The 2026 Paris International Agricultural Show: Your Complete Guide to France's Premier Agriculture Event

Inside Paris's Salon International de l'Agriculture: France's Massive Agricultural Showcase Returns in 2026

By the AgriLinkage Editorial Team | February 7, 2026

When nearly one percent of France's population descends on Paris each February, they're not heading to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. They're making their way to the Salon International de l'Agriculture at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the world's largest agricultural gathering open to the public.

Running February 21 through March 1, 2026, this year's edition marks the 62nd annual gathering where French farmers, global producers, political leaders, and urban families converge to celebrate agriculture, debate its future, and sample some of the world's finest food products. The 2026 show is historic for what's missing (cattle, due to disease concerns) and what's new (a powerful theme focused on agricultural succession and a reorganized venue layout), but it remains fundamentally what it's always been: the place where French agriculture shows itself to the nation.

Practical Visitor Information

Dates: February 21 to March 1, 2026 (9 consecutive days)

Hours: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily

Location: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris

Tickets: Book online to avoid lines. General admission €17, ages 6-12 €9, under 6 free.

Getting There:

Metro Line 12 (Porte de Versailles station) connects to Gare Montparnasse and Gare St. Lazare. Line 8 (Balard station) links to the Invalides terminal at Orly Airport. Tramway Line 3 stops at Porte de Versailles. Multiple bus lines also serve the venue.

From Orly Airport, take Orlybus toward Denfert-Rochereau, get off at Montsouris-Tombe Issoire, walk 5 minutes to Porte d'Orléans station, then take Tramway Line 3a.

Timing Your Visit:

Weekdays, especially Tuesday and Friday, are less crowded than weekends. Monday sees moderate crowds, while Saturday and Sunday become extremely packed. Arriving at opening (9:00 AM) or around 11:00 AM helps avoid peak congestion. Many professionals visit early in the week, while families dominate weekends.

Planning Strategy:

Download the official show map and identify priority areas before arriving. The venue's massive scale (140,000+ square meters) makes seeing everything in one day unrealistic. Focus on specific interests: livestock breeds, regional products, international pavilions, or technology demonstrations.

Budget time for:

• Livestock competitions (check schedule for specific breeds)

• Regional product tastings (arrive around noon for best selection)

• SIA'PRO technology demonstrations (February 23-25 only)

• Educational farm activities (excellent for families with children)

• Conference programs (book specific sessions in advance)

What to Bring:

Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Expect to walk several kilometers across the nine pavilions. Reusable shopping bags if you plan to purchase products (many exhibitors offer show-exclusive pricing). Water bottle, as staying hydrated while navigating the crowds matters.

Budget Considerations:

While admission covers access to all areas, budget for purchases. Exceptional products from award-winning producers make tempting souvenirs. Many exhibitors sell directly at prices competitive with or below retail, particularly for regional wines, cheeses, and charcuterie. Cash and cards both widely accepted.

What Is the Salon International de l'Agriculture?

For those unfamiliar with French culture, the scale and significance of this event can seem puzzling. Why does an agricultural trade show attract crowds rivaling major sporting events? Why do presidents and prime ministers spend hours walking its aisles?

The answer lies in France's relationship with agriculture. Unlike many industrialized nations where farming represents a tiny percentage of GDP and population, France maintains deep cultural ties to rural life and food production. According to researchers, significant portions of the French population are just generations removed from agricultural backgrounds. The show reinforces connections between French identity, gastronomy, and the land producing it.

First held as the Concours Général Agricole in 1870, the modern salon launched in 1964 when the French National Centre for Agricultural Exhibitions and Competitions was created. That first edition attracted over 300,000 visitors. Today's event regularly exceeds 600,000 attendees and spans over 140,000 square meters across nine pavilions.

The show serves multiple audiences simultaneously. For agricultural professionals, it's a massive B2B marketplace where livestock breeders, equipment manufacturers, agri-tech companies, and food producers connect with buyers and showcase innovations. For urban families, it's an educational experience where children learn about animal breeds, farming practices, and food origins. For political leaders, it's an unmissable public forum to engage with agricultural stakeholders and demonstrate commitment to farming communities.

