Description
The Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire is located in the north-east of Nantes, in the Beaujoire district, along the banks of the Erdre, immediately adjacent to the Beaujoire stadium and the terminus of tram line 1. The site covers around 20 hectares in total, including the 6 main covered halls and the Grand Palais, complemented by extensive outdoor areas that can be fitted out. Together with the Cité des Congrès, it forms the main B2B and consumer events hub of the Nantes metropolitan area.
The venue was created in the late 1960s, with the construction of the Grand Palais designed by the Nantes-based architect Yves Liberge and inaugurated in 1969. The site expanded gradually through successive halls, up to the inauguration of the Hall XXL in August 2013, built on the site of the former halls 5 and 6.
The venue is operated by Exponantes (a local public company in which the CCI Nantes Saint-Nazaire is the reference shareholder alongside Nantes Métropole), on behalf of Nantes Métropole, which owns the facilities.
Since 1 January 2026, the SPL Exponantes and the SPL Cité des Congrès de Nantes have joined a single local public company (Société Publique Locale) in order to jointly manage the two events venues of the metropolitan area, under the joint governance of Nantes Métropole and the CCI Nantes Saint-Nazaire. The definitive legal form (merged SPL or SEM) is still being structured. This combination aims to organise a coordinated events offering across the Loire-Atlantique area, articulating major B2B trade shows at the Parc des Expositions and congresses / conferences at the Cité des Congrès.
The venue hosts national B2B trade shows (Serbotel, IPA), regional consumer fairs (Habitat, Vinipro, Salon de l'Étudiant) and numerous sector-specific professional events.
Halls
The venue is organised around 6 main halls and the Grand Palais, complemented by extensive outdoor areas that can be fitted out. All the halls are modular and can be combined or partitioned to accommodate a range of event configurations.
- Halls 1 to 4: modular covered halls that host B2B trade shows, sector fairs and major consumer fairs depending on the edition.
- Hall XXL: a large hall of 15,501 sqm (SHON) inaugurated in August 2013, built on the site of the former halls 5 and 6. It is dedicated to configurations requiring a very large floor footprint (trade shows with a demonstration component, conventions, sporting or cultural formats), with a capacity that can reach several thousand people in event configuration.
- Grand Palais: the historic building of the site (1969) over three levels, incorporating exhibition spaces, meeting rooms and catering areas, connected to the other halls by covered walkways.
- Outdoor areas: outdoor surfaces that can be fitted out for demonstrations, exhibitor car parks, consumer activities and equipment trials.
Access & transport
Tram: line 1 serves the venue at its Beaujoire terminus, immediately on the edge of the site. The Ranzay station (line 1) provides a second access point. This is the preferred mode of access from Nantes city centre (around 20 minutes from the centre).
Bus: the C6 line of the TAN network also serves the Beaujoire district.
Car: the venue is accessible via the A11 motorway, Beaujoire exit. From the Nantes ring road, allow a few minutes outside peak hours.
Airport: Nantes-Atlantique is around 25 minutes by car to the south of the metropolitan area.
Parking: several thousand parking spaces on site, complemented by the stadium and Beaujoire district car parks on major event days.
Services
Catering: on-site catering services during events (catering points, seated areas). Exhibitors can order on-stand catering services from the site's official service providers.
Exhibitor services: business centre, meeting rooms, signage, reception, security and guarding, furniture hire and technical installations (electricity, utilities), logistics assistance before and during the event.
Connectivity: WiFi coverage deployed across the halls.
Accommodation: a dense hotel offering in Nantes city centre (15 to 20 minutes by tram), with a few hotels in the immediate vicinity of the Beaujoire district.
News
Since 1 January 2026, the SPL Exponantes and the SPL Cité des Congrès de Nantes have joined a single local public company (Société Publique Locale) responsible for operating the two Nantes events venues (Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire + Cité des Congrès). Governance is jointly held by Nantes Métropole (owner of the sites) and the CCI Nantes Saint-Nazaire, with the definitive legal form (merged SPL or SEM) still being structured.
This strategic project aims to organise a coordinated events offering across the Loire-Atlantique area: major trade shows and fairs at the Parc des Expositions on one side, congresses, conventions and conferences at the Cité des Congrès on the other. The new entity brings together around 130 staff, manages nearly 400 events per year and represents a combined turnover of around 27 million euros. For organisers and exhibitors, this merger ultimately means a single point of contact for the Nantes destination, strengthened coordination of calendars and a pooling of exhibitor services between the two sites.
Flagship trade shows
The venue hosts a mix of national B2B trade shows, regional sector fairs and consumer events:
- Serbotel: a biennial trade show (odd years) dedicated to the out-of-home catering (CHR) trades, hospitality, bakery-patisserie and the food trades of the Grand Ouest. It is one of the venue's long-standing B2B fixtures.
- IPA Nantes: a biennial trade show for food ingredients and processes (Ingredients & Process Alimentaires), organised by GL Events.
- Batibig Nantes: an annual trade show dedicated to building and construction in the Grand Ouest.
- Salon Habitat Nantes: an annual consumer fair dedicated to construction, renovation, decoration and home improvement.
- Salon Vinipro: a trade show dedicated to wine and spirits buyers of the Grand Ouest (CHR, wine merchants, distribution).
- Salon de l'Étudiant Nantes: an annual careers and education guidance fair for post-baccalauréat options, aimed at sixth-formers and students of Loire-Atlantique.
The venue also hosts large-scale regional consumer events (the Nantes fair, seasonal specialist trade shows) and numerous congresses, conventions and sporting competitions.