Salon SME 2026 – Paris, France

What to expect in 2026

Salon SME is a major French event dedicated to entrepreneurs, freelancers, consultants, independent professionals, business creators and small-business managers. The event brings together exhibitors, entrepreneurship experts, speakers and professional support organizations, giving visitors opportunities to discover business solutions, attend educational sessions and make useful professional connections.

The 2026 edition is built around the theme “Croire en soi” and focuses on practical subjects connected with entrepreneurship and independent work. The official programme covers business creation, financing, artificial intelligence, digital tools, communication, management, sales, networking and personal development.

According to the official Salon SME website, the programme includes 115 exhibitors, 100 conference speakers, 100 conferences and workshops, 500 entrepreneurship experts and 15 major events. The event is designed to accommodate entrepreneurs at different stages, from people considering their first business project to established independent professionals looking for ways to develop their activity.

Key elements of the event include:

• Business advice: Visitors can meet specialists who provide information relevant to creating, managing and developing a business.
• Conferences and workshops: Educational sessions cover practical entrepreneurial subjects.
• Expert meetings: Visitors can speak directly with specialists from different areas of business support.
• Networking: Structured and informal networking opportunities help entrepreneurs establish professional contacts.
• Specialist areas: Dedicated spaces focus on freelancers, personal branding, franchising, networking and other entrepreneurial communities.
• Coaching: Visitors can access coaching and advice related to their professional projects.

Event dates

13 & 14 October 2026

Salon SME will take place at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, with official visitor information indicating opening hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

Salon SME will be held at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, located at 2 Place de la Porte Maillot, Paris. The official Salon SME visitor information identifies Level 3 of the Palais des Congrès as the event location.

The Palais des Congrès is a large conference and exhibition complex in western Paris. Its facilities allow the event to combine exhibition stands with conference rooms, workshops, networking areas and specialist spaces.

The venue’s configuration is particularly appropriate for Salon SME because visitors can combine educational sessions with direct meetings with exhibitors and entrepreneurship experts.

The official visitor information provides guidance concerning access, registration, badges, security procedures and facilities available at the venue.

Full event programme

Salon SME’s programme focuses on practical issues faced by entrepreneurs and independent professionals. The event does not concentrate on one particular industry; instead, it addresses the wider needs of people creating, managing or developing small businesses.

The official programme includes subjects such as:

• Business creation
• Freelancing and consulting
• Business financing
• Electronic invoicing
• Artificial intelligence
• Digital solutions
• Communication and social media
• Sales and customer development
• Business management
• Personal branding
• Networking
• Franchise and network entrepreneurship
• Personal development

The programme also features major events, coaching activities, networking formats, specialist villages and book-signing sessions.

Visitors can therefore build their own programme according to their business interests, whether they need information about launching an activity, improving operations, finding customers, adopting technology or developing their professional network.

Key speakers & keynote speakers

The official programme identifies Pauline Laigneau as the patron of the 2026 edition. She is presented by Salon SME as the founder of Gemmyo and Demian and the founder of an entrepreneurship and leadership school.

The official programme includes speakers from entrepreneurship, finance, business services, communication, technology and professional development.

Among the speakers listed by the organizer are:

• Michaël Aguilar
• Fabienne Thibeault
• Bernard Martinez
• Ludovic Badeau
• Stéphane Krausz
• Marilyn Cherrier Muller
• Corentin Allemand
• Nicolas Lespinasse
• Fabrice Anger
• Marguerite Collignan
• Jonathan Anguelov
• Sane Lebrun
• Mehdi Ramdani

The official programme contains additional contributors across the conference, workshop and Agora programme. Visitors should use the official programme for the latest speaker information and individual session assignments.

Conference sessions & tracks

The conference programme addresses the practical aspects of entrepreneurship and independent professional activity.

