasses
- Smart Eyewear: GETD & Marienfeld – The Luxury AI glasses
- Optical Frames “Labels”: Lancel – Emeline (Grosfilley)
- Sunglasses “Labels”: Victoria Beckham – VB 7015/S (Safilo)
- Sunglasses “Eyewear Designer”: Caroline Abram – Sakura
- Optical Frames “Eyewear Designer”: Maison Lune – Galet
- Sunglasses “Craftsmanship & Know-how”: Brett – Ferdinand Sun
- Optical Frames “Craftsmanship & Know-how”: rolf. Eyewear – Superbird
- Jury’s Special Prize: Paloceras – Pebble RX
More than a trophy, the SILMO d’Or is an internationally recognised label that winners proudly display on their stands and in their communications.
▸ CSR SPOT – GOOD EYES ON THE PLANET
For its second edition, the CSR Spot, developed in partnership with Hyssop, offered 160 m² in which to discover, touch, test and question the solutions of a more responsible industry.
On the programme:
- Materials library of eco-responsible materials
- Committed start-ups
- Workshops and round tables led by experts
- Interactive experiences
▸ COMMITTED COMPANY AWARD
This award recognises companies that turn their CSR strategy into concrete, measurable action.
2026 winner: Andy Wolf, recognised for an approach as comprehensive as it is demanding: 85% of its acetate frames are now made from Acetate Renew; its product footprint fell by 53% for acetate and 38% for metal between 2021 and 2024; its production chain is 100% European with no air freight; it offers repair and second-hand services; and it has a strong social commitment to inclusion.
▸ OPTIC DESIGN CONTEST
Supporting emerging talent is a key mission for SILMO Paris. For its 5th edition, the contest – chaired by Olivier Lapidus, the French designer renowned for his avant-garde vision – invited design students to reflect on “The future of optics – What outlook?”
2026 winner: DREAMSCAPE by Sophia Denison (Savannah College of Art and Design, USA), an experimental collection that responds to the “attention crisis” by using visual distortion to recreate the sensations of daydreaming.
▸ INTERNATIONAL OPTICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Presented by the IOA (International Opticians Association) in collaboration with SILMO Paris, this award honours the commitment and vision of opticians who move the profession forward.
2026 winner: Jessica Gowing (United Kingdom), Principal Optometrist at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London, who specialises in fitting eyewear for children with craniofacial anomalies, notably designing custom 3D-printed frames for them.
▸ SILMO TALKS
Across more than 60 conferences, researchers, experts and professionals shared their insights on the key topics of the moment: artificial intelligence, smart glasses, health, retail, CSR and the changing nature of the professions.
As part of the SILMO Academy, the €10,000 research grant was awarded to Aliénor Vienne-Jumeau, MD, PhD (Quinze-Vingts National Hospital) for her research project.
SILMO Paris has announced that its next edition will celebrate the trade show’s 60th anniversary, taking place from September 24 to 27, 2027, at Paris Nord Villepinte. The milestone event will commemorate six decades of serving the global optics and eyewear industry, bringing together international professionals to showcase industry innovation, design creativity, and professional collaboration.