The 2026 Theme: "Générations Solutions"

This year's theme, "Générations Solutions," addresses a genuine crisis facing French agriculture: nearly one-third of French farmers will reach retirement age by 2030, according to agricultural chambers across France.

"The Show doesn't just reflect the state of the sector, it shows where it's heading," explains Jérôme Despey, president of the Salon International de l'Agriculture. "Générations Solutions isn't just a slogan. We chose to open the way to those acting daily to face challenges of farm succession, food sovereignty, and climate change. With ambition, responsibility, and determination, these farmers, companies, institutions, and inter-professional organizations are already building tomorrow's agriculture: more independent, more innovative, more sustainable."

Valérie Le Roy, the show's director, adds that the theme will highlight solutions facilitating farm installations and encouraging succession, showcase farmer adaptation initiatives, and present visions of quality agricultural production.

Throughout the nine days, expect focused programming on young farmers implementing innovative practices, new economic models making agriculture viable for future generations, climate adaptation strategies, and succession planning resources.

What Makes 2026 Different: The Cattle Absence

For the first time since the salon's modern inception in 1964, no cattle will be present at the 2026 edition. The lumpy skin disease outbreak affecting French herds forced this unprecedented decision.

The disease appeared in France in summer 2025 and while health authorities approved protocols for bovine presence, breeders and selection organizations collectively decided against participation, both out of caution and solidarity with regions hardest hit. Major breeding organizations including Prim'Holstein France, France Limousin Sélection, and others supported this difficult choice, putting animal welfare and long-term herd health above exhibition opportunities.

Practical implications: no cattle competitions at the Concours Général Agricole, no bovine mascot (originally planned to be Biguine, a Brahman cow from Martinique), and no traditional cattle displays that have anchored Hall 1 for decades.

However, the show continues with nearly 3,500 animals, including sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, rabbits, and poultry. The poultry and egg sector occupies Hall 1's prime space for the first time, with extensive animations and consumer education programming.

Reorganized Layout Due to Venue Renovations

The third phase of modernization work at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has reorganized the show's geography for 2026 through 2028.

Hall 7 now houses a consolidated "Products" section, combining French regional pavilions, international pavilions, and the Concours Général Agricole for products and wines. This creates a unified discovery, tasting, and promotion space for products from metropolitan France, overseas territories, and global exhibitors.

Halls 1 and 6 remain dedicated to livestock sectors, serving as main entry points despite the cattle absence.

Hall 4 showcases plant sectors, garden centers, pet supplies, and the educational farm where children learn hands-on about animal care.

Hall 5 hosts SIA'PRO, the agricultural technology and solutions salon that debuted in 2024 and runs February 23-25, 2026. This 100% professional trade show addresses agricultural transitions: climate change, agroecological transition, farm succession, renewable energy, robotics, and digitalization.

Côte d'Ivoire as Guest of Honor

Following Morocco's successful appearance in 2025, Côte d'Ivoire takes center stage as the 2026 guest country. This West African nation is a global agricultural powerhouse: the world's leading producer of cocoa, cashew nuts, and kola nuts, Africa's top producer of dessert bananas and natural rubber, and a major player in coffee, cotton, and mango production.

Côte d'Ivoire's 445 square meter pavilion in Hall 7.1 features conferences, institutional exchanges, presentations of its second-generation National Agricultural Investment Program, promotion of its own agricultural show (SARA), B2B meetings, and showcases of agricultural innovations. A dedicated Côte d'Ivoire day is scheduled for February 26, 2026.

The guest country program strengthens agricultural diplomacy and trade relationships while educating French consumers about global agricultural diversity. Other international exhibitors include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Congo, South Korea, Greece, Italy, Madagascar, Portugal, Senegal, Sudan, and Switzerland.

The Four Main Sections

Livestock and Related Sectors

Despite the cattle absence, this section presents nearly 3,500 animals. Expect pig breeds from Yorkshire to Gascon, sheep varieties from Mérinos to Charollais, goats from Alpine to Angora, plus horses, donkeys, rabbits, and extensive poultry displays.

