SILMO · 2026

Agoris analysis · updated October 2026

Key takeaways

• SILMO Paris, the world fair for optics, eyewear and ophthalmic equipment, has been held every year in Paris since the 1960s.
• Organiser: Comexposium (a subsidiary of CCI Paris Île-de-France and Crédit Agricole Assurances).
• 2026 edition: from Friday 25 to Monday 28 September 2026, at Paris-Nord Villepinte.
• Audience (2025 figures): 33,358 professionals, of whom 52% were international, up 6.5% year on year. More than 900 exhibiting companies representing around 1,500 brands, across 75,000 m².
• Highlights: the SILMO d'Or (the sector's benchmark awards since 1994), the Optical Design Contest for young creators, and the SILMO Academy scientific congress.

Who exhibits

Typical profile

SILMO Paris brings together the upstream and downstream of the optics industry: frame manufacturers and brands, lens makers, contact lenses, workshop equipment and instruments, edging machines, low vision, sun protection, accessories and services for points of sale. On the visitor side: opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, distributors, buying groups, importers and retail buyers, with a strong international dimension.

Notable exhibitors

More than 900 companies exhibited in 2025, representing around 1,500 brands. The official exhibitor list and the floor plan are published on the SILMO Paris website.

Quality of the visitor base

The 2025 figures report 33,358 professionals welcomed, of whom 52% were international and 48% French, an increase of 6.5% compared with the previous edition (source: Comexposium). The predominantly international visitor base positions SILMO as an export event for eyewear brands.

Events & community

Conference programme

The SILMO Academy forms the scientific strand of the trade show: a congress devoted to visual health, research and innovation, complemented by the SILMO Talks bringing together clinical experts and retail strategies. In 2025, a research grant of €10,000 was awarded in this context. The detailed programme for the upcoming edition is published online on the official website as the show approaches.

Awards and accolades

• SILMO d'Or: awarded since 1994 (32nd edition in 2025), they reward excellence in creativity and innovation in the optics and eyewear world. The winged statuette is a mark of recognition displayed by the winners on their stands.
• Optical Design Contest: a competition open to design students, with a prize of €10,000 shared between the school and the winner (4th edition in 2025).
• Prix de l'Entreprise Engagée: an award recognising concrete CSR initiatives, in partnership with Hyssop.
• International Optician of the Year Award: presented in collaboration with the IOA (International Opticians Association).

Community & networks

SILMO maintains an active professional community around news from the optics industry. The brand also runs international editions and events led by the organiser. Official announcements are relayed via the show's press area and networks.

On site: what you need to know

For access, parking, transport (RER B, shuttles) and accommodation, see the venue page for Paris-Nord Villepinte.

Specific to the trade show:

• 2026 dates: from Friday 25 to Monday 28 September 2026, over 4 days.
• Floor space: around 75,000 m² of exhibition space.
• Badge: visitor registration and invitations are handled online on the official website; SILMO is a strictly trade-only show.
• The detailed floor plan (halls, international pavilions) is published on the website when registration opens.

How much it costs to exhibit

Preparing your visit

For the exhibitor

• 9 to 12 months out: book your space and choose your location (international pavilions and high-traffic areas go early).
• 6 months out: brief your stand agency, apply for the SILMO d'Or and other awards, plan your international buyer prospecting.
• 3 months out: logistics (transport of frames and samples, customs for international shipments), client invitations, pre-booked business meetings.
• 1 month out: finalise the stand, brief the team, sales materials and export pricing.

For the decision-making visitor

• Target priority pavilions and brands in advance via the online exhibitor list.
• Set up supplier meetings and negotiations before the show: 4 intense days across 75,000 m².
• Block out the relevant SILMO Academy / SILMO Talks sessions (visual health, retail, innovation).
• Plan your transport timing to Villepinte (RER B + shuttle) during peak hours.

CSR policy & initiatives

SILMO Paris runs a dedicated CSR strand, built around a space and practical resources developed in partnership with Hyssop: thematic guides on sourcing, packaging and transport, and advice on reducing the industry's footprint. The show also presents the Prix de l'Entreprise Engagée, recognising the concrete CSR initiatives of optics companies.

At the organiser level, Comexposium is certified Positive Company (2025), attesting to verified social, societal and environmental standards. The host venue, Paris-Nord Villepinte (Viparis), pursues a sustainable development approach structured around three pillars (environment, heritage, inclusion), detailed on its page.

How the show has evolved

Trajectory analysis

SILMO has established itself as one of the world's leading optics and eyewear events, with a marked international footing: more than half of its visitors come from abroad. The 2025 edition returned to growth (+6.5% in attendance), confirming the show's position as an export platform for frame and sunglasses brands.

Its recent trajectory combines an upscaling of content (the scientific SILMO Academy, SILMO Talks, the internationalisation of the congress) and the structuring of CSR across the industry. The 2026 edition continues this trend: September, Paris-Nord Villepinte, a 4-day format and an unchanged global positioning.

Unless otherwise stated, all factual data in this listing comes from the organiser's official website (silmoparis.com).