Eyewear Trade Shows
A free, regularly updated directory of major and independent eyewear trade shows worldwide — dates, locations, and how to attend.
This directory tracks 14 eyewear industry trade shows worldwide — 5 major international shows (MIDO, SILMO Paris, Vision Expo, SECO International, 100% Optical) and 9 smaller shows built specifically around independent and luxury eyewear brands, rather than the mass-market optical industry. Every listing links out to a full page with confirmed dates, venue, badge and registration info, and — where a brand has claimed its View Eyewear profile — who's already exhibiting.
Coverage spans Europe (4), North America (9), Asia (1). We deliberately keep this list narrow: the independent-tier shows on this page are all curated around boutique and luxury eyewear specifically, not general optical industry trade floors — if a show doesn't focus on independent or luxury brands, it isn't listed here.
Dates change year to year, and we only publish a date once we can confirm it from an official source — a show marked "Dates TBA" below means the next edition hasn't been officially announced yet, not that the show has stopped running. Check back, or see each show's own listing page for the most current status.
Jan 31, 2026 – Feb 2, 2026
MIDO
Milan, Italy
Feb 20, 2026 – Feb 22, 2026
The Eye Ball
Palm Springs, CA, USA
Feb 25, 2026 – Mar 1, 2026
SECO International
Atlanta, GA, USA
Feb 28, 2026 – Mar 2, 2026
100% Optical
London, United Kingdom
Mar 5, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026
The LOFT Eyewear Show
New York & Santa Monica, USA
Mar 5, 2026 – Mar 7, 2026
The Frame Affair
New York, NY, USA
Mar 6, 2026 – Mar 8, 2026
EYECON
New York, NY, USA
Mar 11, 2026 – Mar 14, 2026
Vision Expo
Rotating, USA
Sep 11, 2026 – Sep 12, 2026
SIOS — Southern Independent Optical Show
Grand Prairie, TX, USA
Sep 25, 2026 – Sep 28, 2026
SILMO Paris
Paris, France
Oct 6, 2026 – Oct 8, 2026
NEO TOKYO Eyewear Show
Tokyo, Japan
Oct 18, 2026
NEOS — North East Optical Show
Rotating, USA
Dates TBA
10K Frame Show
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Closed
Copenhagen Specs
Copenhagen, Denmark
Frequently Asked Questions
For Optical Practice Owners
What upcoming eyewear trade shows are there?
Major shows include MIDO (Milan), SILMO Paris, Vision Expo (North America), SECO (Atlanta), and 100% Optical (London), plus a growing circuit of independent/boutique-focused shows like LOFT, EYECON, The Frame Affair, and The Eye Ball. See the full list above with current dates.
Are there eyewear trade shows in Europe?
Yes — MIDO in Milan, Italy is the largest eyewear trade show in the world; SILMO Paris and 100% Optical (London) are also major European shows.
Are there eyewear trade shows in the US?
Yes — Vision Expo is the major national show (location rotates yearly), SECO runs in Atlanta, and a cluster of independent shows (LOFT, EYECON, The Frame Affair) run in New York each spring, with others regionally (SIOS in Texas, the 10K Frame Show in Minneapolis, NEOS on the East Coast, The Eye Ball in Palm Springs).
How do I attend an eyewear trade show as a guest?
Most major shows are trade-only and free for verified industry professionals (opticians, optometrists, retailers), but require advance online registration — there's usually no walk-up option. Check each show's own listing page on this site for its specific registration process.
Do I need to be a licensed optician to get into these shows?
Trade-only shows generally require proof of industry affiliation to register (a practice name, resale/business license, or professional credential), not necessarily a specific license type. Requirements vary by show — verify on the official registration page before booking travel.
Which trade show is best for a small independent practice on a limited travel budget?
The independent-focused shows (LOFT, EYECON, The Frame Affair, The Eye Ball, SIOS, the 10K Frame Show, NEOS) tend to be smaller, cheaper to attend, and specifically curated around the boutique/independent brands most relevant to a smaller practice — versus the major shows, which are larger and more travel-intensive but expose you to a bigger global brand pool.
How much does it typically cost to attend an eyewear trade show?
Registration itself is often free or low-cost for verified industry professionals at the major shows (MIDO, SILMO, SECO, 100% Optical). The real cost is usually travel and lodging, not the badge. Some independent shows charge a modest entry fee. Check each listing page for current pricing.
For Eyewear Brands
How does a brand register to exhibit at a trade show?
Each show has its own exhibitor application process, typically through the show's official website — you'll usually submit company details and requested booth size, and pricing is quoted directly rather than published. Independent designer brands can also list which shows they're exhibiting at directly on their View Eyewear profile — see each show's listing page for who's already confirmed.
Which trade show is best for launching a new independent eyewear brand?
The independent/discovery-format shows — EYECON and The Frame Affair (both curated, gallery-style, New York) and The Eye Ball (Palm Springs) — are specifically built to spotlight first-time-exhibiting and emerging brands, rather than competing for attention on a mass-market trade floor.
How much does it cost for a brand to exhibit at an eyewear trade show?
It varies widely by show and booth size — major shows like MIDO and SILMO don't publish standard pricing and quote per-brand, while some independent shows (The Frame Affair, historically) have offered free exhibiting space. Contact each show's exhibitor team directly for a current quote.
Can I list my brand's booth information on this site once I'm confirmed to exhibit?
Yes. If your brand has a View Eyewear designer profile, you can self-manage which trade shows you're exhibiting at (and your booth number) from your brand portal — it shows on that show's public listing page and on your own brand page.
What's the difference between a trade show and a trunk show for a brand?
A trade show (this directory) is an industry-wide event where many brands exhibit to buyers, press, and other brands. A trunk show is a single brand visiting one specific optical boutique directly to show its collection to that boutique's own patients — a different, one-to-one retail event, not covered by this directory.
For Sales Reps & Territory Managers
How do I plan a multi-show travel calendar for eyewear trade shows?
Sort by date using this directory's landing grid, which lists every show chronologically as new dates are confirmed. A few shows run back-to-back in the same city and week — EYECON, The Frame Affair, and LOFT's New York edition all cluster together each spring, which is worth building a single New York trip around rather than three separate ones.
Which eyewear trade shows are trade-only versus open to buyers and press?
Nearly every show on this list is trade-only (industry professionals with pre-registration), not open to the general public. A few of the independent-format shows (EYECON, The Eye Ball) explicitly build in press and networking components alongside the standard buyer floor.
Do independent brands need a rep at every show, or can one rep cover multiple regions?
That depends entirely on your brand's distribution footprint — a brand selling mainly through US independent boutiques will get more value concentrating on LOFT, EYECON, SECO, and Vision Expo than splitting a single rep across European shows like MIDO and SILMO as well. Regional major shows (MIDO for Europe, Vision Expo for North America) are the ones worth prioritizing if travel budget is the constraint.