Far more than simply a showcase for new drinks, Wine Paris has fast evolved to become the world’s top wine and spirits trade fair where visitors are able to sniff out the latest vintages from producers around the globe, and discover the latest new products and innovations from spirits brand owners, while exhibitors get an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their drinks and meet new buyers and distributors. And all attendees can learn from the wide range of masterclasses and talks taking place over the three days of the event and network with other drinks trade professionals.
Wine Paris has seen a surge in visitors over the last five years and expects its biggest show yet in February
In 2026, the event, which is expected to see international participation rocket by 94% since 2024, will bring together three distinct yet complementary shows comprising Wine Paris, with Be Spirits catering for the spirits sector, and new for 2026, Be No a space dedicated solely to the burgeoning no-alcohol arena, bringing together mixology, vineyards and alcohol- free innovations all under one roof.
Wine Paris: setting the scene
To date nine national and regional pavilions have confirmed their attendance at Wine Paris, including inaugural appearances from Croatia, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Romania, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria and Germany.
The diversity of attendees can be seen in the breakdown of last year’s visitor figures, with 40% involved in imports and distribution, 18% retailers from the trade, (including supermarkets, e-commerce, and duty free), 8% service providers and 23% from other professions, such as producers and the media.
Vinexposum's ceo Rodolphe Lameyse has helped mastermind the transformation of a beleagued Vinexpo into Wine Paris - the biggest wine and spirits trade fair in the world
“Today we are the largest, but it was not so long ago that we were close to dying,” says Rodolphe Lameyse who has helped transform what was a flagging Vinexpo out of Bordeaux into the world’s biggest trade show proudly situated in Paris.
“We have since reinvented ourselves and changed a lot of things. We are not just a trade show organiser - we are far more than that, we are now part of the community, and part of the wine and spirits industry.”
The strength of Wine Paris, he adds, “lies in the diversity of its participants from winegrowers, bartenders and distributors to start ups”.
“Every strand of the industry crosses paths there. The exhibition illustrates the development of a world where expertise, innovation and new techniques converge,” he stresses.
Demand now far surpasses supply, with a long waiting list from exhibitors wishing to participate in the event.
“Demand for space continues to grow,” confirms Lameyse, “and the waiting list is expanding on a daily basis. I am constantly having to turn down requests from producers wanting to exhibit, and dealing with complaints about lack of space.”
There has been a notable increase in exhibitor numbers from the UK in particular, up 138% in only a year.
Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, gave Wine Paris his wholehearted backing at last December’s press briefing.
“Moving the Vinexpo event from Bordeaux to Paris makes it an absolute no-brainer for the WSTA to support. It’s easier to get to Paris than to Edinburgh from London, for example, so very easy to suggest to my members they should go.”
He adds: “We import 1.7bn bottles of wine which makes us the largest importer of wine in the world, and we are the largest exporter of spirits.
“Wine Paris is the biggest trade show of its type and crosses all categories and regions. All these products trade in a very international market, and governments are mainly getting in the way, so if there is any ‘us versus them’ it is us versus governments.”
Room for growth?
With the current space available at Wine Paris fully occupied its organisers, Vinexposium, are looking at options on how it can expand the show futher whilst keeping its strong professional reputation
With the current event space at Paris Expo Port de Versailles filled to capacity, Lameyse is currently exploring other options to accommodate additional exhibitors and visitors in future years as a matter of priority.
There is the possibility of using an adjoining hall which is connected via a tunnel to the main exhibition space, but that has already been earmarked for another trade show immediately after Wine Paris, allowing only a very limited amount of time to dismantle the exhibition.
“I need something we can disassemble very quickly, because we would only have one night to do so. It normally takes us 36 hours to build the show, so we need to see what we can do,” says Lameyse.
However, his grand vision for the future isn’t just about scaling up, it’s about ensuring the event offers consistently good value, as a professional and educational platform for the worldwide wine and spirits sector.
And while some multi-international brands currently do not see the need to exhibit at the Paris show, Lameyse confidently predicts that in time they will come to see the importance and necessity of having a presence at the show.
