24,000 registered attendees filled the SPIE Photonics West halls

“Photonics West marks the start of the optics and photonics calendar every year,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “And this year, it also marked a truly exciting milestone for SPIE as the Society’s Membership surpassed 25,000! In addition, our newest conference, Quantum West, continues to grow, reflecting the ongoing development of this exciting technological area and its many applications.”

The SPIE Industry Program continues to highlight key and critical areas. The SPIE Global Business Forum – which brings together top industry executives for high-level presentations, networking, and conversations – was once again a sold-out success. The glamorous Prism Awards, now in its 17^th year, celebrated the best new optics and photonics products, while the inspiring Startup Challenge pitch competition recognized three exciting emerging photonics companies. And at the Quantum West Business Summit, speakers and panelists discussed the current trends in this rapidly growing technical and commercial arena.

In addition, 52 educational courses offered expert-led technical training and learning, complementing the many various professional development and networking opportunities on offer throughout the week: From the Lunchtime Professional Development Education series to social events, Photonics West featured a packed calendar of meet-ups, canine-focused relaxation time, and interactive, collaborative gatherings. And in conjunction with Photonics West, SPIE celebrated 20 years of its Women in Optics notebook, bringing together such luminaries as Ursula Keller, Muyinatu Bell, and Jessica Wade for a day-long event of speakers, panelists, and conversations.

While the week held myriad opportunities for attendees to learn, network, and share their latest advancements, it was the buzzing exhibitions — BiOS Expo, the Photonics West exhibition, the Quantum West Expo, and the AR | VR | MR exhibition — that best showcased the increasingly critical photonics industry and the importance of in-person meetings.

As SPIE director of sales Jeff Nichols points out, even after this exciting week, there’s so much to look forward to. “The week of Photonics West has always been the best place to see the size and scope of our industry,” notes Nichols. “And in 2026, we're thrilled to be adding VisionTech Expo, a new exhibit and technical program that will showcase the photonics technologies enabling the imaging and vision markets. With the continued growth of Photonics West, SPIE is turning San Francisco in January into a single stop for anyone interested in the latest advancements in photonics technologies and the numerous applications that they enable.”

SPIE Photonics West 2026 will take place 17 – 22 January at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The call for papers for the 2026 event will open in Spring of 2025.