Paris Expo Porte de Versailles: 100 Years of Events and Innovation

For a century, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has reflected the major cultural, architectural, and economic developments of French society. Deeply rooted in its neighborhood and urban landscape, this iconic venue is far more than an event space, it represents the art of French hospitality at its finest.

As a key contributor to Paris’s international influence, it hosts every year major trade shows, exhibitions, global scientific congresses, concerts, and corporate events. As a true catalyst for economic and scientific attractiveness, it plays a central role in the development of France’s leading industries.

Today, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is entering the final phase of its modernisation works. With redesigned spaces and prestigious environmental certifications, the venue continually redefines the event experience to anticipate the expectations of organisers and visitors from around the world.

A century of events: from tradition to innovation

The history of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is rooted in the growing success of the Foire de Paris and the City of Paris’s ambition to host major agricultural and equestrian exhibitions. In response to these needs, construction of the exhibition center began in 1923, opening its doors for the first time in January 1925 for the “Salon de la Machine Agricole”, marking the beginning of its century-long event journey.

Over the decades, the venue has constantly evolved through major architectural and technical transformations. In 1937, for the International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques Applied to Modern Life, a monumental entrance featuring four illuminated campaniles was built, symbolizing the park’s new ambitions.

The venue’s expansion accelerated with the arrival of the Paris Motor Show in 1962 and the construction of a new 70,000 m² pavilion in 1970, increasing the exhibition area by 50%. In 1996, a new modernization program began, strengthening the venue's infrastructure to meet technological advancements and contemporary expectations.

For the past 15 years, the venue has been undergoing an extremely ambitious transformation project, the first two phases of which have now been completed. Highlights include the opening of the Paris Convention Centre in 2017, positioning the venue among the world’s leading conference venues, and Pavilion 6, a new architectural landmark crowned with a spectacular canopy composed of hundreds of LED screens.

In 2018, an innovation platform dedicated to the event industry was also launched, turning the venue into a genuine experimental playground and incubator for innovative solutions, another milestone in its ongoing development.

"Our strength lies in our ability to combine heritage and innovation. For a century, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has adapted to the evolution of the event industry. Today, we fully embrace environmental, technological, and operational challenges to keep the venue at the forefront of excellence. This collective agility enables us to provide every organizer with tailored, sustainable solutions, at the scale of a venue that has become a destination of choice in the events industry", Maxime GAUTHIER, Director of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles

These qualities of adaptability and innovation make Paris Expo Porte de Versailles a key player in the events landscape, capable of hosting all types of events.

A leading exhibition venue

With nearly 200 events and more than 7 million visitors each year, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has established itself as a leader in the event industry. Its 212,545 m² of indoor exhibition space spread across seven pavilions ranks it among Europe’s largest exhibition centers. Pavilion 7, labelled the Paris Convention Centre, is Europe’s biggest convention centre, offering 70,163 m² and a 5,200-seat plenary hall.

The diversity of its event programming is what truly sets the venue apart, on top of illustrating its impressive versatility. Iconic shows such as the Paris International Agricultural Show, Paris Motor Show, Foire de Paris, and Paris Games Week never fail to draw massive public audiences.

The professional segment is equally dynamic, with key events like Viva Technology, EquipHotel, Equip Auto Paris, Franchise Expo Paris, and major fashion trade shows including Who’s Next, Interfilière, Bijorhca, and The Salon international de la Lingerie. These professional events are complemented by major international congresses such as the annual EADV Congress, showcasing the latest scientific breakthroughs. This very rich programme makes the venue an essential hub for professionals across multiple sectors.

The international dimension of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has shifted up a gear during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where the venue, designated as the capital’s largest Olympic and Paralympic venue, successfully hosted seven sports disciplines and welcomed more than one million spectators. The venue once again demonstrated its ability to stage the boldest and most challenging events, reinforcing its influence in Paris and worldwide.

To support this international momentum, Viparis offers a dedicated team that acts as a true conductor.

"Our goal is to make organising international events at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as simple as possible. As a dedicated team, we provide personalised support from contract signing through to departure, ensuring smooth coordination and facilitating access to the Parisian ecosystem.", Jennyfer Blaty, Head of International Congresses and Events

More than an exhibition center: a complete destination

Across the span of a hundred years, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has gone beyond simply expanding; it has helped transform the entire surrounding district. What was once a humble exhibition centre is now a fully formed event and tourism ecosystem.

Part of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles’ appeal lies in its exceptional location, offering easy access for visitors from across the globe. With outstanding connectivity, metro line 12, tramway, bus routes, and nearby Vélib stations, the venue offers a direct link to major European train stations. Less than an hour from Gare du Nord, it also provides easy access to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, making international travel remarkably convenient.

This hyper-connectivity grounds Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in close proximity to the heart of Paris. All of the city’s iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, and numerous renowned restaurants, are accessible within 30 minutes.

The hotel and service offerings have grown substantially within and around the venue. New modern hotel complexes with direct access to the venue : Eklo (304 rooms), Mama Shelter (205 rooms), Novotel (245 rooms), and Motel One (347 rooms), create a robust hospitality hub tailored to the needs of international visitors and delegates. In total, 252 hotels are located within a 3 km radius.

The food and beverage offering is equally rich, with 40 bars and restaurants across the pavilions and the highest concentration of rooftops in Paris. Highlights include French Kiss (Eklo), Pedzouille La Grange (Novotel), Mama (Mama Shelter), Le Perchoir atop Pavilion 6, the Motel One bar, and the T7 club atop Pavilion 7, all offering panoramic views and the promise of spending unique moments with a fantastic view of the Paris skyline.

A wide range of entertainment options further enhances the visitor experience: large-scale immersive concerts at Pavilion 1 with Cercle Odyssey, long-running exhibitions such as Titanic, Dinos Alive, and Johnny Hallyday, all contributing to the identity of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as a vibrant cultural and event destination where every visit becomes a unique experience.

A destination that continues to evolve

To top it all, innovation and sustainability are at the core of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles’ development strategy. Several pavilions have earned prestigious environmental certifications (HQE, BREEAM) and the venue is powered by 100% certified green electricity sourced from France.

As a signatory of the Paris Climate Action and Biodiversity Pact, Viparis is actively committed to enhancing biodiversity within the venue, notably by increasing planted areas and diversifying their uses, with the creation of 71,600 m² of green spaces.

The future of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is already taking shape with an ambitious modernisation programme. The full reconstruction of Pavilions 2 and 3, along with the creation of a Pavilion 8, scheduled between December 2025 and September 2028, will modernise these spaces to the highest European standards while meeting new uses and visitor expectations.

Greening the venue is a key priority: each project phase includes expanded planted areas, helping reduce heat islands and offering shaded spots for visitors. This approach also supports biodiversity development.

Circulation will be redesigned to improve comfort and safety, with separate pedestrian and vehicle flows enabling smoother movement and meeting neighborhood expectations in the best possible way.

All these investments reinforce the venue’s positioning and integration within the Paris urban ecosystem while elevating service standards to new heights.

Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is far more than an exhibition venue, it is a complete event destination blending tradition, innovation, and business opportunities. With a century of expertise and an ongoing ability to reinvent itself, this unique venue at the heart of Paris continues to evolve to meet tomorrow’s challenges. One hundred years after its creation, it is still shaping the future of international events, one event at a time.