Meta description : No, Paris will not host a World Expo in 2026. Here is what will actually be on in Paris expo halls, with key venues, dates to watch and booking tips.
Expo Paris 2026, decoded : no World Expo, plenty of big shows
Looking for a World Expo in Paris in 2026 The answer is clear and official. The Bureau International des Expositions states the next registered World Expo is in Osaka Kansai from 13 April to 13 October 2025, and the following World Expo will be Riyadh 2030 after the 28 November 2023 vote. No World Expo sits in Paris for 2026. Sources : BIE, Expo 2025 Osaka.
The search term still makes sense though. Paris packs a full year of major trade fairs, art shows and industry expos across its big venues. Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris Nord Villepinte and the renewed Grand Palais anchor the calendar, drawing professionals and the public for food, tech, design, photography and culture.
Paris venues that shape 2026 : Porte de Versailles, Nord Villepinte, Grand Palais
First stop, the giant. Paris Expo Porte de Versailles offers about 228,000 square meters across seven pavilions, plus a convention center with a 5,200 seat plenary. That scale lets several events run in parallel without stepping on each other. Source : Viparis.
North of the city, Paris Nord Villepinte routinely hosts global blockbusters. SIAL Paris, one of the world’s largest food exhibitions, operates on a biennial cycle in even years at Villepinte. Organiser Comexposium confirms that rhythm in its official materials. Source : SIAL Paris.
Back in the center, the historic Grand Palais completed its long renovation for the Paris 2024 Games and phases its full reopening through 2025, before settling into a steady cultural and fair schedule again. Expect photography, art and design shows to return to that adress. Source : RMN – Grand Palais.
What to expect in 2026 : cycles, crowd magnets and the ticket hunt
The pattern is simple. Even years in Paris usually mean a strong Villepinte lineup for food and retail, while Porte de Versailles keeps its annual crowd pullers. The Salon International de l’Agriculture traditionally runs late February to early March at Porte de Versailles and welcomes large public attendance every year. Source : Salon International de l’Agriculture.
Tech has grown fast. VivaTech has built a steady June slot at Porte de Versailles, with a format mixing pro days and public access, and has previously reported six figure attendance and thousands of startups. Source : VivaTech.
One more benchmark helps put expectations in perspective. World Expos draw extraordinary volumes. Osaka 2025 projects around 28.2 million visits according to the organizer. Paris 2026 events are different in nature, shorter and specialized, which makes planning easier and usually cheaper. Source : Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
Plan like a pro : dates to watch, official sources and smart timing
Best tactic right now, track official calendars and release windows. Big Paris fairs open registration several months ahead and sell early bird passes first. Venues publish hall maps and transport info that can save an hour on arrival day.
- Viparis agenda for Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and Paris Convention Centre
- Paris Nord Villepinte agenda for SIAL and large B2B shows
- Grand Palais programme for art and photography fairs
- BIE calendar to verify any World Expo claims
A few concrete moves change the experience. Book flexible train tickets, then lock accommodation near a line that serves Porte de Versailles or Villepinte directly. The T3a tram and Metro line 12 serve Porte de Versailles. RER B takes you to Parc des Expositions for Villepinte. Buying tickets on the event’s official site protects from markups and fake listings.
For professionals, check if badges include fast track entry or late opening. Some shows split days between trade only and public. Families should target mornings on weekdays. Crowds thin and exhibitors have more time to talk. If a fair publishes a floor plan, pick three priority zones and one bonus stop rather than trying to see every hall.
One last clarification seals the plan. There is no World Expo in Paris in 2026 per BIE records, yet the city’s expo agenda stays packed with high impact fairs at world class venues. The missing element many searchers need is not a mega event, it is a clean route to official calendars, early tickets and a transport plan that matches the hall you will actually visit.