Large-area　gold　nanoring　arrays　were　fabricated　using　interference　lithography　and　metallic　transformation　through　annealing　of　colloidal　gold　nanoparticles.　The　strong　surface　tension　of　the　suspension　solution　and　the　molten　gold,　as　well　as　the　effective　distance　of　these　interaction　mechanisms,　is　responsible　for　the　creation　of　gold　nanorings.　The　size　and　shape　of　the　gold　nanorings　can　be　controlled　by　adjusting　the　size　of　the　holes　in　the　template　photoresist　grating,　which　is　accomplished　in　the　stage　of　interference　lithography.　Furthermore,　the　concentration　of　the　colloidal　gold　nanoparticles　and　the　annealing　temperature　can　be　utilized　to　achieve　further　optimization　of　the　gold　nanoring　structures.　Optical　spectroscopic　measurements　show　unique　plasmonic　response　of　the　nanoring　arrays　in　the　visible　and　in　the　infrared　spectral　ranges,　which　agrees　well　with　the　theoretical　simulation.　This　fabrication　method　provides　a　simple　and　low-cost　route　for　achieving　metallic　nanoring　arrays　in　a　large　scale　for　practical　applications.　(C)　2013　Optical　Society　of　America