opti 2026: Innovation, inspiration, interaction
Munich, 19 November 2026 – opti 2026 will launch with new formats, thematically focused experience areas and a clear content concept. Design, healthcare, hearing acoustics, young talent in the industry and networking are central pillars.
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Following the motto ‘Play smart. Move free.’, the second edition of TOMORROW VISION (Hall C4), the joint platform of leading contact lens manufacturers, will focus 2026 on the freedom offered by contact lenses. Logo: Copyright GHM -
As the new year’s first major industry platform, opti 2026 offers numerous networking opportunities such as the legendary opti PARTY. Picture: Copyright GHM -
In the design area of Halls C1 and C2, international eyewear design meets creative diversity with over 500 brands in the YES AREA. At the opti DESIGN STAGE, opti eyewear trend guru Selin Olmsted (pictured) from New York will present her Trend Report 2027. She will also guide opti visitors to the most exciting new products in her opti TREND WALKS. Picture: Copyright GHM -
opti Director Cathleen Kabashi looks forward to the upcoming opti 2026 with great anticipation. (16 - 18 January 2026 in Munich) Picture: Copyright GHM -
It is here, that opti SPHEARE, a real highlight is celebrating its world premiere as the new centre for the focus topic of hearing acoustics. Covering more than 200 square metres, it is an interactive space teaming up strongly industry knowledge, best practice and market opportunities. Leading providers such as actric, Bellman & Symfon, Meditrend, Nuance Audio, Optimus Hearing, oton & friends, PROABO or Sinfonia (in alphabetical order) will present at opti 2026 technologies and concepts which make it easier for mixed businesses and businesses endeavouring to become mixed businesses to enter or expand into hearing acoustics – for a clear plus on the sales numbers. Logo: Copyright GHM
opti 2026 is all about innovation, inspiration and encounters. With new formats, theme centred experience areas and a clear content concept, the international trade show for optics and design is once again taking the lead when it comes to shaping the future of the industry. The topics of design, healthcare, hearing acoustics, young talent and networking form the central pillars of the trade fair experience – the playing field for visionaries and doers alike.
opti’s the future: see it, hear it, shape it!
In the Optics section (halls C3 and C4), visitors can experience innovations along the entire value chain: from refraction and diagnostics to glasses, contact lenses and hearing aids – in short: the optical future within sight – and earshot.
It is here, that a real highlight is celebrating its world premiere: opti SPHEARE – the new centre for the focus topic of hearing acoustics. Covering more than 200 square metres, it is an interactive space teaming up strongly industry knowledge, best practice and market opportunities. Leading providers such as actric, Bellman & Symfon, Meditrend, Nuance Audio, Optimus Hearing, oton & friends, PROABO or Sinfonia (in alphabetical order) will present at opti 2026 technologies and concepts which make it easier for mixed businesses and businesses endeavouring to become mixed businesses to enter or expand into hearing acoustics – for a clear plus on the sales numbers.
‘With opti SPHEARE, we are broadening our trade show’s scope and are opening up a field of high-potential for the future of optical businesses. Hearing acoustics and ophthalmic optics complement each other perfectly – and it is precisely these synergies that we are highlighting at our trade show,’ explains Cathleen Kabashi, Director opti.
The second edition of TOMORROW VISION (Hall C4) will also make a big splash in 2026. Following the motto ‘Play smart. Move free.’, the joint platform of leading contact lens manufacturers – ALCON, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, HECHT Contactlinsen, Mark'ennovy, Menicon GmbH, MPG&E and the SEED Group (Wöhlk, Ultravision, Sensimed) – focuses on the freedom offered by contact lenses. Whether in sports or everyday life, freedom of movement becomes a living vision, a ‘playing field full of possibilities.’
‘In 2026, TOMORROW VISION will be the playground of possibilities for our visitors working in ophthalmic optics. When leading contact lens manufacturers come together, it creates a space that pools knowledge and impressively highlights the economic relevance of this segment,’ emphasises Cathleen Kabashi.
The opti FUTURE VISION HUB in Hall C4 already bears the future in its name. Here, everything revolves around healthcare, myopia management, smart glasses, AI, telemedicine and technology. In the opti VISIONARY start-up area (Hall C3), young companies showcase their ideas relating to artificial intelligence, software and diagnostic solutions.
The opti NEXT GENERATION HUB in Hall C3 is a real hotspot for young professionals in the industry, who will find relevant topics for their further professional development here: for example, when it comes to starting their own business, speed dating sessions facilitating networking with their peers or with companies looking for young talent, or gathering inspiration for their own careers. A great example for the latter being the opti CAMPUS, which offering guidance on training, studies and careers with universities, further education centres and institutions – essentially a training centre for the industry’s future.
Design meets vision
In the design halls C1 and C2, international eyewear design meets creative diversity with over 500 brands in the YES AREA. The opti DESIGN STAGE presents the frames of the candidate brands for the opti FRAME STAR audience award thus giving a lively first impression of up and coming materials and trends. This is also where the DOZ panel discussions with Italian colour, material and design expert Francesca Valan and Angela Mrositzki take place. The latter considering eyewear as more than just a fashion accessory, namely as an art and cultural asset. opti eyewear trend guru Selin Olmsted from New York will present her Trend Report 2027 here. She will also guide opti visitors to the most exciting new products in her opti TREND WALKS.
Young labels showcase their ideas in the opti BOXES, the opti BOX AWARD honours the most innovative start-up in the frame sector, and the opti BOX BAR is a popular place for discussions and exchanges.
‘With the opti DESIGN STAGE and formats such as the opti FRAME STAR, we are creating the stage where creativity, craftsmanship and fashion quite literally meet on eye level. Here, design becomes an experience – accessible, inspiring and interactive,’ says Cathleen Kabashi.
Networking: Exchange on equal terms
As the new year’s first major industry platform, opti 2026 offers numerous networking opportunities. The opti RUNWAY BAR, the opti BOX BAR and the YES LOUNGE are ideal meeting places for discussions, collaborations and business negotiations, as well as the perfect venue for teamwork and new alliances. The first day of the trade fair ends with its traditional highlight: the legendary opti PARTY. This is not only a place to celebrate and dance, but often also the starting point for new joint successes.
About opti
opti is the international trade fair for optics and design, which takes place annually in Munich in January as the industry's kick-off event. The networking event offers trade visitors the complete spectrum of optical products, from spectacle frames, lenses, contact lenses, refraction, diagnostics and low vision to shopfitting and technical equipment. In addition, opti is also the venue for product launches by international market leaders and start-ups alike. The trade fair has been organised by GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH since 2008 and was first held in 1998.
Media contact
Bernd Degner
+49 89 189 149 166
bernd.degner@ghm.de
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