The prestigious Concours Général Agricole continues for all non-bovine species, with rings showcasing champion animals throughout the nine days. Judges evaluate conformation, movement, breed characteristics, and production potential. Winning animals represent the pinnacle of French breeding programs and genetics.

Crops and Plant Sectors

Agricultural machinery demonstrations, biotechnology innovations, sustainable agricultural practices, and agri-tech solutions fill this section. The AGRI'EXPO area highlights innovations in cultivation, while educational workshops explain everything from soil health to precision agriculture.

SIA'PRO goes deeper with dedicated conference spaces for round tables and debates on agricultural transitions. Topics include climate-smart agriculture, digital farming solutions, renewable energy integration, and economic models supporting sustainable farming. The Hub for Agricultural Innovation showcases start-ups and European clusters fostering networking and technology transfer.

Products from France and the World

This transforms the show into what many call "the world's largest farmers' market." Regional French products occupy substantial space: Normandy cheeses, Alsatian choucroute, Provençal olive oils, Breton ciders, Champagne, Bordeaux wines, Savoie mountain products, and specialties from every French region and overseas territory.

International pavilions complement French offerings, with Côte d'Ivoire's pavilion as the centerpiece. Expect tastings, cooking demonstrations, and direct sales from producers rarely accessible to urban consumers.

Agricultural Services and Professions

Career guidance, training programs, and professional networking address the succession challenge highlighted in this year's theme. The AGRI'RECRUTE section focuses on educational sessions, training opportunities, and job seeker meetings.

Agricultural organizations, professional syndicates, research institutes, and government agencies (including France's Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty) maintain informational stands. The European Commission also participates, connecting French agriculture to broader EU policy discussions.

The Concours Général Agricole: France's Premier Food Competition

First established in 1870, the Concours Général Agricole remains the show's competitive heart. While cattle won't compete this year, the competition continues for:

• Wines from all French regions

• Cheeses, from fresh chèvre to aged Comté

• Butters and dairy products

• Cured meats and charcuterie

• Spirits, including Cognac, Armagnac, and rums from French overseas territories

• Honey and bee products

• All non-bovine livestock species

Winning a CGA medal (gold, silver, or bronze) represents the pinnacle of French agricultural achievement. Products bearing these medals command premium prices and consumer trust. More than 5,000 medals are awarded during the show, recognizing excellence across products and wines that best express French terroirs.

Visitors can taste many medal-winning products at exhibitor stands throughout the venue, creating direct connections between consumers and award-winning producers.

Professional Opportunities and B2B Networking

While the public often sees the Salon as a family outing, it serves crucial professional functions. Professional visitors from France and abroad access dedicated services:

• Pre-registration and dedicated reception area at Porte V

• Access to the International Business Club with free cloakroom in Pavilion 1

• Professional visitor's handbook listing services and programs for agricultural stakeholders

• Dedicated meeting spaces including "Café des Agris" and "Forum des Agris" for conferences and round tables

• B2B meeting facilitation with exhibitors and international delegations

For Côte d'Ivoire's pavilion, expect structured B2B meetings between French importers and Ivorian producers, institutional exchanges on agricultural development programs, and networking receptions connecting stakeholders across cocoa, coffee, cashew, and other key sectors.

Agricultural equipment manufacturers, seed companies, agri-tech firms, and input suppliers use the show to launch products, demonstrate innovations, and secure distribution agreements. The scale and diversity of attendees make it unmatched for market intelligence and relationship building.

Educational Programming for All Ages

The show offers over one hundred activities and workshops for children, focusing on taste education, nutrition, seasonal eating, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. The educational farm in Hall 4 provides hands-on learning about animal care, feeding schedules, and farming practices.

Children can touch animals (under supervision), watch milking demonstrations (with goats and sheep this year, given the cattle absence), learn about different wool types from various sheep breeds, and understand how food travels from farm to table.

