Paris Motor Show 2026: tickets, test drives and a visit plan

Paris Motor Show opens to the public on Tuesday, October 13, and runs through Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. October 12 was the press day. Before buying, choose the date and arrival window you need, then check whether a test drive or other activity needs its own reservation.

The show is also called Mondial de l'Auto. It suits visitors who want to compare current cars, see particular manufacturers or spend time with the driving and gaming activities. It is less useful as a spontaneous detour if you only want one specific model and have not checked that it is there.

Public opening hours this week

The organizer's practical-information page, checked October 13, gives these Paris-local hours:

These are venue hours, not permission to arrive at any time with any ticket. The ticket terms list final entry at 7pm Tuesday-Thursday, 9pm Friday-Saturday and 5:30pm Sunday, with narrower windows for some ticket types.

If you want several halls and a booked activity, a daytime visit gives you more room. An evening visit can work for a shorter list, but do not assume every demonstration runs until the building closes.

Published ticket prices and the checkout check

The current official ticketing page publishes these rates:

Two general weekday tickets therefore total EUR40 online, compared with EUR44 at the listed on-site rate. Two weekend tickets total EUR44 online or EUR48 on site. These calculations use the published rates, before any extra checkout items.

There is a discrepancy worth checking: the September 15 ticket terms still show different weekday, evening and child prices and say there is no on-site sale. Check the final price and conditions for your selected ticket before paying. Do not travel without a ticket on the assumption that a counter will solve everything.

For a family, compare everyone's date and ticket category together. An age-specific fare and an evening fare are not interchangeable simply because both cost less than a general ticket. Use the official booking route rather than a discounted screenshot offered by an unknown seller.

Weekend slots and evening tickets need a closer look

The official English and French FAQ pages disagree on weekend afternoon entry starts and some evening-ticket age wording. Confirm your chosen slot and age category with the seller; the date and conditions on your ticket matter.

Evening admission starts at 6:30pm on Friday or Saturday. The FAQ says daytime visitors can stay until closing without leaving. However, the ticket terms include a seven-hour validity clause after the first scan. Ask the seller how that applies if planning a full day. The FAQ says all exits are final, so do not leave for dinner expecting re-entry.

For a time-sensitive activity, check its reservation before settling the admission ticket. The two bookings need to work together. A driving slot that starts before your evening ticket admits you is not a workable plan.

If an official page and your booking confirmation appear inconsistent, ask for clarification before travel. This guide does not resolve the organizer's conflicting conditions by choosing whichever version is more convenient.

What to see, and how to choose a hall route

Use the live exhibitor directory to find the brands that justify your visit. Current entries include Peugeot and Audi in Hall 4; Alpine, BYD and Kia in Hall 6; and Tesla in Hall 7.1. Check the individual stand entry for the exact location rather than walking every hall looking for one car.

For visitors comparing cars to buy, make a short list first. Note what you need to inspect: rear-seat space, boot access, charging information or a particular trim. Ask which displayed vehicle matches the version sold where you live. A show car, prototype or announced model is not proof of immediate local availability.

For an enthusiast visit, choose the displays that interest you and leave time to look properly. The organizer's (Un)limited area is a 700-square-metre exceptional-car display in Hall 7.1. Its detail page says reservation only, so check access rather than assuming you can walk straight in.

A simple first visit could work like this:

1. Start with the brand or activity that matters most. Ask about any available reservation before joining unrelated queues.
2. Explore one other hall with a small number of target stands.
3. Take a meal break inside the event area, then decide whether you still want a third hall or a programme activity.

That is a suggested route, not an official timetable. Leave gaps for walking, security and waiting. If the first activity is full, have a second reason to be there rather than spending the entire visit trying to rescue one booking.

Test drives are separate from buying admission

The organizer's current test-drive page announces 90 cars from 19 participating brands and more than 5,000 slots. Visitors register at the participating brands' stands. Those totals do not mean your preferred vehicle has a slot available when you arrive.

The programme places the test centre in Hall 7.1, lists a 9:30am-7:30pm window and recommends allowing 30-45 minutes. Confirm the licence, age and identification requirements for the particular drive with staff. Do not assume a foreign licence, a child passenger or every named car is accepted without checking.

