SPIE Prism Awards 2026
SPIE named cutting-edge photonics technologies finalists.
Award winners will be revealed at SPIE Photonics West, recognizing new products in XR technology, quantum, biophotonics, lasers, and the Catalyst Award category.
The leading new photonics technologies have been selected as finalists for the 2026 SPIE Prism Awards. Twenty-four products, representing companies from emerging innovators to established industry leaders, were chosen across eight categories and will be recognized during a gala event on 21 January at SPIE Photonics West. Now in its 18th year, the annual awards honor commercially deployed photonics innovations and the companies bringing transformative technologies to market. LightTrans International with the optical design and simulation software, VirtualLab Fusion, was nominated for the Software category in 2023 and 2024.
This time, we're up for an XR Tech nomination with our AR|VR|XR package and our big approaches in the field of diffractive lightguide design and optimization.
This year’s finalists highlight rapid advancements across key technology areas, including biophotonic instrumentation, lasers, quantum technologies, and sensing. Up-and-coming companies such as Momentum Optics and Phlux Technology, previous SPIE Startup Challenge finalists Ki3 Photonics Technologies, and past Challenge winners Vitrealab will compete alongside long-standing industry players including ams OSRAM, 4D Technology, and TOPTICA.
SPIE will also mark the third year of the SPIE Catalyst Award, which recognizes for-profit companies whose socially or environmentally focused initiatives have made a notable positive impact — whether within their organizations, across society, or on the environment. The 2026 Catalyst Award finalists are Cerca Magnetics and PicoQuant GmbH.
“The Prism Awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the impact that optics and photonics technologies have on our lives,” says SPIE CEO Kent Rochford.
“It’s an honor to recognize the scientists, engineers, and companies committed to bringing these products to market, and I look forward to celebrating all the finalists and winners at Photonics West in January.”