SILMO Paris 2026

The Countdown Begins for the Optical Trade Show Paris 2026

From 25 to 28 September 2026, SILMO Paris returns to Paris Nord Villepinte, bringing the international eyewear and optical community together for four days of new collections, technology, education and industry debate.

With around 900 exhibitors, 1,500 brands and more than 33,000 visitors expected, SILMO Paris remains one of the defining dates on the international optical calendar. Beyond the sheer scale of the show, September in Paris has traditionally marked the moment when a new eyewear season truly begins.

For independent eyewear in particular, it is where many of the year’s most important collections make their international debut, while designers, manufacturers, opticians, distributors and industry specialists reconnect under one roof.

This year, however, the conversation extends considerably beyond frames.

More Than 60 Conversations About What Comes Next

Across four dedicated spaces, more than 60 conferences will examine some of the changes already reshaping the optical profession.

Artificial intelligence and smart eyewear feature prominently, alongside preventive healthcare, retail, sustainability and the evolving role of the optician.

Among the scheduled discussions are Smart Glasses: Understand, Anticipate and Take Action on Friday, while Saturday looks towards predictive and preventive healthcare through eye imaging and artificial intelligence.

Sunday turns its attention to retail with Stand Out or Disappear: Why Retail Needs to Reinvent Itself, followed on Monday by a session examining how tomorrow’s opticians should be trained for a world increasingly shaped by smart glasses and AI.

Together, they reflect a wider shift taking place within the industry. Eyewear remains a product of design, craftsmanship and vision correction, but its relationship with technology, healthcare and the consumer is becoming increasingly complex.

SILMO NEXT // Where Eyewear Meets Technology

That transformation becomes tangible at SILMO NEXT and its Tech Village.

For 2026, artificial intelligence sits firmly at the centre of the programme, with smart glasses, AI-assisted eye examinations, virtual environments and new approaches to optical retail among the technologies being explored.

Rather than simply discussing what may happen in the future, the area is designed around demonstrations and real-world applications, giving optical professionals an opportunity to experience emerging technologies and consider what they could mean for their businesses.

As connected eyewear continues its transition from technology experiment towards genuine optical category, that conversation has rarely felt more relevant.

Design Still Takes Centre Stage

Technology may be changing the profession, but SILMO remains equally important as a celebration of eyewear design.

The SILMO d’Or Awards once again place innovation, craftsmanship and creativity in the spotlight, recognising some of the industry’s most progressive new products and the people behind them.

Meanwhile, the Trends Forum explores the shapes, colours and materials influencing the coming season, presenting a curated snapshot of the design directions emerging from collections throughout the halls.

For independent opticians searching for something distinctive for their stores, these remain some of the most valuable elements of the Paris experience.

A Wider View of the Industry

Elsewhere, the programme expands into sustainability, professional education and hands-on expertise.

The CSR Area dedicates 160 m² to materials, start-ups, workshops and discussions around building a more responsible optical industry, while SILMO Talks brings together specialists to examine the market and the changes affecting it.

Dedicated contact lens workshops add a more practical dimension, creating opportunities for professionals to deepen their technical knowledge alongside the commercial and creative side of the show.

It is precisely this combination that gives SILMO its relevance.

New eyewear will always provide the visual energy, but Paris has increasingly become a place where the industry also considers what optical retail, technology and professional practice might look like several years from now.

Paris Awaits

From discovering an emerging independent label to testing the latest smart eyewear, discussing the future of the optical store or simply reconnecting with colleagues from around the world, four days in Villepinte can cover a remarkable amount of ground.

And with only one month remaining, the countdown has officially begun.

SILMO Paris 2026 takes place from 25–28 September at Paris Nord Villepinte, Halls 6 and 7.