Global Eyewear Elite Named as SILMO d'Or 2026 Nominees Ahead of Paris Showdown
Smart eyewear, myopia management and cutting-edge low vision tech headline this year's field of finalists for the SILMO d'Or, the eyewear industry's most prestigious award, with heavyweights EssilorLuxottica, Safilo and De Rigo all fielding multiple contenders across the 16 award categories.
The nominee list for the 33rd edition was released this week, ahead of SILMO Paris, which runs from 25 to 28 September at Paris Nord Villepinte. Winners will be announced at the show, widely regarded as the world's leading optics and eyewear trade fair, drawing more than 33,000 trade visitors and over 900 exhibitors from around the globe each year.
For Australian eyecare professionals, the SILMO d'Or shortlist is one of the clearest early signals of where frame design, lens technology and clinical eyewear are headed over the next 12 months, well before much of this stock reaches local showrooms and optometry practices.
Smart eyewear takes centre stage
The Smart Eyewear category is arguably the most closely watched this year, with EssilorLuxottica's Ray-Ban Meta Display nominated alongside Even Realities' Even G2, Solos' AirGo V2, Vonder's Intelligent Eyewear and a luxury AI offering from GETD & Marienfeld. The category underlines how quickly connected eyewear has moved from novelty to a genuine growth segment that practices will increasingly need to understand and stock.
Vision care and myopia management in the frame
In the Vision category, Hoya Vision Care's MiYOSMART iQ lens is up against EssilorLuxottica's Crizal Natural Look coating, along with entries from Ophtalmic Compagnie, Mega Optic and Optovision. The nomination will be welcomed by Australian optometrists, given the strong local focus on paediatric myopia control in recent years.
Low vision and clinical technology recognised
The Low Vision category features Eschenbach Optik's Optaro XL, alongside Koba Vision's Vocatex 4 Connect, Lesa's Claudia and Sedris Vision's Sedris IA. In equipment, Essilor Instruments, Nidek, Topcon Healthcare and diagnostic imaging specialist Retinéo are all in contention, reflecting continued investment in in-practice diagnostic and dispensing technology.
Fashion houses and independent designers go head-to-head
The fashion categories remain fiercely contested. In optical frames, Chopard, Lancel, Marc O'Polo, Sandro and Vanessa Bruno are nominated under the "labels" banner, while Etro, Ferragamo, Isabel Marant, Nina Ricci and Victoria Beckham compete in sunglasses, distributed through major groups including Safilo, Marchon and De Rigo.
Independent design gets its own spotlight too, with dedicated categories for eyewear designers and craftsmanship. Nominees range from French and Belgian ateliers such as Atelier Arthur Sardo, Maison Lune and Pontet, to Japanese and Korean-influenced work from Yoshinori Aoyama and Rigards, highlighting the depth of artisanal frame-making still driving the sector.
Sport, kids and technological innovation
Elsewhere, Oakley's Shield Fusion, Bollé's Skyrun and Julbo's Panora lead a strong sport eyewear field, while children's eyewear nominees include entries from Eyelet, Design Eyewear Group and Caroline Abram. A dedicated Technological Innovation in Eyewear category recognises mechanical and material breakthroughs, including Vuarnet's cylindrical Rx shield lens and modular frame designs from Ikosseyewear.
Winners will be revealed at a ceremony during SILMO Paris later this month.
