The last morning of SIAL Paris. For the first couple of hours it is business as usual: buyers, distributors, serious people with business cards and questions. Then a different crowd starts walking in. Big black bags over their shoulders, suitcases rolling behind them, moving from stand to stand with one goal: grab everything that isn’t nailed down. One stand eventually lost its TVs.
That was the end of my SIAL Paris 2026. But let’s start at the beginning.
Trip ABC: Paris and SIAL
🏨 Where to stay
- Hotel Dali Val d’Europe: our pick, quiet and about 35 minutes to the fair by car
- ibis Styles Parc des Expositions de Villepinte: next to the fair, about 200 metres from the RER station
- Timhotel Paris du Gare du Nord: opposite Gare du Nord, RER B straight to the fair
✈️ Getting there: Flights to Paris via Kiwi.com, trains on Omio, rental car via DiscoverCars
🎟 What to do: Paris tours and tickets (GetYourGuide)
These are partner links: if you book through them, we earn a small commission and your price stays the same.
What SIAL Paris is and why I was there
SIAL Paris (Salon International de l’Alimentation) is one of the biggest food trade fairs in the world. It takes place every two years in October at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, north of the city on the way to the airport. In 2026 it ran from 17 to 21 October, with more than 8,000 exhibitors from 130 countries and around 300,000 visitors expected. For comparison, 285,000 people came in 2024.
I was there from Monday to Wednesday representing Salt’sUp. Our stand was part of the Visit Estonia pavilion in Hall 7, next to wellness and similar sectors. So this time I saw the fair from behind the counter, not as a visitor.
Salt, the most boring food in the world
We brought our gourmet salts and peppers, and that is always fun, because honestly, salt is the most boring food in the world. Everyone has it at home and nobody thinks about it.
Then you start showing people how different salts can be, and they are sooo surprised. I saw that look, the moment someone realises salt is not just salt, dozens of times over three days, and it never got old.
People in general were lovely. Happy, curious, and the moment they heard we were from Estonia, the conversation warmed up.
Three days is not enough
The first thing that hits you at Villepinte is the size. You think three days is plenty to see everything. It isn’t. Officially there were 12 halls and 280,000 square metres in 2026, and covering it all is simply impossible, especially when you also have to be at your own stand.
There are a lot of people. A LOT. On the first day finding my way around was genuinely hard, and there is so much going on that it all starts to blur. By day two you know where things are, and by day three you have your own shortcuts.
The Basque pavilion, where I was adopted on the spot
When I did get to walk around, the Basque pavilion was my favourite. I saw a lot of products I already knew, and the moment I said “kaixo”, they adopted me.
I tasted Hondarribia fish soup, cheeses, goat’s milk products and the most delicious Basque cakes. If you have been to the Basque Country you will recognise those flavours straight away, and if you haven’t, they are a very good reason to go. My 7-day Basque Country road trip and the best restaurants in San Sebastián are a good place to start.
Right next door was the Navarre pavilion. Navarre is also home to the Bardenas Reales desert, which I have written about separately.
What there was to see in 2026: trends and winners
SIAL’s own innovation awards had more than 2,750 entries in 2026, with 775 finalists. Gold went to Swiss Zeen Tech, whose technology fries, dries and roasts food in water instead of oil. Silver went to Turkey’s Patislove for yogurt-coated fruit pieces, and bronze to Green Matcha’s vegan matcha latte capsules. Among the category winners was French crisp maker Brets.
From the organiser’s trend report, three things stood out most on the floor:
- Snacking instead of meals. According to the report, 45% of consumers snack throughout the day. You saw it everywhere, right down to snack vending machines.
- Functional food. Drinks and foods promising energy, better digestion or some other benefit.
- Fun, colourful new products made as much for social media as for eating.
Honestly: transport and logistics were terrible
I have nothing bad to say about the fair itself, but transport and logistics were badly organised. Trains were so full you couldn’t get on, and they were often cancelled. One evening someone fell in front of a train and died. Not news you want to hear about someone who may have been at the same fair.
The other thing I didn’t expect was the last day. Towards the end a lot of people were let in whose only aim was to take things, and a lot was stolen. If you are exhibiting, keep an eye on your stand on the final day and pack away anything valuable early.
Why we stayed in Val d’Europe
We didn’t stay in central Paris but in Val d’Europe, at Hotel Dali Val d’Europe, and drove to the fair. In the morning it took 35 minutes, in the evening traffic about an hour.
Looking back, it was a very good call. During those days there was serious unrest in central Paris and shops there were badly damaged. We avoided the centre on purpose, and Val d’Europe was a comfortable place to hide after a long day at the fair.
If you want to drive to the fair too, you can compare rental car prices on DiscoverCars.
Practical guide: how to visit SIAL Paris 2028
When and where
The next SIAL Paris takes place from 22 to 26 October 2028. The big change is that it will run across two venues at once: Paris Nord Villepinte and the nearby Paris Le Bourget exhibition centre. Drinks, wines and spirits, delicatessen, frozen products, ice cream and snacks move to Le Bourget. One badge covers both, with organiser transport between them.
