SILMO d’Or 2026
Meet the Nominees
The nominees for the 33rd SILMO d’Or have been revealed ahead of SILMO Paris 2026, bringing together some of the most creative, technically ambitious and forward-thinking work produced by the international optical industry this year.
Few accolades in eyewear carry the significance of a SILMO d’Or. Since its creation in 1994, the award has become one of the industry’s most prestigious distinctions, recognising excellence across eyewear design, craftsmanship, vision technology, equipment and innovation.
For 2026, the official shortlist spans 13 categories, ranging from independent eyewear design and traditional savoir-faire to smart eyewear, low vision, sports performance and technological innovation. The nominees will now progress through an extensive judging process involving optical professionals, specialists, designers and members of the international optical press.
At its best, the SILMO d’Or is about considerably more than creating a beautiful frame. It celebrates ideas that move eyewear forward: a new construction method, an unexpected material, a technical solution, a different way of approaching vision, or simply a piece of design executed with such conviction that it deserves the industry’s attention.
Ten years at the SILMO d’Or jury table
For TEF Magazine, this year’s awards also mark a personal milestone.
“For the past 10 years, TEFmag has had the privilege of participating as a member of the international SILMO d’Or jury, examining the nominated work alongside fellow journalists and professionals from across the global optical community. It remains one of the responsibilities we value most.”
Judging eyewear at this level is rarely straightforward. Innovation needs to work. Craftsmanship has to withstand close inspection. Design should have purpose. And when several exceptional pieces arrive on the table together, personal taste needs to make way for a much broader discussion about originality, execution, relevance and what a product contributes to contemporary eyewear.
The nominees for the 33rd SILMO d’Or
CHILDREN
EYELET
Leap by Eyelet — TOM EYEWEAR
KARAVAN KIDS
Zigzag — DESIGN EYEWEAR GROUP
PETIT BATEAU
St Malo 02 – VEVE — SEAPORT ODLM
STEPPER EYEWEAR
Stepper Eyewear Start
TÊTE À LUNETTES
Mini Sophia — CAROLINE ABRAM
SPORT
BOLLÉ
Skyrun — SEAPORT ODLM
JULBO
Panora
NOGS
Maximus
OAKLEY
Shield Fusion™ — ESSILORLUXOTTICA
SCICON SPORTS
Aerobeam Titanium
VISION
CRIZAL
Crizal Natural Look — ESSILORLUXOTTICA
HOYA VISION CARE
MiYOSMART iQ
MEGA OPTIC
Evosight VR
OPHTALMIC COMPAGNIE
DYNAMI OSM
OPTOVISION
WIDR me
LOW VISION
ESCHENBACH OPTIK
Optaro® XL
KOBA VISION
Vocatex 4 Connect — ACCES’SOLUTIONS
LESA
Claudia
SEDRIS VISION
Sedris IA — ACCES’SOLUTIONS
MATERIAL / EQUIPMENT
ESSILOR INSTRUMENTS
TCB 900 — ESSILORLUXOTTICA
ID CONCEPTION X OLGA
Atelier Optimaker 2.0
NIDEK
PHANTOM™
RETINÉO
Rétinéo — TELEMEDEXPERT
TOPCON HEALTHCARE
Tera Dry Eye Imager
SMART EYEWEAR
EVEN REALITIES
Even G2
GETD & MARIENFELD
The Luxury AI Glasses
RAY-BAN META
Meta Ray-Ban Display
SOLOS
Solos AirGo V2 & Privacy Kit
VONDER
VONDER Intelligent Eyewear
OPTICAL FRAME — LABELS
CHOPARD
VCH445S — DE RIGO
LANCEL
EMELINE — GROSFILLEY
MARC O’POLO
501045 C80 — ESCHENBACH OPTIK
SANDRO FEMME
SD2093007 — ADCL
VANESSA BRUNO
JESS 01 – BE85 — SEAPORT ODLM
SUNGLASSES — LABELS
ETRO
0155/S — SAFILO
FERRAGAMO
SF346S — MARCHON
ISABEL MARANT
IM 0288/S — SAFILO
NINA RICCI
SNR496 – COLOR 06UC — DE RIGO
VICTORIA BECKHAM
VB 7015/S — SAFILO
SUNGLASSES — EYEWEAR DESIGNER
CAROLINE ABRAM
Sakura
JEAN PHILIPPE JOLY
Take a Breath
PALOCERAS
Pebble RX
YOSHINORI AOYAMA
Ya-070
OPTICAL FRAME — EYEWEAR DESIGNER
ATELIER ARTHUR SARDO
Comet – Meteore/Noire
MAISON LUNE
La Galet
PONTET
Cigale
POP KHORN
Alpha — GASTON ETC
VERONIKA WILDGRUBER
Mulder
OPTICAL FRAME —
CRAFTSMANSHIP & KNOW-HOW
LOUMY LUNETIER
IRIS
MOLDISM
Double.D — HAMAMOTO TECH.