The separate Autonomous Lab lists approximately 25-minute accompanied experiences from Hall 7.1, Gate H, with advance registration on site. Treat this as a show activity with its own conditions, not a bookable autonomous taxi service for getting around Paris.

If you are visiting near closing time, ask when that day's activity bookings stop. Later venue opening does not extend the published test-centre window. Avoid stacking a driving appointment, a conference and another timed activity too closely together.

Gaming and evening events

The Mario Kart programme brings Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 to Hall 7.1. It lists on-site qualifying on Wednesday, October 14, at noon and the final on Friday, October 16, at 6pm, alongside freeplay. Competition registration and venue admission remain separate requirements.

For a family, this can provide a change from walking around cars, but ask about the queue and session arrangements. Do not promise a child that a tournament place or a freeplay station will be available at a particular moment.

The programme also lists Radio FG DJ sets and evening shows on the Hall 6 terrace. Check that day's schedule rather than treating an evening ticket as a guarantee of every performance. If your main interest is test driving, choose for the driving window; if it is the evening programme, leave more flexibility in the hall route.

Getting to Porte de Versailles

The venue address is 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles in the 15th arrondissement. The organizer directs visitors arriving by public transport to Gate A2 and names Metro Line 12 at Porte de Versailles. This is Paris Expo, not the Palace of Versailles.

For tram planning, the RATP T3a map includes Porte de Versailles. The organizer's English practical page labels one tram as T3b, so use the transport operator's route map and current journey planner instead of carrying that label into your directions.

Check the whole journey from your accommodation, including the return. A hotel that looks close in a straight line may still involve a transfer, stairs or a longer walk to the entrance you need. With limited mobility, look up an appropriate route and ask the organizer about the entrance-to-hall journey as well.

If you drive, the practical page identifies P6 and P7 parking. Check current opening, vehicle-height limits, availability and the walking route with the parking operator. A published car park name is not a reservation or a security guarantee. Do not repeat old forum parking prices as 2026 rates.

Bags, children and taking a break

The FAQ prohibits luggage and motorcycle or bicycle helmets inside and lists restrictions on liquids over 330ml. Leave large luggage elsewhere before coming. The French page describes paid storage for small bags and helmets, but confirm availability rather than bringing an item that entry rules exclude.

It also describes a family entrance lane for children aged 0-6 and a lane for disabled visitors and companions, with relevant identification. Ask about stroller access and any assistance you need. An entrance lane is not proof that every activity or vehicle display is accessible.

Plan the visit around the person who tires first. Pick a meeting point and take a break before everyone needs one at once. Keep any essential medication with you and check the entry rules if you need an exception for it. The broad country itinerary belongs in our France with kids guide, rather than trying to turn the motor show into a full Paris sightseeing day.

Checking Paris transport and saving your show ticket

The Ile-de-France Mobilites app provides journey planning, transport ticket functions and live information. The operator's traffic-help page explains how to check current and upcoming works for a selected line. Set it up before traveling and check your route again before leaving the show.

Save your admission document, stand shortlist and accommodation address offline. Confirm that you have the usable ticket, not only a purchase receipt. Screenshots help when a connection is slow, but do not override the seller's document or identification requirements.

OpenSim's France plans provide a separate travel-data allowance for transport checks, booking pages and messaging. The live catalog checked October 13 includes 5GB for 30 days at USD5.40, with Orange listed and top-up support. That is a practical choice for a compatible phone when you want data for the rest of your France trip as well as the show.

It does not reserve a test drive, include transport fares or guarantee a fast connection inside a busy hall. Your existing roaming plan may already cover France. Compare your needs with the travel data calculator, check phone compatibility and read when to install before travel.

Sources and updates

Prices, hours and programme details were checked October 13, 2026 against the linked organizer and transport sources. Recheck your selected ticket's price, arrival window and conditions before paying. This guide will be updated for material admission, programme, reservation or transport changes and reviewed after October 18.

Header photo: Matti Blume, Kia Proceed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, resized and converted to WebP; the adapted image remains under the same license. It is a historical illustration, not a photograph of the 2026 lineup.