For adults, conferences address pressing agricultural topics: climate adaptation strategies, organic conversion economics, direct-to-consumer marketing models, precision agriculture technologies, water management innovations, and economic frameworks supporting sustainable farming.

Subject matter experts, agricultural researchers, successful farmers, and policy makers lead these discussions, creating forums for knowledge exchange that extend beyond the exhibition floor.

Why This Event Matters Beyond Agriculture

A Political Barometer

The Salon International de l'Agriculture has become an unmissable political event. Former President Jacques Chirac pioneered the tradition of extended presidential visits, sometimes spending entire days working the aisles, tasting products, and engaging with farmers.

President Emmanuel Macron holds the current record: 13 hours at the 2024 edition. Such visits aren't mere photo opportunities. They provide politicians direct access to agricultural stakeholders and allow farmers unfiltered communication with national leadership.

This year, with France's government facing political tensions and farmers' concerns about trade agreements (particularly the EU-Mercosur deal), environmental regulations, and farm economics, the show provides a public forum for dialogue.

Agricultural organizations sometimes use the show to voice grievances. Some groups have announced boycotts for 2026, including the Confédération Paysanne of Ariège and the Charollais sheep organization, expressing solidarity with cattle farmers and frustration with agricultural policies.

Yet show president Jérôme Despey emphasizes that the SIA remains "a private show made by farmers for farmers. In times of crisis, we need support." The decision to proceed, even without cattle and amid some boycotts, underscores the show's role as a meeting point for agricultural France.

Media Coverage and International Influence

More than 3,000 journalists cover the event, broadcasting French agricultural practices and innovations globally. Television networks set up studios on-site, broadcasting live programs throughout the nine days. Radio shows originate from the venue. Print and digital media produce extensive coverage.

This media presence extends the show's influence far beyond those physically present. French citizens across the country follow political visits, livestock competition results, and controversies via news coverage. International agricultural publications examine innovations, breeding programs, and policy discussions emerging from the event.

For many countries, the Paris show serves as a model for their own agricultural exhibitions, demonstrating how to balance professional B2B functions with public education and engagement.

Making the Most of Your Visit: Insider Tips

Engage with Exhibitors:

The show's greatest value lies in direct conversations with producers, farmers, breeders, and agricultural professionals. Ask about breeding techniques, cultivation methods, product differences between regions, or career paths in agriculture. Most exhibitors welcome engaged questions and appreciate genuine interest in their work.

Don't just sample and move on. Learn the story behind the product. What makes this particular cheese different? How do climate and soil affect this wine? What breeding choices produced this animal's characteristics? These conversations transform sampling into education.

Watch Livestock Judging:

Even if you have no agricultural background, attending livestock presentations provides insight into breeding standards and animal quality assessment. Watch what judges evaluate: conformation (body structure and proportions), movement (gait and soundness), breed characteristics (color patterns, horn shape, body type), and indicators of production potential (udder quality in dairy animals, muscle development in meat breeds).

Competitions occur on schedules published in advance. Plan to attend at least one judging session to understand the skill and knowledge behind livestock breeding.

Don't Skip Technology Pavilions:

The SIA'PRO section (Hall 5, February 23-25) deserves attention even for non-agricultural professionals. Demonstrations of autonomous tractors, precision spraying systems, soil sensors, drone monitoring, and farm management software show how technology addresses labor shortages, environmental concerns, and economic pressures.

Start-ups showcasing innovations in the Hub for Agricultural Innovation often represent agricultural futures: vertical farming systems, alternative proteins, blockchain traceability, artificial intelligence for crop disease detection, and renewable energy integration.

Regional Product Discovery:

Use the show to plan future travels within France. After tasting Normandy cheeses or Savoie wines, note producers' locations. Many offer farm visits, direct sales, agritourism experiences, or educational tours. The Salon creates initial connections that can evolve into deeper regional exploration.

Regional pavilions often feature tourism information, highlighting local agricultural routes, cheese trails, wine roads, and farm-to-table restaurants showcasing regional products.