PLEIN LES MIRETTES
Récurrence
rolf. eyewear
Superbird
SIGN
Sign 6009 — VUILLET VEGA
From nomination to the golden wing
Simply reaching this shortlist already places each project among a highly selected group. During SILMO Paris 2026, which takes place from 25–28 September at Paris Nord Villepinte, the nominees will move into the final stage of judging before the winners of the 33rd SILMO d’Or are revealed.
For the nominees, it is a chance to take home one of eyewear’s most recognisable trophies.
For the jury, it means something slightly less glamorous:
Time to put the gloves on, pick up the frames, inspect every detail and start arguing.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
About Silmo d’Or
Silmo d'Or
Organizer: Silmo Paris
The Silmo d’Or Awards is by far the most prestigious award in the eyewear industry, recognizing excellence in innovation, design, and technology. Held annually during Silmo Paris, the event showcases groundbreaking eyewear and optical advancements, honoring both independent designers and major brands.
Recent winners: Lafont, Pierre Eyewear, Prodesign, Parasite, Skans, Etnia Barcelona, Andy Wolf, Veronika Wildgruber, Cutler and Gross.
Jury: Typically comprises industry experts, designers, and journalists from the optical sector. TEF Magazine's editor-in-chief Maarten Weidema has been a member of the jury for the Silmo d'Or since 2019.
The latest news on these awards:
Silmo Paris 2026 – International Eyewear Trade Fair
September 25-28, 2026
Paris Nord, Villepinte
SILMO Paris 2026 is the most exciting international eyewear and optics trade fair, held at the Exhibition Center Paris Nord Villepinte. This Silmo Paris eyewear show welcomes professionals from across the optical sector, serving as both a marketplace and an incubator of ideas. Each year, the fair reveals innovations, technological challenges, and future perspectives that help define tomorrow’s eyewear industry.
Key Facts – Silmo Paris 2026 Dates and Location
Square meters
Brands
Visitors
SILMO Paris 2026
THE PLACE TO BE, TO SEE, TO FORESEE!
Why Silmo Paris 2026 is the Place to Be:
From September 25 to 28, 2026, Paris Nord Villepinte will once again become the global stage of the eyewear industry. Welcoming thousands of professionals and leading brands, Silmo Paris international eyewear fair is where new collections are unveiled, business connections are made, and eyewear trends for 2026 and beyond are set.
This is not just an optical trade fair in France; it’s an industry-defining experience where daring creators, innovative manufacturers, and passionate opticians come together to share their vision of the future.
Registration for SILMO Paris 2026
Visitor registration for SILMO Paris 2026 is now open through the official SILMO Paris website. Optical professionals planning to attend the show can order their ticket online in advance and prepare their visit to Paris Nord Villepinte, where the event will take place from 25 to 28 September 2026.
"As the place to see, the Silmo Paris eyewear show showcases the very best in optics, all under one roof. From visionary designs and breakthrough lens technologies to sustainable materials and smart glasses, this is where visitors get a front-row seat to the future of eyewear. Every corner of the exhibition buzzes with discoveries, offering visitors a chance to explore the products and innovations that will soon define their own shelves and practices."
SILMO Next – Innovation Hub for Eyewear
At the SILMO Next innovation hub, visitors step into a laboratory of the future. Here, emerging technologies, digital solutions, and cutting-edge design concepts are showcased. From sustainable materials and smart glasses to AI-driven retail solutions, SILMO Next sets the tone for the next generation of eyewear.
Eyewear Trends at Silmo Paris 2026
The Trends Forum offers a curated journey through the season’s most influential eyewear pieces. Attendees gain insights into color directions, material innovations, and shape evolutions before they hit the mainstream. This section has become a key resource for professionals looking to anticipate the eyewear trends Silmo Paris 2026 will bring to the market.
Knowledge Sharing – Silmo Talks and Academy
Learning is central to Silmo Paris optical trade fair. Through Silmo Talks and the Silmo Academy, visitors engage with world-renowned experts. Topics range from clinical breakthroughs to retail strategies, offering knowledge that helps shape the future of the optical profession.
