The development of nano-optoelectronic devices is especially relevant to the control of the spatial arrangement of photoactive materials with nanoscale precision. Because of its base pairing and double-helix structure, as well as easy preparation, programmable control over their shape and size, and precise spatial addressability, DNA has been used as the template to organize a variety of nanoscale elements for nanophotonics and nanomedical research. The DNA-based photonic arrays are multiple fluorophores programmed sequentially along DNA scaffold to achieve energy transfer through multi-step fluorescence resonance energy transfer. In this review, the discussion focused on the progrsses of DNA-based assembly photonic arrays in recent years, and insights for future directions were provided.