Looking ahead to 2026, New York eyewear trend researcher Selin Olmsted has identified five eyewear design and material trends.   

Speaking at the Munich-based Opti fair recently, she explained how global trends in fashion, music, art, architecture and design will shape eyewear styles in 2026 and identified five key trends:  

1. Sculptural – eyewear as wearable art. Think thick profiles, bold bevels, intricate millings and rich textures such as tortoise, horn and marble. These frames celebrate craftsmanship and the artistry of design 

2. Sentimental – personal touches fused into design. Nostalgic elements, imperfections, handcrafted details and playful designs create frames with emotional resonance and individuality  

3. Punk quotidien – the new wave of self-expression. Inspired by the raw energy of fringe subcultures, these designs embody new norms of beauty and authenticity 

4. Surrealism – a new reality, unexpected and playful. Unconventional shapes, dreamy details and a touch of whimsy bring eyewear into a world of imaginative expression. 

5. Ultralight – the future of comfort and innovation. A quest for ultimate lightness with materials like titanium, 3D-printed elements and high-density acetate. These frames offer ultra-thin profiles, transparency layers and precision engineering for a barely-there feel. 

According to Olmsted, the materials used and the type of lenses, including tints, also contribute to these five trends. She predicts acetate trending in retro-inspired tortoises, marble and horn textures with layered gradients in neutral, tonal, or vibrant palettes. Exploring innovative contrasts with multi-layer colours and exposed core wires in temples is also something she expects to see more. 

Metal will also trend, re-defined with dual colour finishes such as inner gold and outer black, adding a fresh perspective to bestsellers like gold, rose gold and black, she said. As for tints, she suggested a bandwidth from super-dark smoke or purple to saturated solids and double/triple-gradient lenses in vivid sunset and spice tones will be on trend for 2026.