“There will come a point when they can’t afford not to be there. Our international growth is impressive,” he says. “Only five years ago French exhibitors dominated the fair, but now it’s truly global in scale, with significant participation from Italy, Spain and New World producers. Meanwhile, attendance from the UK and US has soared, and nations like Australia are increasingly engaged.”
Setting the agenda
Wine Paris will once again offer a wide range of talks, seminars, tastings and masterclasses
A key focus for Wine Paris 2026 will be its expanded content programme with a wide range of seminars, panel debates, masterclasses and specialist tastings.
All of which fits neatly into Vinexposium’s wider strategy to be a “catalyst for communication” for the overall wine and spirits industry.
Wine Paris will once again look to address some of the biggest issues facing the global wine and spiritsindustry.
Policy changes and trade restrictions in two global powerhouses – the US and China – have added immediate pressures to business, while the over planting of vines in the late 20th century has left the wine sector facing structural imbalances that require considerable adjustments, says Lameyse.
Closer to home, Lameyse laments the fact that in France there is little understanding, or appreciation, of the huge economic contribution made by the drinks trade to the French economy, and it should be better supported by government.
Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of focused tastings at Wine Paris
“It’s like teenagers and sex,” he laughs. “Everyone talks about it but no one really know how it works. When I speak to a foreign trade minister in France, they don’t seem to have a clue.”
As part of these wider concerns, Wine Paris 2026 will feature a series of talks “dedicated to geo-economic issues we face globally”, with several key influentialfigures addressing these topics.
Amongst their number will be the WSTA’s Beale, Chris Swonger, president and chief executive of the US’ Distilled Spirits Council, and Pauline Bastidon, director of trade and economic affairs at Spirts Europe.
Be No Paris
Wine Paris has responded to the surge in interest and demand for no and low alcohol products with the dedicated Be No Paris section of the show.
It will include producers of no alcoholic beverages from 12 countries – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
The free tasting area will feature over 250 labels and give visitors the chance to taste and explore what is being produced around the world.
”Be No embraces no-alcohol wines, spirits, beers and RTDs both de-alcoholised and beverages developed without fermentation, alongside products such as sparkling teas and fermented drinks. This is not about fruit juices or soft drinks but a curated environment for professionals seeking alternatives,” says Audrey Marqueyssat, the director of Be Spirits and Be No.
Be Spirits
Be Spirits will be a standalone part of Wine Paris for the first time
Be Spirits Paris, which has been part of Wine Paris since its first show in 2020, will operate as a standalone event for the first time in 2026, mirroring its growing international scope and increasing size.
Major pavilions set to take part include Scotland, Mexico, Japan, the US, Ireland and Australia.
Last year the spirits event brought together more than 300 exhibitors from 34 countries and Lameyse is confident that in 2026 those numbers will be surpassed.
Already confirmed are an additional 100 spirits exhibitors and eight new countries showcasing their products for the very first time in Paris, including Bulgaria, Finland, Madagascar, Monaco, Panama, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.
The event features not only spirits, but aselection of beveragesincluding ciders, beers and RTD drinks.
It also features signature spaces such as the Speakeasy and the Infinite Bar which focus on innovation and mixology.
Despite becoming a standalone show, Be Spirits will remain an integral part of Wine Paris. It also helps contribute hugely to the number of international visitors attending the event which has seen overseas attendees almost double in two years from 24% of all visitors in 2023 to 43% in 2025.
“Be Spirits Paris is far more than an exhibition” claims Marqueyssat. ”It is a community of creative stake holders who are bringing change to the industry. Our mission is to promote expertise independent channels and human interaction.”
Be Spirits includes its own "Infinity" bar where France's best bartenders will be on hand to make and pour cocktails to demonstrate the brands on show
And as with Wine Paris, Lameyse believes it is only a matter of time before the very biggest names in the spirits industry will feel compelled to exhibit.
“At present the likes of Diageo don’t think they need to participate, though they are coming as visitors – they are on the show floor looking at the competition,” he says.
