Congrès HR · 2026

Agoris analysis · updated October 2026

Key takeaways

• The Congrès HR' is the twice-yearly gathering of the French HR decision-maker community: two editions per year, in spring and autumn, at the Pré Catelan in the Bois de Boulogne (Paris 16th arrondissement).
• Organised by Arcaneo (AEF Info group), it brings together around 900 HR decision-makers around a packed format: 2 major debates, 10 themed sessions, 10 experiential workshops and 80 testimonials from human resources professionals.
• The 50th edition (anniversary edition) was held on 8 and 9 April 2026 on the theme of anticipating the future of the HR function.
• The next edition (51st) is announced for autumn 2026 at the Pré Catelan. Exact dates to be confirmed on the official website.
• A paid event focused on conferences and networking, with no traditional exhibition floor: this is a congress for leaders, not a trade show with stands.

Who exhibits

Typical profile

The Congrès HR' is not an exhibitor trade show in the classic sense: it is a congress for decision-makers. The audience is made up of group HR directors, HR directors, heads of training, talent and transformation, as well as invited experts and speakers. The community gathered numbers around 900 HR decision-makers per edition, drawn mainly from large companies and mid-cap firms.

Partners and sponsors (HR solution providers, consulting firms, training service providers) are present through partnerships and meeting spaces, rather than exhibition halls. The list of official partners is published at congreshr.com/partenaires.

Activities & community

Conference programme

The editorial format is the heart of the Congrès HR': 2 major debates, 10 themed sessions, 10 experiential workshops and 80 testimonials from human resources professionals per edition.

The 50th edition (8-9 April 2026) focused on anticipating the future of the HR function, with sessions covering the integration of AI into HR processes, health and mental health at work, employee engagement, mobility through skills, the evolution of leadership culture, managing transformations, the renewal and transfer of skills, and diversity, inclusion and pay equity.

The two major debates of this edition were led by Frédéric Encel, doctor (HDR) in geopolitics (Université Paris-VIII) and senior lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, and Gérald Bronner, professor of sociology (Université Paris-Diderot). The programme and theme of the 51st edition will be published as the event approaches (source: congreshr.com/programme).

Community and networks

With 50 twice-yearly editions behind it, the Congrès HR' has established itself as a recurring meeting point for the French HR community, with two appointments each year. The logic of the format is peer-to-peer experience sharing (HR director testimonials) rather than commercial demonstration.

On site: what you need to know

Access and practical information: see the Pré Catelan listing, Route de Suresnes, Bois de Boulogne, 75016 Paris.

Specific to the trade show:

• Format: a two-day congress, alternating plenary sessions (major debates), themed sessions and experiential workshops.
• Registration: a paid event, advance registration via the official website. Reserved for HR decision-makers and professionals.
• Organiser contact: congreshr@arcaneo-group.com.

Planning your visit

For the HR decision-maker

• Target the themed sessions and workshops in advance according to your priorities (AI, health at work, skills, leadership, inclusion): the programme is published several weeks before each edition.
• Allow for both days: the format combines plenary sessions in the morning (major debates) with more focused themed tracks.
• Plan your networking: the value of the congress lies as much in peer-to-peer meetings as in the conference content.

For the partner

• Get in touch in advance with Arcaneo regarding partnership and speaking formats (the terms are not published publicly).
• Prepare a testimonial or workshop angle: the congress favours concrete real-world feedback over product pitches.

How the trade show has evolved

A twice-yearly fixture established over the past two decades, the Congrès HR' follows a rhythm of two editions per year (spring and autumn). The recent sequence places the 49th edition in autumn 2025 (12-13 November 2025), the 50th edition (anniversary) on 8 and 9 April 2026, and the 51st edition in autumn 2026. The format has remained stable at around 900 HR decision-makers, 80 testimonials, 10 themed sessions and 10 experiential workshops per edition, making it one of the reference gatherings for the senior HR community in France. Audited attendance figures and the theme of the 51st edition will be announced as the event approaches.

Unless otherwise stated, all factual data in this listing comes from the organiser's official website (congreshr.com).