Paris Air Show: Dates, Tickets & Visitor Guide

What Is the Paris Air Show?

The Paris Air Show, officially the Salon International de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace, is a biennial gathering of the global aviation and space industry. Manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Dassault use it to unveil new aircraft, announce order books, and showcase military and civilian technology side by side.

It is not just a trade fair. The event mixes serious business, thousands of exhibitors from more than 45 countries, with a genuinely thrilling public spectacle: flying displays, static aircraft you can walk right up to, and a program that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors across its run. If you are researching Paris Air Show for the first time, think of it as equal parts business summit and airshow.

Why It Matters to the Industry?

Billions of dollars in aircraft orders are typically announced during the show week. Airlines, leasing companies, and defense ministries treat it as one of the two or three most important weeks on the aerospace calendar, alongside its UK counterpart.

When Is the Paris Air Show?

Here is the part that trips people up: the Paris Air Show only happens in odd-numbered years. The most recent edition ran in June 2025 at Paris Le Bourget, and the next full edition is expected in 2027, not 2026. If you were searching for Paris Air Show dates for this year, there simply is not a scheduled edition on the calendar for 2026.

That said, the biennial rhythm has held steady for decades, so once official Paris Air Showhow dates for 2027 are confirmed, they will likely follow the same mid-June, week-long format as previous editions, opening with trade-only days followed by a weekend open to the public. If you are asking when is the paris air show next taking place, the safest answer right now is 2027, and it is worth checking the show’s own announcements closer to the date since exact days can shift by a week or two.

Why the Two-Year Gap?

Alternating years let the industry spread its major events out. Farnborough in the UK typically runs in the years the Paris Air Show does not, so exhibitors and airlines are not stretched across two enormous shows in the same twelve months.

Where Is the Show Held?

Every edition takes place at Paris Le Bourget Airport, a historic airfield just northeast of central Paris that also houses the Air and Space Museum. It is a working airport with enough runway and apron space to host both the flying displays and the sprawling static aircraft park.

Le Bourget has hosted the show since it began nearly a century ago, and the venue itself is worth a visit even outside show years since the museum keeps a permanent collection of historic aircraft, including a Concorde you can walk through.

How Do You Get Tickets?

The Paris Air Show splits its week into trade days and public days. The first several days are reserved for industry professionals, journalists, and official delegations, and require accreditation through your company or a press pass. The final one or two are days open to the general public.

For tickets for the Paris Air Showhow public days, tickets are sold online in advance through the official show website closer to the event, and prices in recent editions have run in the range of roughly 25 to 40 euros for adults, with discounts for children and family packages. Buying early is worth it since popular days can sell out, and prices tend to rise closer to the date.

Trade Day Access

Professional accreditation usually requires proof of employment in aerospace, defense, or a related industry, along with a company sponsor. If you are attending for business, start that process months in advance since verification can take time.

Getting to Le Bourget

Le Bourget sits about 13 kilometers northeast of central Paris, roughly a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic. During show week, the organizers typically run shuttle buses from central Paris and nearby RER stations, since parking near the venue fills up fast.

Public transport is usually the easier option. The RER B line connects central Paris to Le Bourget station, with a shuttle bus covering the last stretch to the show entrance. If you are flying in specifically for the show, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is only about 10 minutes away, making it the more convenient arrival point compared to Orly.

What to Expect on Public Days?

Public days are built around flying displays, usually scheduled for the afternoon, when aerobatic teams and the newest commercial and military aircraft take turns in the sky. Expect long lines for the most popular static displays, especially anything with a fighter jet or a brand new airliner parked on the tarmac.

A few practical tips if you are going as a spectator:

• Wear comfortable shoes. The static display area alone can mean several kilometers of walking.
• Bring sun protection. Le Bourget’s apron has very little shade.
• Arrive early. The best viewing spots for the flying display fill up hours before it starts.
• Pack snacks and water, though food vendors are available on site.

Staying Connected at the Show

Le Bourget’s exhibition halls and open tarmac areas get packed during show week, and with hundreds of thousands of visitors and exhibitors on site, public WiFi can slow to a crawl right when you need to look up a shuttle schedule or send photos home. Relying on your home carrier’s roaming plan can also get expensive fast if you are traveling from outside Europe.

A France eSIM from Voye Global solves this cleanly. You install it before you leave home, it activates the moment you land, and you get reliable mobile data across Paris and Le Bourget without hunting for a local SIM card counter at the airport. It is a small thing to sort out in advance, but it makes navigating a chaotic show week noticeably easier.

Where to Stay and What Else to See?

Most visitors base themselves in central Paris and commute out to Le Bourget for the day, which also means you get to enjoy the city in the evenings. If aviation is the theme of your trip, pair the show with a visit to the Air and Space Museum at Le Bourget itself, which stays open year-round, even without the show running.

Beyond the airfield, Paris has plenty to fill the rest of your stay. If your trip lands during warmer months, our guide to Paris in summer covers what to pack and where to go, and our Paris packing list is useful no matter when you visit. Food lovers should also check our rundown of dishes to avoid in Paris, so you do not waste a meal on a tourist trap.

For general trip planning, our France travel guide covers cities, culture, and connectivity in more depth, and you can browse Voye Global for eSIM options covering your entire route if you are combining the show with a longer trip.

Final Thoughts

The Paris Air Show is worth planning for well ahead of time, whether you are chasing business deals or just want to see next-generation aircraft up close. Remember that 2026 is not a show year; mark 2027 on your calendar once dates are confirmed, and use the gap to plan a proper Paris trip around it. Sort your connectivity before you land, book public day tickets early, and you will spend your time watching aircraft instead of dealing with logistics.