The Hong Kong International Optical Fair 2026 attracted approximately 12,000 buyers from 101 countries and regions, as AI-enabled glasses, age-friendly vision products and international eyewear brands shaped sourcing activity.
The 34th edition took place from 4 to 6 November 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association.
The three-day fair brought together more than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, including manufacturers, eyewear brands, designers, technology developers, lens suppliers and optometric-equipment companies.
International buyers can review the full product coverage and past visitor information on the Hong Kong Optical Fair 2026 event page.
Hong Kong Optical Fair 2026 at a glance
- Dates: 4–6 November 2026
- Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Buyers: Approximately 12,000
- Buyer markets: 101 countries and regions
- Exhibitors: More than 600
- Exhibiting markets: 14 countries and regions
- Brands in the Brand Name Gallery: Approximately 200
- Online matching: Available until 13 November 2026
- Main themes: AI glasses, vision care, senior products, fashion eyewear and design
Buyers from outside Hong Kong primarily came from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea and the United States, alongside ASEAN markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Buyer reach expands to 101 markets
The previous edition recorded 11,666 physical buyers from 92 countries and regions, according to HKTDC’s official statistics.
Because the 2026 result was published only as “approximately 12,000”, an exact year-on-year attendance increase cannot be calculated. The available figures indicate broadly stable to moderately higher buyer volume.
The geographic reach expanded more clearly, increasing from 92 to 101 buyer markets. This is relevant to exhibitors seeking distributors in several regions rather than focusing exclusively on Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
HKTDC announced more than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions for 2026, compared with 662 exhibitors from 19 markets in 2025. Since the latest exhibitor total is rounded, it is not possible to make a precise year-on-year comparison.
AI glasses move from demonstrations towards sourcing
AI-enabled eyewear was one of the fair’s most prominent technology categories.
Products displayed at the exhibition incorporated functions such as:
- Real-time language translation
- Voice interaction
- Photography and video recording
- Navigation
- Health and activity monitoring
- Application-based control
- Integrated visual displays
- Open-ear audio
Shenzhen-based Muedo Technology presented smart glasses fitted with a 13-megapixel camera and another model with an integrated display.
The company said the products attracted enquiries from buyers in India, Japan and the United States, with factory visits being arranged for potential partners. It forecast approximately US$1 million in sales resulting from the fair.
This is an exhibitor forecast rather than confirmed order value. Buyers should request information about manufacturing capacity, product certification, minimum orders and software support before treating such forecasts as completed business.
Privacy becomes a product-design consideration
Camera-equipped glasses create privacy and acceptance issues that conventional eyewear does not.
One of Muedo’s exhibited models uses a physical camera cover that must be opened before photographs can be taken. This provides people nearby with a visible indication that the camera may be in use.
Importers evaluating smart glasses should examine:
- Whether the camera indicator is easily visible
- How photographs, audio and location data are stored
- Whether information is transferred to external cloud services
- Which company controls the associated application
- How long security and software updates will be provided
- Whether recording functions can be disabled
- Which wireless and consumer-product requirements apply
- Whether the product can be used legally in workplaces and restricted locations
Translation accuracy, battery life, heat generation, display visibility and offline functionality should also be tested independently.
ChinaExpoHub’s AI glasses preview examines these sourcing and privacy considerations in greater detail.
Silver economy creates demand for multifunctional eyewear
Products for older consumers formed another major exhibition theme.
The term silver economy refers to products and services designed around the needs and purchasing demand of ageing populations. At the Optical Fair, this included functional lenses, vision-assistance products, eye-care technology and eyewear combining visual and hearing support.
Hong Kong exhibitor Rayke Intelligent Technology presented senior hearing glasses alongside smart glasses for children. The company reported enquiries from more than 30 distributors, retailers and brand owners across Asia and Europe.
It estimated that the fair could generate approximately US$100,000 in sales. As with other exhibitor projections, this should be understood as potential business rather than confirmed revenue.
Buyers assessing age-friendly eyewear should verify:
- The intended user group
- Supported prescription range
- Hearing or vision-assistance performance
- Comfort during prolonged use
- Battery life and charging requirements
- Product weight
- Professional fitting requirements
- Warranty and repair arrangements
- Regulatory classification in the destination market
A product combining eyewear with health-related functions may be treated differently from ordinary consumer electronics or conventional frames.
Children’s smart glasses require additional scrutiny
Connected eyewear intended for children can include posture monitoring, viewing-distance alerts, cameras, communication functions and location-based features.
These products may appeal to parents and eye-care providers, but buyers should request evidence supporting any claims about eye health or behavioural improvement.
