Wine Paris has cemented its position as a global meeting point for the drinks industry, posting record final figures for 2026 while also securing its future through a notable leadership shake-up.
The 2026 edition of Wine Paris welcomed a bumper 63,541 trade visitors from 169 countries, with international attendees accounting for 51% of total footfall. Exhibitor numbers also rose. A total of 6,537 exhibitors presented wines from 63 countries, again 51% from outside France, underlining the event’s growing global influence.
Leadership changes signal broader ambitions
Alongside the final figures, Vinexposium has confirmed an important evolution in leadership structure. Rodolphe Lameyse, who became CEO of Vinexpo in 2019 and helped steer the transition that ultimately created Vinexposium through the merging of the former Vinexpo and Comexposium wine events, has been asked to take on an expanded role overseeing a newly formed Food & Beverage division within the wider company.
The move reflects the growing scale of the group’s events portfolio and follows several years of accelerated growth for Wine Paris, which rebounded strongly after the pandemic disruption and has added initiatives such as the V d’Or business awards and the VOICE media platform in recent years.
With Lameyse’s responsibilities widening, Nicolas Cuissard – formerly Vinexposium’s sales director – now assumes day-to-day leadership of Wine Paris. The transition is designed to maintain momentum as the show broadens beyond wine into a wider drinks ecosystem.
A broadened drinks focus
Speaking after the show, newly appointed director Nicolas Cuissard described Wine Paris as both a commercial and strategic hub for the industry, highlighting its role as a space where market dialogue, innovation and policy discussions increasingly converge.
As part of that evolution, Wine Paris now encompasses wines, spirits, beers, ciders, RTDs and low & no alcohol categories under a single umbrella, reflecting shifting consumption patterns and retailer demand.
The Be Spirits section attracted 370 exhibitors from 39 countries in 2026, while the newly introduced Be No area, dedicated to alcohol-free alternatives, showcased more than 250 brands.
The show drew political attention too, with French president Emmanuel Macron officially opening the event (a first for the exhibition).
Momentum toward 2027
With the scale and international reach of Wine Paris continuing to secure its position as a key fixture alongside traditional global shows, dates for 2027 have now been confirmed.
Wine Paris will return to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 15 to 17 February 2027, with organisers aiming to further strengthen its status as an international platform for commerce, influence and industry debate.