Celebrating Excellence – Silmo d’Or Awards 2026
SILMO Paris is also a celebration of creativity and achievement. The prestigious Silmo d’Or awards 2026 honor outstanding eyewear design and technological innovation.
Other Awards and Recognitions
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Optical Design Contest – spotlighting young creative talent
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Responsible Company Award – rewarding sustainability and ethical practices
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International Optician of the Year Award – presented in collab with the IOA
Honoring Craftsmanship and Heritage
Visitors can explore the artistry of French eyewear making. From the skills of the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France to exhibitions from the museums of Oyonnax and Morez, SILMO Paris celebrates the heritage and craftsmanship that continue to inspire the industry.
Staying Connected Beyond the Fair
The conversation doesn’t end when the doors close. With SILMO News updates and “The Right Optics by SILMO” podcast, the event keeps professionals engaged throughout the year, offering stories, interviews, and insights that extend the impact of the show Silmo Paris Paris Nord Villepinte.
More news on SILMO Paris 2026
SILMO Talks // Defining Independent Opticians
At SILMO Paris 2026, Alessandra Salimbene will challenge traditional definitions of the independent optician, presenting a new marketing perspective and unveiling a project created specifically for Europe’s independent optical sector.
Must-See Brands at SILMO Paris 2026
TEF selects the SILMO Paris eyewear brands worth your time in 2026, from bold showstoppers and design thinkers to craft obsessives, rule breakers and new names to watch.
SILMO Paris // One Month Until Eyewear Takes Over Paris
SILMO Paris 2026 returns from 25 to 28 September, bringing the international eyewear and optical industry together for four days of new collections, technology, trends, education and networking. From independent eyewear and the SILMO d’Or to smart glasses, AI and more than 60 conferences, Paris once again becomes one of the key meeting points of the optical calendar.
SILMO d’Or 2026 // Joachim Froment to Lead the Jury
SILMO d’Or 2026 places contemporary design thinking at the center of optics with the appointment of Joachim Froment as President of the Jury. The Brussels-based industrial designer brings a multidisciplinary vision shaped by technology, emotion, and systemic design, reinforcing SILMO Paris as a platform where the future of eyewear innovation continues to evolve.
SILMO Paris 2026 // Where the Industry Moves
There is a moment each year when the optical industry stops reacting and starts defining what comes next. SILMO Paris 2026 is that moment. From global brands to emerging innovators, from craftsmanship to technology, everything converges in Paris. It is where ideas gain direction, where conversations become collaborations, and where the future of eyewear quietly begins to take shape.
SILMO Paris // A New Vision Takes Shape in 2026
SILMO Paris is entering a new chapter. For the 2026 edition, the global optical trade show introduces a new identity and campaign built around a clear message: “The Season Starts Here.” As the industry prepares to gather in Paris this September, SILMO positions itself once again as the moment when innovation, design and new ideas begin shaping the next eyewear season.
Vuarnet // TEFtalk with Vuarnet Brand Director Giulia Zanzi
At SILMO Paris 2025, TEF Magazine sat down for a #TEFtalk with Giulia Zanzi, Brand Director at Vuarnet, to explore how this iconic performance eyewear brand continues to evolve under Thélios. Zanzi reflects on Vuarnet’s legacy of French craftsmanship, technological precision, and timeless style built for life’s every adventure.
SILMO Academy Bali // Vision Meets Paradise
For the first time, SILMO Academy heads to Bali for a three-day international congress from April 6–8, 2026, dedicated to visual health, research, and innovation. Hosted by SILMO Paris, this new edition brings together world-leading experts to explore themes such as Healthy Ageing, Light Management, and Future Advances in Optometry, all set against the tranquil and inspiring backdrop of Hotel Paradisus, Bali.
Optical Women’s Association // Empowering Global Voices at SILMO Paris
OWA Global Connection Event Celebrating Women in Optical Innovation The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) marked another milestone for global collaboration with its Global Connection Event at SILMO Paris, titled “Seeing Beyond: The Power of Women in Optical...
Design Eyewear Group // Lars Flyvholm on Creative Synergy and Trade Shows
At SILMO Paris 2025, TEF Magazine sat down with Lars Flyvholm, CEO of Design Eyewear Group, for an exclusive #TEFtalk interview on design collaboration, the Menrad acquisition, and the future of optical tradeshows. This Design Eyewear Group Lars Flyvholm interview reveals how creative teamwork and strategic vision shape one of Europe’s most dynamic independent eyewear groups.