Major themes include:

• Electronic invoicing: Sessions addressing invoicing requirements and their implications for businesses.
• Freelancing and consulting: Information specifically relevant to freelancers, consultants and independent professionals.
• Business creation: Practical guidance for developing an entrepreneurial project.
• Financing: Information concerning preparation and financing for business projects.
• Artificial intelligence: Sessions exploring AI solutions and applications for entrepreneurs.
• Digital communication: Topics related to digital tools, social media and professional communication.
• Management: Guidance on organizing and managing a small business.
• Sales and development: Sessions focused on customers, selling, networking and commercial growth.
• Personal development: Content concerning professional confidence and entrepreneurial skills.

The official programme also features areas including L’Accélérateur, Déclic IA, L’Ouvre-Boîte, Entreprendre en réseau, Consultants & Formateurs, Freelance Talks and SLASH.

Session times & schedule

The official online programme organizes conferences and workshops across several rooms and event spaces. Visitors can consult the programme to identify individual sessions according to their interests.

Sessions cover subjects including business creation, freelance work, financing, artificial intelligence, communication, sales, management and professional development.

Conference participation is free, although individual rooms are subject to capacity. The organizer recommends arriving approximately 15 minutes before a selected session.

Selecting a conference through the online programme does not guarantee admission because available seating remains subject to room capacity.

Ticket types & registration

Visitor registration for Salon SME is free. The official registration platform allows visitors to register online and obtain their visitor badge before attending.

The visitor programme is intended for:

• Freelancers
• Consultants
• Independent professionals
• Solopreneurs
• Slasheurs
• Auto-entrepreneurs
• TPE managers
• Business creators
• Entrepreneurs
• Franchise candidates
• Artisans
• Shopkeepers
• Entrepreneurship-support professionals

Conference and workshop participation is also free, although attendance at individual sessions depends on room capacity.

Exhibitor participation is separate from visitor registration and is handled through the organizer’s exhibitor process.

Registration deadlines

The official visitor-registration information does not provide a separate final registration deadline. Visitors are encouraged to register online before attending and download their badge in advance.

The organizer states that visitor badges cannot be printed at the venue, making advance registration and badge preparation important parts of the visitor process.

Visitors who want to attend particular conferences should also review the online programme in advance and arrive early because individual rooms have limited capacity.

Exhibitor deadlines and technical requirements are handled separately through the exhibitor registration process.

Exhibitor list & major companies

The official Salon SME platform provides an exhibitor directory covering organizations offering products, services and professional solutions for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

The dedicated Village Entreprendre en réseau includes franchise networks, cooperatives and other business-network opportunities.

Organizations listed by the official platform include:

• Bagelstein
• Bras Droit des Dirigeants
• Colibri Solutions RH
• Dynabuy
• Groupe Thact
• Mac Fab
• Optimhome Immobilier
• Pollen
• Rivalis Île-de-France
• Sowink
• Ulysse
• Unipros
• Youlive

The wider exhibition covers areas including business creation, financing, digital solutions, communication, management, networking, artificial intelligence and professional support. Visitors should consult the official exhibitor directory for the complete participant information.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

Salon SME is located on Level 3 of the Palais des Congrès de Paris. The official visitor information identifies this level as the location of the event.

The exhibition is organized into dedicated spaces designed around particular entrepreneurial interests.

These include:

• Espace Coaching Découverte
• Village Freelances à la Une
• Village Slasheurs
• Village Personal Branding
• Village Entreprendre en réseau

The specialist areas allow visitors to identify relevant exhibitors, activities and information more easily.

The official Salon SME website provides the event’s exhibition information, while the Palais des Congrès documentation provides information about the wider venue layout.

Networking & business meetings

Networking is a central component of Salon SME. Visitors can meet entrepreneurs, exhibitors, experts, professional advisers and organizations supporting business development.

The programme includes Speed Business Meetings, providing a structured opportunity for professional introductions and conversations.

Networking is also incorporated into the specialist villages and entrepreneurial communities. Visitors can discuss their projects, exchange experiences and establish contacts with people working in related areas.

Exhibitor meetings can also help entrepreneurs investigate solutions relating to finance, digital tools, communication, management, sales and other aspects of running a business.