Who can get in
SIAL is for professionals only. Entry is for food industry professionals aged 16 and over, and ID may be checked at the door. Under 16s are not admitted, even with parents. If you love food and your work is connected to it in some way (chef, shop owner, small producer, food writer), it is worth registering, because you won’t find this many flavours in one place anywhere else. Another way in is an invitation from an exhibitor, as they have an invitation quota.
Tickets
In 2026 a badge cost 90 euros with early booking, then 130 and 160 euros, and 210 euros on site. The earlier you buy, the cheaper it is.
Getting there
Take RER B to Parc des Expositions station, about 20 minutes from Gare du Nord. A single ticket cost 2.55 euros in 2026. There were also shuttle buses from Paris at 10 euros a day. Expect packed trains morning and evening, and cancellations. For us, the car worked best.
For flights to Paris, check Kiwi. If you are coming by train from the Basque Country or elsewhere in France, you will find TGV connections on Omio.
Where to stay
- Next to the fair, about 200 metres from the RER station: ibis Styles Parc des Expositions de Villepinte
- By Gare du Nord, with RER B straight to the fair and Paris on your doorstep in the evening: Timhotel Paris du Gare du Nord
- By car and outside the city, like us: Hotel Dali Val d’Europe
Hotels fill up fast during fair week, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
My tips
- Download the fair app. Without it, finding your way around, especially on day one, is close to hopeless.
- Arrive in the morning when the doors open, before the big crowds. The fair opens at 10am, and closes earlier on the last day.
- You don’t need to buy food. You can taste so many things at the stands that you will be full anyway.
- Don’t try to see everything. Pick the halls and countries that really interest you and treat the rest as a bonus.
- Suitcases aren’t allowed in the halls; they go to the luggage storage at the entrance. A backpack is best.
- If you are staying in Paris, check what is happening in the centre first. Staying outside the city can be the smarter choice if you have a car.
If you have time for Paris after the fair, you can find Paris food tours on GetYourGuide.
Other food fairs and festivals like SIAL
SIAL is for professionals only. If you want a food fair where an ordinary food lover can buy a ticket, Europe has several good options. SIAL runs in even years and its big sibling Anuga in Cologne in odd years, so the food industry gets one major fair every autumn.
Open to everyone
| Event | Where | When | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salon International de l’Agriculture | Paris, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles | 27 Feb to 7 Mar 2027 | 2026: adult €17 |
| Internationale Grüne Woche | Berlin, Messe Berlin | 15 to 24 Jan 2027 | day ticket €17 online |
| Ruoka (Ruokamessut) | Helsinki, Messukeskus | 2 to 4 Apr 2027 | see the organiser’s site |
| Taste of Paris | Paris, Grand Palais | May 2027 (2026: 21 to 24 May) | 2026: from €25 |
| Terra Madre Salone del Gusto | Turin | next in autumn 2028 | 2026: free entry |
Big food trade fairs in Europe and worldwide (for professionals, like SIAL)
| Event | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Anuga | Cologne, Koelnmesse | 9 to 13 Oct 2027 |
| Gulfood | Dubai | 15 to 19 Mar 2027 |
| Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris | Paris, Porte de Versailles | 15 to 17 Feb 2027 |
| Alimentaria | Barcelona, Fira Gran Via | 20 to 23 Mar 2028 |
| TUTTOFOOD | Milan, Fiera Milano | 8 to 11 May 2028 |
| Summer Fancy Food Show | New York, Javits Center | 25 to 27 Jul 2027 |
| FOODEX JAPAN | Tokyo, Tokyo Big Sight | 9 to 12 Mar 2027 |
| FHA Food & Hospitality Asia | Singapore, Singapore Expo | 20 to 23 Apr 2027 |
| SIAL Shanghai (SIAL’s sister in China) | Shanghai, New International Expo Center | 18 to 20 May 2027 |
| THAIFEX Anuga Asia | Bangkok, IMPACT | 25 to 29 May 2027 (open to everyone on Saturday 29 May) |
| Tallinn Food Fair | Tallinn | 22 to 23 Sep 2027 (exhibitor invitation) |
| TastePro / Gastro Helsinki | Helsinki, Messukeskus | TastePro 7 to 8 Apr 2027, Gastro 15 to 16 Mar 2028 |
Dates are from the organisers’ websites as of October 2026. Always double-check before you book travel.
FAQ
It ran from 17 to 21 October 2026 at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre. Doors opened at 10am, and it closed earlier on the last day.
No. SIAL is for food industry professionals only, and under 16s are not admitted.
In 2026 a badge cost 90 euros with early booking and 210 euros on site.
Take RER B to Parc des Expositions, about 20 minutes from Gare du Nord. By car from Val d’Europe it took us 35 minutes in the morning and about an hour in the evening.
SIAL Paris 2028 takes place from 22 to 26 October 2028, for the first time across two venues: Paris Nord Villepinte and Paris Le Bourget.
Would I recommend it?
If you work with food, yes. You won’t see this many producers, countries and flavours under one roof anywhere else, and as an exhibitor it was a really worthwhile experience. Just go knowing your feet will be done by evening, transport is a lottery and you won’t see everything anyway.
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