Concepts and technologies directed to optical networking with hybrid optical vortices are disclosed herein. Embodiments can include a system that is configured to perform operations for optical networking with hybrid optical vortices. The system can include a hybrid optical switch that can communicatively couple with another network device via one or more nanofiber communication paths. The operations can include receiving, from a first nanofiber communication path, a hybrid optical vortex that carries an internet protocol packet. The operations also can include decoupling the hybrid optical vortex to extract an optical vortex that encapsulates the internet protocol packet. The operations also can include switching the internet protocol packet to a subsequent communication path based on the optical vortex that encapsulates the internet protocol packet.