BOLD XXL 2026
Anniversary Edition Draws 3,219 Visitors
BOLD Optical Fair has closed the doors on a highly successful anniversary edition of BOLD XXL 2026, welcoming 3,219 optical professionals to the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch for two days of eyewear, innovation, education and industry networking.
Celebrating ten years of BOLD, the XXL edition brought together a broad cross-section of the optical market, from independent eyewear brands and established suppliers to equipment specialists, technology providers and industry professionals. The result was a busy show floor with a noticeably relaxed atmosphere, giving visitors the opportunity to discover new collections while reconnecting with colleagues from across the industry.
Ten years of BOLD deserved a special edition, and that is exactly what this became,” says the BOLD team. “Seeing the floor filled with new connections, strong brands and such a relaxed atmosphere made this anniversary particularly memorable.”
A Strong International Audience
The 2026 edition attracted opticians, optometrists, contact lens specialists, students and other professionals from throughout the optical sector.
Of the 3,219 registered visitors, approximately 75% travelled from the Netherlands, while the increasingly international character of the event was reflected by 14% of visitors coming from Germany, 7% from Belgium and a further 4% from other countries.
Two Days of Eyewear, Technology and New Ideas
Across both show days, visitors explored the latest eyewear collections alongside new optical equipment, technology, services and product innovations.
While eyewear remained at the heart of BOLD XXL, the anniversary edition continued to broaden the scope of the event beyond frames alone. The show floor brought together multiple sides of the optical profession, creating an environment where product discovery, business development and industry knowledge could take place under one roof.
The Kennisplein, BOLD’s dedicated knowledge platform, added an educational dimension to the event with a programme of presentations and discussions covering topics relevant to today’s optical professional.
A special anniversary lottery also marked the occasion, with visitors and exhibitors taking part throughout the two-day event and a range of prizes adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Ten Years of BOLD
What started as a relatively small Dutch optical event has developed over the past decade into one of the country’s most recognised meeting places for the independent optical community.
BOLD XXL 2026 represented an important milestone in that development, combining the scale of a major industry gathering with the accessible and informal atmosphere that has become closely associated with the BOLD format.
The anniversary edition also made room for more experimental presentation concepts, including Club Bizarre, created by TEF Magazine, itself celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, as a dedicated showcase for independent and more avant-garde eyewear. Its nightclub-inspired setting brought a different energy to the floor and highlighted the more expressive side of contemporary frame design.
Rather than simply looking back, however, the anniversary edition also provided a clear indication of where the organisation intends to go next: strengthening its community, expanding its international reach and continuing to create an accessible platform for brands, suppliers and optical professionals to meet face to face.
Next Up: BOLD Light 2027
The next edition of the event will be BOLD Light, taking place on 1 March 2027, once again at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Further details about BOLD Light 2027 are expected towards the end of 2026.
After a milestone anniversary edition and more than 3,200 visitors through the doors, BOLD now moves into its next decade with an increasingly international audience and a clear place within the European independent optical calendar.
About Bold Light
Bold Optical Fair
Bold Light 2027
March 1st, 2027
De Brabanthallen, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
BOLD Light 2027 returns to the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch on Monday, March 1, 2027, bringing the Dutch optical industry together for a focused one-day trade event dedicated to eyewear, innovation, new collections and professional connections.
Square meters
Brands
Visitors
Following the major tenth-anniversary edition of BOLD XXL in September 2026, BOLD shifts into its more compact spring format. BOLD Light offers opticians and optical professionals the opportunity to discover new-season collections and reconnect with suppliers without the scale of the two-day XXL edition.
Held in the Hertoghal of the Brabanthallen, the event runs from 10:00 until 18:00, concentrating a full day of product discovery, conversations and business into one easily accessible location in the centre of the Netherlands.
“The Brabanthallen in ‘s-Hertogenbosch holds a deep-rooted history, stretching back to the early 20th century. Initially, these halls housed the Bossche Veemarkt, a bustling hub in the city center till 1931. With the escalating livestock trade, public spaces began to feel the strain, paving the way for the inauguration of the first fully enclosed livestock market complex in 1931. Now, this cherished venue is set to greet approximately 2,750 eye care specialists, primarily from the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, and even from countries beyond Europe, such as the United States.”
A focused spring edition of BOLD Optical Fair
BOLD has developed into an important meeting place for the Dutch independent optical market, bringing together opticians, eyewear brands, distributors, lens companies, technology providers and other specialists from across the industry.
Where the large BOLD XXL edition fills the Brabanthallen with an extensive mix of brands and activities, BOLD Light is designed as the focused spring meeting point on the BOLD calendar.
Its timing at the beginning of March gives optical retailers an opportunity to explore new releases early in the year, meet existing suppliers face-to-face and discover additions for the months ahead.
The organisers have confirmed the date and venue for BOLD Light 2027, while the complete programme and participating-brand overview are expected to follow closer to the event.
