MIDO 2023 closed its doors on the 51st edition to open another one for its next show, which will take place on 3-5 February 2024, at Fiera Milano Rho. Attendance peaked at 35,000 industry professionals; 80% of them from Europe and 20% from the rest of the world. More than 1,000 exhibitors represented the entire supply chain – from machinery to lenses, along with frame manufacturers, and from the industry’s top name brands to young independent designers – 72% were international and 28% from Italy. Among the overseas exhibitors, 51% were from Europe, 42% from Asia and 7% from the rest of the world.

“This year we attracted many first-time presences among exhibitors and visitors who expressed their positive surprise at walking through the doors of our show. The ‘wonder’, that is part of the show’s DNA, is precisely this – to delight those who participate to such an extent that they cannot help but be here every year,” said MIDO President Giovanni Vitaloni.

For visitors, there were myriad innovations and events, with a special focus on opticians – from the “How to?” cycle of OTTICLUB meetings – to the presentation of specialized books in the “Book@MIDO” program. The focus was on sustainability, with accolades and dedicated areas. But there were also occasions for glamour, with appearances by VIPs and personalities from the world of entertainment with flash mobs, exhibitions and awards in the popular MIDO squares.

Moreover, more than 380 accredited journalists were in attendance, with more than 100 articles published in just three days, and about 500 in the preceding weeks. A sizable number of TV crews also captured ‘fair life’ as they moved among the stands for the duration of the show.  

In addition to live participation in the event, there was equally significant online activity – users from around the globe connected to the MIDO social profiles, enlivening them with more than 15,000 shares between posts and stories. Communication exceeded 1.4 million impressions in three days, growth also reflected in the 50,000 interactions on the pages, which was more than 30% increase over the last year.

The MIDO website was visited by more than 30,000 people (+50% over 2022) while the digital platform counted 12,000 members, 650 showcase pages and more than 40 events that will continue to be available until December 2023. The combination of in-person participation and online posts means MIDO 2023 successfully and positively integrated the real and the virtual.