CLEO 2026 Returns to Charlotte Amid Historic Surge in Photonics Investment
CLEO. Plenary Speakers to Unveil Breakthroughs in Quantum and Optical Technologies
Charlotte, North Carolina — As global investment in photonics surpasses $376 billion and quantum innovation accelerates, the CLEO Conference & Exhibition returns May 17–21, 2026, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The exhibition will take place May 19–20. CLEO 2026 is expected to continue its strong attendance trend, welcoming more than 2,000 participants from over 40 countries and delivering a multi-million-dollar economic impact to the Charlotte region.
For more than four decades, CLEO has been the world’s leading forum for laser science and electro-optics, advancing technologies that shape global markets in communications, healthcare, manufacturing, and quantum computing.
Why CLEO 2026 Matters
Event Highlights
• More than 2,000 peer-reviewed presentations across 29 topic areas, from quantum networking to advanced imaging.
• Plenary keynotes from global leaders:
o Prof. Federico Capasso (Harvard) – Inventor of the quantum cascade laser.
o Prof. Dirk R. Englund (MIT) – Quantum photonics and AI integration.
o Dr. Franco Nori (RIKEN & University of Michigan) – Quantum computing pioneer.
• Vibrant exhibition floor featuring top companies and startups driving the photonics marketplace.
• Networking programs connecting researchers, engineers, and industry innovators.
“CLEO 2026 will be our most influential event yet, —bringing together breakthroughs in quantum and photonics that will define global technology markets for the next decade,” said Jifeng Liu, general chair, Science & Innovations. “Topics announced here have historically shaped billion-dollar industries — from quantum networking to advanced imaging — and 2026 will be no exception.”
Event Snapshot
• Dates: May 17–21, 2026 (Technical Conference)
• Exhibition: May 19–20, 2026
• Location: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Audience: Global research, academic, and industry professionals in lasers, photonics, and electro-optics
• Organizers: Sponsored by Optica, IEEE Photonics Society, and APS Division of Laser Science
Registration opens mid-December 2025 at https://cleoconference.org.
About CLEO
The Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO) is the premier international event for scientific and technical optics. For more than 40 years, CLEO has united research and industry to explore and advance the science of light. The 2026 event in Charlotte continues this legacy, fostering discovery, collaboration, and commercialization of optical technologies.
Learn more at https://cleoconference.org/.
Press Contact
Mary King‑Moore
Marketing Manager, MCI for CLEO Conference
Email: cleoinfo@wearemci.com
Website: https://cleoconference.org