Additional considerations include:
- Child data and account protection
- Parental controls
- Battery and electrical safety
- Frame durability
- Skin-contact materials
- Product weight and comfort
- Prescription-lens compatibility
- Age suitability
- Accuracy of posture or viewing-distance alerts
Technology should support professional eye care rather than being marketed as a substitute for eye examinations.
OEM suppliers attract international optical buyers
The fair remained a sourcing platform for conventional frames, lenses and accessories alongside its technology products.
A Malaysian distributor identified two potential Chinese mainland OEM suppliers producing titanium and TR90 plastic frames. The company said its annual procurement through relationships developed at the fair is approximately US$1 million.
A Spanish eyewear business reported existing sourcing relationships for OEM sunglasses, cases and acetate materials worth approximately €65,000 annually.
An Egyptian optical retailer and wholesaler reported placing a US$15,000 additional order for specialist lenses and sourcing more than 7,000 lenses worth approximately US$14,000 from another supplier.
These examples are company-reported transactions and have not been independently audited. They nevertheless illustrate the fair’s relevance to buyers seeking:
- Private-label frames
- OEM and ODM production
- Optical lenses
- Frame materials and components
- Cases and accessories
- Specialist functional eyewear
What buyers should verify before selecting an OEM partner
An attractive sample does not necessarily demonstrate consistent production quality. International buyers should evaluate the supplier’s manufacturing and quality-control capabilities before placing a substantial order.
Important questions include:
- Is the exhibitor the manufacturer or a trading intermediary?
- Which production stages are completed in-house?
- What frame and lens standards can the supplier meet?
- Which markets does the company already export to?
- What are the minimum order quantities?
- Are tooling and mould costs charged separately?
- Can the supplier support custom colours, materials and branding?
- Who owns the finished design and production tooling?
- What inspection procedures apply during manufacturing?
- How are defective products and warranty claims handled?
- Can replacement parts be supplied after the initial order?
- What are the sample and mass-production lead times?
Buyers should also arrange independent testing when products make claims involving UV protection, impact resistance, blue-light filtering or medical performance.
Brand Name Gallery presents around 200 eyewear brands
The Brand Name Gallery featured approximately 200 established and emerging brands from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, China, Europe, South Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom.
Products covered fashion frames, sports eyewear, functional glasses and connected products.
Hong Kong brand BIG HORN introduced sunglasses designed for pickleball players and reported meeting more than 10 prospective buyers. The company estimated that contacts made at the fair could generate approximately HK$1 million in orders.
For retailers, branded eyewear requires a different evaluation from OEM sourcing. Buyers should consider:
- Regional distribution rights
- Minimum seasonal commitments
- Retail positioning
- Recommended pricing
- Marketing support
- Trademark protection
- Replacement and warranty services
- Availability of continuing collections
- Exclusivity conditions
Design competition combines fashion with technology
The 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition was held under the theme “Mix & Match”.
Its winning concepts included eyewear that changes frame colour to coordinate with clothing and a student design exploring transformation between eyewear and jewellery.
A new Technology Concept Award was introduced for the student category, reflecting the increasing overlap between frame design, electronics and wearable technology.
The official design competition results provide details of the winning and shortlisted entries.
Concept designs can indicate future directions, but buyers should distinguish competition prototypes from commercially available products with confirmed manufacturing costs and delivery schedules.
Optometric symposium connects sourcing with clinical practice
The concurrent Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium brought together specialists from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Held under the theme “Primary Eye Care in Action”, the symposium examined the role of optometry in clinical and community eye care.
This professional programme is commercially relevant because many new optical products make claims involving visual performance, eye health, rehabilitation or monitoring. Buyers can use clinical discussions to evaluate whether product claims correspond with recognised eye-care needs.
Online business matching continues until 13 November
Although the physical fair has closed, exhibitors and buyers can continue connecting through HKTDC’s Click2Match platform until 13 November 2026.
Buyers who met suppliers onsite should use the follow-up period to request:
- Formal quotations
- Product specifications
- Certification documents
- Sample schedules
- Minimum order quantities
- Factory information
- Customisation options
- Exclusivity terms
- Production lead times
- Proposed next steps
The official Hong Kong Optical Fair website provides access to exhibition and online sourcing information.
The 2026 results show that conventional eyewear, design and optical manufacturing remain central to the fair. However, its commercial scope is expanding as glasses increasingly combine vision correction, fashion, artificial intelligence, audio and health-related functions.
For international buyers, the strongest products will be those that unite useful technology with comfort, regulatory readiness, reliable manufacturing and long-term software support.
Further optical, medical and technology exhibitions can be compared through the China trade show calendar.
