SPIE Photonics West is the world’s largest annual gathering for the photonics, optics, and laser communities, convening each winter at The Moscone Center in SoMa, San Francisco. Organized by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, it unites researchers, engineers, product developers, and business leaders to move light‑enabled technologies from lab to market.
The week spans multiple co-located technical conferences—including BIOS (biomedical optics), LASE (laser sources and manufacturing), and OPTO (optoelectronics, photonic materials, and devices)—plus an expansive industry exhibition and dedicated industry programs. Attendees can dive into peer‑reviewed papers, late‑breaking results, and technology roadmaps, then cross the aisle to see working systems, components, and instruments on the show floor at Moscone North and South.
Short courses led by recognized experts provide practical skill‑building across laser safety, optical design, imaging, fiber optics, metrology, and more. Start-up pitches, venture panels, and industry sessions spotlight commercialization trends, while application‑focused tracks cover biophotonics, AR/VR/MR, quantum technologies, free‑space and integrated optics, advanced manufacturing, and AI‑accelerated imaging.
Ideal for academic researchers, R&D engineers, optical designers, system architects, manufacturing leaders, product managers, investors, clinicians and life‑science technologists, national lab scientists, and students seeking networking, recruiting, and presentation opportunities within a deeply technical community.
The campus is centered at The Moscone Center, 747 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103, with sessions typically spread across Moscone North, South, and West—build travel time between venues into your schedule. Registration pricing varies by pass type (technical conference, exhibition‑only, short courses) and attendee category; review options early on the official SPIE website, as popular courses and hotel blocks sell out quickly. Pack layers for cool coastal weather, comfortable shoes for exhibit‑hall miles, and business cards or a scannable profile for rapid networking. If presenting, confirm AV guidelines and upload deadlines in advance; for exhibitors, arrange freight and union labor timeslots ahead of move‑in to avoid delays.
Registration open, collect pass, explore The Moscone Center venue.
Featured appearances from photonics pioneers and optics innovators, alongside keynotes from renowned industry leaders. Speaker lineup, subject to change
Downtown hotels near Moscone Center book up fast and surge in price during Spie Photonics West. Marina Motel puts you in a quieter, classic San Francisco neighborhood — walkable to the waterfront, Chestnut Street shops and restaurants, and just a short ride to SoMa and the convention center via rideshare, bus, or the Marina/Union Street corridor. It's a good fit for attendees who want to end a long conference day away from the downtown crowds, with easier parking and a more relaxed, residential feel.