Eyewear, business and personal connections
BOLD has always placed the interaction between optician and supplier at the heart of its events.
That makes BOLD Light particularly relevant for independent optical retailers looking beyond simply viewing frames online or browsing through another catalogue. Collections can be handled, fitted and discussed directly with the people behind them, while suppliers have the opportunity to understand what is happening on the shop floor.
For visitors, the compact one-day format also makes it possible to combine collection appointments, discovering new brands and catching up with familiar industry faces in a single visit.
And after the scale and celebration of BOLD XXL 2026, BOLD Light provides a very different rhythm: smaller, concentrated and firmly centred around doing business.
Brabanthallen ’s-Hertogenbosch
BOLD Light 2027 once again takes place at the Brabanthallen in Den Bosch, one of the best-connected exhibition venues in the Netherlands.
The venue is approximately a 15-minute walk from ’s-Hertogenbosch Central Station and is easily accessible by road via the A2, A59 and A65. The Brabanthallen also offers more than 4,000 parking spaces, including facilities for electric vehicles.
Its southern location also makes BOLD easily accessible for optical professionals travelling from Belgium and western Germany.
Who can visit BOLD Light 2027?
BOLD is a professional optical trade event and is not open to consumers.
Access is intended for opticians, optometrists and employees working within the optical sector. The organisers state that ticket applications without a company name or valid VAT number may be rejected. Networking or commercial acquisition by companies that are not participating in the event is also prohibited.
Visitor tickets for BOLD are free, with ticket registration normally opening approximately three months before the event.
BOLD Light 2027 Event Details
| Event | BOLD Light 2027 |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, March 1, 2027 |
| Opening hours | 10:00 – 18:00 |
| Venue | Brabanthallen – Hertoghal |
| Location | ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands |
| Address | Diezekade 2, 5222 AK ’s-Hertogenbosch |
| Focus | Eyewear, optical collections, industry innovation and professional networking |
| Visitor profile | Opticians, optometrists and optical professionals |
| Access | Trade-only event; consumers are not admitted |
| Tickets | Free visitor registration, expected to open approximately three months before the show |
Meet the Dutch optical industry at BOLD Light
For independent opticians, BOLD Light offers a strategically timed opportunity to see what is happening within the Dutch optical market at the beginning of the new season.
One hall. One day. A concentrated selection of eyewear and optical professionals.
BOLD Light 2027 takes place on Monday, March 1, 2027, from 10:00 to 18:00 at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
More participating brands and programme information will be announced by BOLD Optical Fair as the event approaches.
More news on BOLD
BOLD XXL 2026 // Ten Years of Independent Optics
BOLD Optical Fair celebrates its tenth anniversary on 6 and 7 September 2026 with a special BOLD XXL edition at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch. More than 420 brands, professional education, networking and a special anniversary programme will bring the independent optical industry together for two packed days.
CLUB BIZARRE // The Underground Awaits
TEF Magazine launches the Club Bizarre eyewear exposition, a dark, immersive stage for avant-garde frames, wearable eyewear art and designs that refuse to behave.
BOLD XXL // Ten Years of uniting the Optical Industry
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Bold Light 2026 // Targeted Purchasing and Networking
Bold Light 2026 in Den Bosch once again proved the value of focused industry gatherings, where opticians can concentrate on targeted purchasing and meaningful networking.
Bold Light 2026 // A Fresh Spring Edition Reimagined
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BOLD XXL 2025 // The Benelux Optical Trade Show That Connects the Industry
BOLD XXL 2025 brought the optical industry together in Den Bosch on September 7–8. As the largest optical trade show in the Benelux, it offered inspiration, innovation, and community through spaces like the Luxury Lounge and Ooggezondheidsplein. Independent opticians and global brands alike valued the Bold Optical Fair as the ideal place to network, buy new collections, and strengthen connections.
BOLD XXL 2025 // Bigger, Bolder, Brabanthallen
Join us at BOLD XXL 2025 on September 7–8 in Den Bosch. With over 335 brands and the all-new Eyecare Square for modern optical talks, this vibrant show remains a personal favorite and a must for every independent optician.
Bold Light // A Curated Showcase of Eyewear Excellence
Bold Light is set for March 24, 2025, at the 1931 Congress Centre in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, featuring over 135 brands.
TEFtalkBOLD // FFIN Eyewear
I sit down with the brilliant Anna Lewis, the creative force behind the award-winning independent eyewear brand FFIN, to discuss her latest retro-inspired frame design. Known for pushing the boundaries of eyewear design, Anna shares how she combines vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge materials and technology to create this bold, modern frame that is both stylish and functional.
BOLD XXL // International Allure in the Dutch World of Optics
On 8 and 9 September 2024, the Brabanthallen transformed into the epicenter of the optics world, hosting BOLD XXL, the premier optics trade fair of the Benelux region—and beyond! With over 360 brands and an impressive turnout of 2,772 visitors (including 376 from Germany and 147 from Belgium), this year’s event was nothing short of a triumph.