“At the moment, most of the interest comes from smaller and medium sized brands looking to expand their distribution and the likes of Diageo don’t need us to develop their travel retail network or whatever, but I think they will see that the show is developing and soon they will have no choice and will have to be there.
“Give them two or three years and they will need to display the power of their brands and be part of the discussion. They will soon want to be in Paris to reaffirm their portfolios.”
Gateway to the world
Given the remarkable speed at which Wine Paris has become such a force in the wine and spirits sector, what does Lameyse attribute its phenomenal success to?
First there is Paris itself which acts as a powerful magnet, not only for being a strategic hub for the international wine and spirits trade, with its central European location and high-speed train network making it one of the most accessible cities for the industry’s global decision makers, but also its cultural appeal.
We'll always have Paris...the city itself is a major reason for wanting to attend Wine Paris
The city is also the obvious gateway to many of France’s wine regions, with buyers able to reach Champagne in less than an hour from the capital, Burgundy in around an hour and a half, while Bordeaux and the Loire are just over two hours away thanks to the country’s new high speed train network.
Merging Vinexpo with Wine Paris in 2020 not only made strategic sense, says Lameyse, but it also presented an “unprecedented opportunity” to reinvent and breathe new life into the event at a crucial time when the industry was facing considerable challenges.
“From the beginning our modus operandi has always been to make things as easy as possible for visitors and exhibitors,” pointing to the efficiency and professionalism of the show.
“Wine Paris brings together complementary worlds,” he continues. “By uniting established stakeholders and new profiles from the wine, spirits and no low spaces we create an environment where everyone can develop their projects and move forward with the industry.
“With Wine Paris, Be Spirits and now Be No, Vinexposium is shaping a clear, purpose-driven offering built around three pillars aligned with the sector’s ongoing transformation – from alcoholic to no-alcohol drinks. In today’s increasingly complex economic environment, our role as a committed industry ally is to bring clarity, channel collective energy and chart a path towards a sustainable future.”
La Nouvelle Vague
Another new feature of the 2026 show will be La Nouvelle Vague programme which focuses on young, up and coming producers who have been in the business for less than five years, offering them the opportunity to showcase their brands, meet distributors from around the world and ramp up their profile in a fast moving market.
It will also provide them with the ideal launchpad for those fledgling businesses and brands keen to make their mark on the global stage.
Future growth
Wine Paris is part of a global network of shows organised by Vinexposium around the world
Talking about the industry at large, Lameyse believes India, China and South East Asia offer the most potential for growth for both the wine and and spirits industries.
“India is a small market now in terms of volume and value. But when you have a population of 1.5bn, I think it would be a mistake not to address that market.”
According to IWSR, the market for wine in India is increasing by 18% annually, in stark contrast to much of the western world where sales are largely declining, or at best stagnating.
To exploit the opportunities presented by this vast, and largely untapped market, Vinexposium will belooking to run Vinexpo India some time this year in Mumbai, having had to cancel an event last year due to difficulties with the local show organising partner.
Vinexposium currently also masterminds Vinexpo Americas in Miami (April 29-30) as well as the World Bulk Wine Exhibition in Amsterdam (November 30 to December 1) and the Vinexpo Explorer which was held in Mendoza last year. It is set to run its first dedicated bulk wine explorer event in Argentina later this year.
Vinexpo Asia will be again be held in Hong Kong between May 26-28.
As to the future, despite the headwinds facing the wine and spirits industry, Lameyese remains in bullish mood.
“I am optimistic. The industry will continue to leverage free trade agreements – globalisation is not dead – while developing emerging markets and responding strategically to changing consumer demands, he says.
“Success will depend on producing the right products for the right markets, accepting that no-and-low is a valid wine category, and maintaining a long-term perspective.
“The challenges are significant, but they are not insurmountable; they require agility and willingness to rethink traditional models while staying true to the culture and enjoyment of wine. Our story isn't over - it's just evolving.
When and where: February 9-11. Paris Expo Port de Versailles.
Click here for more information and to register to attend.
