France hosts some of the most important trade shows in the world, from VivaTech and the Paris Air Show to SIAL, Maison&Objet, Eurosatory and Milipol. Every year, thousands of companies from the US, Asia and the rest of Europe exhibit there. If it is your first show in France, the way things work may differ from what you know at home. Here is what international exhibitors need to know, from the venues to the rules and the budget.
The main trade show venues in France
- Paris Nord Villepinte, next to Charles de Gaulle airport, is the largest exhibition centre in France. It hosts SIAL Paris, Maison&Objet, Eurosatory, Milipol Paris, Euronaval, Première Vision and JEC World. Our workshop is in Villepinte, a few minutes away.
- Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, inside Paris, hosts VivaTech, the Paris Motor Show and many consumer and professional shows.
- Paris Le Bourget hosts the Paris Air Show every two years.
- Palais des Congrès de Paris hosts large medical and scientific congresses.
- Outside Paris: Eurexpo in Lyon, the Palais des Festivals in Cannes (MIPIM, MIPCOM, Cannes Lions) and the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The full list, with dates, is in our trade show calendar.
How it works: space only or shell scheme
Organisers usually offer two options:
- Shell scheme: a basic package stand supplied by the organiser, with walls, a sign and some furniture. Simple, but everyone looks the same.
- Space only (raw space): you rent the floor and bring your own stand, designed for your brand. This is where a stand builder comes in.
In France there is generally no US style drayage or union jurisdiction: your stand builder’s own crew delivers and builds the stand within the organiser’s schedule. Electricity, rigging points, water, internet and forklift handling are ordered from the organiser or its official suppliers.
The French rules to know
- Technical regulations: each show publishes its own, with maximum heights, setbacks from neighbouring stands, rules for open sides and deadlines.
- Stand plans must be sent to the organiser for approval before the show.
- Fire safety: decor and structural materials must be fire rated under French standards (class M1 or the equivalent Euroclass). Fabrics and wood need certificates.
- Complex structures, such as double deck stands or large hanging structures, must be checked by an accredited inspection body.
- Electricity: 230 V, 50 Hz, with European plugs. The stand’s installation must meet French standards, and power is ordered from the official supplier.
- Build-up and dismantling: usually two to five days before opening, and a strict schedule after closing.
A local stand builder handles all of this for you and prepares the technical file with the organiser.
Planning: the right lead times
Book your space early, often a year ahead for the largest shows. Brief your stand builder four months before the show, approve the design three months before, and plan shipping and hotels as soon as possible: during the biggest shows, rooms near the venues sell out and prices rise quickly. Our trade show planning timeline gives every step.
Shipping and customs
- Build the stand in France rather than shipping it: it avoids transport costs, customs formalities and the risk of damage.
- Products for display coming from outside the European Union can travel under an ATA carnet, which allows temporary admission without import duties, as long as they leave the country after the show.
- Samples, brochures and giveaways are treated differently: check with your freight forwarder which formalities apply.
- Use a forwarder experienced in trade fairs, who can deliver directly to the stand within the build-up schedule.
Budget
Stand prices in France range from €400 to €560 per m² excl. VAT for a premium modular stand and from €850 to €1,250 per m² for a custom stand, design, build, transport, installation and dismantling included. Add floor space, the organiser’s technical services, travel and hospitality. Our guide to exhibition stand costs in France gives the budgets by stand size.
Making the most of your stand in France
- Speak your visitors’ language: bilingual graphics and French versions of your key documents make a difference, even at international shows.
- Plan meetings in advance: French buyers like to book appointments before the show.
- Host a client evening: a dinner or a cocktail party near the venue strengthens relationships. Read our guide to planning a corporate party in Paris.
- Think European: a stand designed in modules can be stored and rebuilt at your other shows in Europe.
Working with us
In the US you would call us an exhibit house: we design, build, install and dismantle exhibition stands from 6 to more than 500 m², in France and across Europe. Your project manager speaks English, our workshop is next to Paris Nord Villepinte and we store your stand between shows. Tell us about your show: we will call you back within two working days.