Pace Yourself:

With over 1,100 exhibitors across 140,000+ square meters, attempting comprehensive coverage leads to exhaustion and diminished experience. Choose focus areas matching your interests. Some visitors dedicate entire days to specific themes: one day for livestock, another for regional products, a third for international pavilions and technology.

Tasting areas shine around noon, perfect for lunch composed of regional specialties. Sample products from different areas, but pace yourself. With hundreds of exhibitors offering tastes, overindulgence comes easily. Focus on 2-3 regional specialties per visit rather than attempting comprehensive tasting.

Understanding Current Agricultural Context

Climate Adaptation and Sustainability

The "Générations Solutions" theme explicitly addresses climate change as one of agriculture's three existential challenges (alongside succession and food sovereignty). Throughout the show, expect demonstrations and discussions of:

Drought-resistant crop varieties: Plant breeders showcase varieties requiring less water or tolerating heat stress, crucial as France experiences more frequent droughts.

Precision irrigation systems: Technologies delivering water exactly where and when needed, reducing waste while maintaining productivity.

Soil health management: Cover cropping, reduced tillage, organic amendments, and practices building soil carbon and improving water retention.

Renewable energy integration: Solar installations on farm buildings, biogas from agricultural waste, wind turbines on agricultural land, creating additional farm income while supporting energy transition.

Livestock management for changing conditions: Breed selection for heat tolerance, pasture management strategies, and feeding systems reducing methane emissions.

These aren't abstract concepts but practical implementations by working farms, with farmers explaining real-world results, economic impacts, and lessons learned.

Farm Succession Crisis

The statistic driving this year's theme bears repeating: nearly one-third of French farmers will reach retirement age by 2030. Without new farmers entering the profession, France faces significant agricultural knowledge loss and productive capacity reduction.

The show addresses this through:

Young farmer spotlights: Profiles of farmers under 40 implementing innovative practices, demonstrating agriculture as a viable, modern career.

Training and education resources: Information on agricultural education pathways, apprenticeship programs, and support for new farmers.

Land access models: Discussions of creative approaches to farmland access given high costs: cooperative ownership, long-term leases, incremental purchase arrangements.

Alternative economic models: Direct-to-consumer marketing, agritourism, value-added processing, and diversification strategies making small and medium farms economically viable.

Mentorship programs: Connecting retiring farmers with potential successors, facilitating knowledge transfer and potential farm takeovers.

Food Sovereignty

France, like much of Europe, increasingly focuses on food sovereignty: the capacity to feed its population with domestically produced food, reducing dependence on imports vulnerable to supply chain disruptions or geopolitical tensions.

The show highlights:

Protein crop development: French-grown soybeans, peas, and faba beans reducing reliance on imported animal feed.

Fruit and vegetable production: Investments in greenhouse systems, polytunnels, and season extension technologies increasing domestic production of produce often imported.

Regional food systems: Short supply chains, farmers' markets, and local distribution networks strengthening food security at regional levels.

Quality over commodity: Emphasizing products where French terroir, expertise, and quality standards create competitive advantages over cheaper imports.

The Salon's Role in French Culture

For many urban French families, the Salon represents their annual connection to France's agricultural roots. The carefully chosen mascot cow tradition (suspended this year due to disease concerns but historically significant) symbolizes this relationship. Each year's mascot becomes a national celebrity, featured in media coverage and drawing crowds to its pavilion.

The tradition underscores how agriculture occupies unique psychological space in French culture, representing not just economic activity but national identity, regional pride, and culinary heritage.

Children growing up in Paris, Lyon, or Marseille may have limited direct agricultural exposure. The Salon provides tangible connections: touching animals, meeting farmers, understanding where food originates, and appreciating agricultural complexity.

For adults, it reinforces that agriculture isn't abstract or distant but performed by real people facing real challenges, producing the food appearing in markets and on restaurant menus.

What Happens at the Salon: A Typical Day

Imagine arriving at Porte de Versailles around 10:00 AM on a Thursday in late February. The crowd is substantial but manageable compared to weekend chaos.

