SILMO Paris 2026 (Salon International de l'Optique Lunetterie), held at Paris Nord Villepinte from September 25 to 28, welcomed 32,108 professionals from nearly 150 countries. International attendees accounted for 53% of visitors and French attendees for 47%. More than 950 exhibitors and 1,500 brands were represented across 80,000 m² of exhibition space, according to a press release.
Here are some of the highlights from SILMO Paris 2026:
SILMO Next – Futurology and Tech Village
SILMO Next focused on smart glasses, artificial intelligence (AI), predictive health, and other emerging technologies. The Tech Village featured demonstrations of technologies intended for optical practices and eyewear users.
SILMO Next also hosted an international hackathon focused on health applications for smart glasses using the HTC, EverySight, Solos, and Engo platforms. The jury selected Kimoo, an assistant developed by Mourdjen Bari and Carla Nykiel on the HTC platform to help people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder stay focused, manage anxiety, and reduce procrastination.
The Trends Forum – An Immersion at the Heart of Style
The Trends Forum offered a complete immersion in the shapes, materials, and colors that will drive tomorrow’s collections.
This edition highlighted:
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FANCY – Unapologetic fantasy
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CHARISMA – Inspired contrast
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ADRENALINE – Vibrant tech
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AURA – The return of ’90s glam
A selection of optical frames and sunglasses from exhibitors’ collections illustrated these trends.
The SILMO d’Or – 33rd Edition
Chaired by Joachim Froment, a Brussels-based industrial designer and creative director and cofounder of the Futurewave studio, the SILMO d’Or celebrated an edition centered on the dialogue between design, technology, and the wearer experience.
The 2026 winners included autofocus glasses for presbyopes, progressive lenses personalized using virtual reality, open-field binocular refraction, luxury smart glasses, and eyewear made with materials including natural slate and Japanese titanium.
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Children: Karavan Kids – Zigzag (Design Eyewear Group)
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Sport: Julbo – Panora
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Vision: Mega Optic – EvosightVR
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Low Vision: Eschenbach Optik – optaro XL
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Materials/Equipment: Nidek – PHANTOM
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Technological Innovation in Eyewear: Laclarée – Autofocus glasses
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Smart Eyewear: GETD & Marienfeld – The Luxury AI glasses
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Optical Frames “Labels”: Lancel – Emeline (Grosfilley)
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Sunglasses “Labels”: Victoria Beckham – VB 7015/S (Safilo)
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Sunglasses “Eyewear Designer”: Caroline Abram – Sakura
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Optical Frames “Eyewear Designer”: Maison Lune – Galet
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Sunglasses “Craftsmanship & Know-how”: Brett – Ferdinand Sun
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Optical Frames “Craftsmanship & Know-how”: rolf. Eyewear – Superbird
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Jury’s Special Prize: Paloceras – Pebble RX
Click here to access the winners’ image bank.
Corporate Social Responsibility (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 program:
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Materials library of eco-responsible materials
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Committed start-ups
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Workshops and round tables led by experts
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Interactive experiences
Committed Company Award
This award recognizes companies that turn their CSR strategy into concrete, measurable action.
2026 winner: Andy Wolf, recognized 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 secondhand services; and it has a strong social commitment to inclusion.
Optic Design Contest
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 International Opticians Association in collaboration with SILMO Paris, this award honors the commitment and vision of opticians who move the profession forward.
2026 winner: Jessica Gowing (United Kingdom) is a principal optometrist at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London who specializes 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: AI, 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.