The event therefore combines networking with its exhibition and educational programme rather than treating professional meetings as a separate activity.

Industry sectors & highlights

Salon SME covers a broad range of entrepreneurial activities and business-support services.

Important areas include:

• Business creation: Developing and structuring new business projects.
• Freelancing: Supporting freelancers, consultants and independent professionals.
• Franchising: Connecting entrepreneurs with franchise and network opportunities.
• Finance: Business financing and financial management.
• Technology: Digital tools and artificial intelligence.
• Communication: Social media, LinkedIn and professional visibility.
• Management: Business organization and operational management.
• Sales: Customer acquisition, networking and commercial development.
• Personal development: Entrepreneurial skills and professional development.
• Business support: Coaching, advice and specialist professional services.

The official programme particularly highlights electronic invoicing, AI, business creation, financing, digital solutions, communication, management, sales and personal development.

Event rules & visitor information

Visitors should complete the official registration process before attending and download their visitor badge in advance. The organizer states that badges cannot be printed at the venue.

Security checks are carried out at the entrance, so visitors should allow sufficient time for access procedures.

The official visitor information also identifies a cloakroom on Level 3 for coats, helmets and small bags.

Conference and workshop sessions are free but subject to available seating. Visitors are advised to arrive approximately 15 minutes before their selected session.

The Palais des Congrès provides additional visitor facilities within the complex.

How to get there

Salon SME takes place at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, 2 Place de la Porte Maillot. The venue is located in western Paris and is connected to the city’s public transport and road networks.

Visitors traveling from other French cities can reach Paris by train and continue to Porte Maillot using public transport.

The venue can also be reached from Paris airports through the city’s rail and public transport connections.

For drivers, the venue’s location provides access to the major road network around western Paris.

Public transport & parking

The Palais des Congrès is located at Porte Maillot, an important transport point in western Paris. Official venue information provides access details for visitors using public transport or private vehicles.

The venue is close to the Boulevard Périphérique, providing road access for visitors arriving by car.

Parking facilities are associated with the Palais des Congrès complex. Visitors driving to the event should check current venue information before traveling because road and parking conditions can vary.

Public transport can provide a convenient alternative for visitors traveling from central Paris and other parts of the metropolitan area.

Accommodation areas

Visitors coming from outside Paris can choose accommodation in several areas around the Palais des Congrès.

Porte Maillot and Ternes are convenient options for visitors who want to remain close to the venue. These areas offer hotels, restaurants and transport connections.

Neuilly-sur-Seine provides another nearby accommodation option with access to Porte Maillot.

Champs-Élysées and western central Paris offer a wider range of hotels and restaurants while maintaining access to the venue.

La Défense is another possibility for business travelers who prefer to stay in the western business district and use public transport to reach the event.

Visitors should choose accommodation according to their preferred location, transport connections and budget.

Previous year’s highlights

Previous Salon SME editions have maintained a strong focus on independent professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses. The established format combines exhibitions with conferences, workshops, coaching, networking and specialist entrepreneurial communities.

Official Salon SME communications have highlighted subjects including artificial intelligence, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, women in entrepreneurship, franchising, slashing and new forms of independent work.

The event has also developed dedicated community and networking initiatives, including the Grand Rendez-vous des Tribus, which brought together entrepreneur clubs, networks, collectives, cooperatives and other communities.

Previous programmes have addressed business creation, financing, digital transformation, sales, negotiation, AI, impact entrepreneurship and alternative professional models.

These recurring elements demonstrate the event’s focus on practical education, access to professional expertise, networking and business-support solutions.

Official registration & tickets

Salon SME visitor registration is free and is available through the official Salon SME website. Visitors can register online and obtain their visitor badge before attending.

The official website provides access to the event programme, exhibitor information, practical visitor instructions, specialist areas and networking activities.

Visitors should use the official Salon SME platform for registration and the latest event information, particularly when checking the conference programme, participating exhibitors and venue instructions.

Official Salon SME website (https://www.salonsme.com/)