You enter through Hall 1, immediately encountering poultry displays where this year's reorganization placed them in cattle's traditional space. Chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl representing dozens of heritage breeds. Breeders explain breed characteristics, egg production, meat quality, and conservation efforts for rare varieties.

Moving to livestock competition rings, you watch judges evaluate Charollais sheep. They examine conformation, feeling muscle development, checking leg structure, observing movement. The champion receives a rosette and prize, the breeder's pride evident.

Hall 4 draws you next, where the educational farm hosts school groups learning about animal care. Children brush goats, observe rabbits, and ask endless questions. Nearby, agricultural machinery manufacturers demonstrate precision planting equipment and autonomous weeders.

By noon, hunger strikes. Hall 7's regional pavilions become your destination. At a Normandy stand, you taste Camembert from a small producer, learning how seasonal pasture affects flavor. Nearby, an Alsatian exhibitor offers tastings of Gewürztraminer and explains vineyard management in the Vosges foothills.

A Savoie cheese producer slices Beaufort, explaining the cooperative system where mountain farmers pool milk, sharing both work and profits. You purchase cheese to take home, plus a bottle of local wine recommended by another exhibitor.

Afternoon takes you to SIA'PRO in Hall 5, where agri-tech companies demonstrate drone crop monitoring systems. A start-up shows blockchain traceability allowing consumers to track products from specific fields through processing to retail. A precision agriculture firm presents AI-driven pest detection analyzing thousands of images to identify problems before farmers could spot them visually.

A conference on climate adaptation draws you in. A panel of farmers from southern France explains how they've modified practices as drought becomes more frequent: shifting planting dates, trying new crop varieties, installing drip irrigation, integrating livestock and crops to improve soil health. Their practical focus and willingness to admit failures alongside successes makes the discussion valuable.

By 4:00 PM, feet tired, you circle back to Hall 7 for final tastings. At Côte d'Ivoire's pavilion, you sample coffee and chocolate, learning about the country's agricultural challenges and innovations. A representative explains their sustainable cocoa program and climate adaptation strategies.

Leaving around 5:00 PM, shopping bags full of regional products, you've walked kilometers, learned about agricultural systems from Brittany to West Africa, tasted exceptional food and wine, watched expert judges evaluate livestock, seen cutting-edge agricultural technology, and connected agricultural production to the food you consume.

That's the Salon International de l'Agriculture. Not just an exhibition, but an experience linking food, culture, technology, policy, and the people producing what feeds nations.

The 2026 Edition in Context

Though facing unprecedented circumstances with the cattle absence, the 2026 show demonstrates agriculture's resilience. Organizers have adapted creatively, expanding poultry presence, highlighting other livestock species, and maintaining the show's educational and commercial missions.

The "Générations Solutions" theme proves particularly apt. Agriculture faces genuine challenges: succession, climate change, economic pressures, and changing consumer expectations. Yet the show spotlights those finding solutions, whether young farmers implementing regenerative practices, researchers developing climate-adapted varieties, or companies creating technologies making farming more sustainable and efficient.

Visitors this year witness not just agriculture as it is, but agriculture in transition. The absence of cattle, while disappointing to many, represents solidarity and responsible health management. The focus on young farmers addresses succession urgency. The expanded technology demonstrations show how innovation supports traditional agriculture.

Final Thoughts for Visitors

Whether you're an agricultural professional seeking business connections, a family wanting educational experiences for children, a food enthusiast passionate about quality products, or simply curious about where your food originates, the Salon International de l'Agriculture offers something valuable.

Come with comfortable shoes, an open mind, and genuine curiosity. Support the farmers, breeders, and producers who feed nations. Learn something about where your food comes from. Taste products you won't find anywhere else. Watch skilled judges evaluate animals. Ask questions. Make connections.

The Salon isn't just about agriculture in the abstract. It's about relationships between land, food, culture, and community. Those relationships don't depend on perfect conditions, cattle in Hall 1, or ideal politics. They depend on showing up, engaging, and recognizing that agriculture's challenges and innovations matter to everyone who eats.

Which is to say, everyone.