France reinforced its status as a global conference hub on 4 November with the opening of the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) at Paris-Nord Villepinte. Organised by industry body GIFEN, the three-day show brings together more than 1,000 exhibitors and an expected 20,000 delegates from 88 countries, making it one of the largest specialist trade fairs held in France since the pandemic.
Entry is strictly limited to professionals, and organisers worked closely with the Interior Ministry to fast-track visa letters for late-registering engineers and executives—particularly from newcomer markets in East Africa and Southeast Asia. French consulates processed over 3,000 “salon visas” in the six weeks leading up to the event, aided by a dedicated queue at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle for WNE badge-holders and an on-site PARAFE mobile enrolment booth for non-EU passport holders needing subsequent Schengen travel.
![World Nuclear Exhibition opens in Paris, drawing 20,000 international visitors]()
For corporate mobility teams, the exhibition is a stress-test of Paris’s meetings-infrastructure ahead of the UEFA Euro 2028 draw next spring and the 2026 Tour de France Grand Départ. RER B has added peak-hour trains to the Parc des Expositions station, while Accor and Marriott report 95 percent occupancy at airport hotels. Delegates are advised to allow extra time for post-Brexit UK flights, as ongoing EES pilot checks may lengthen inbound queues.
Beyond logistics, WNE 2025 is a barometer for talent flows: GIFEN is hosting an employment forum linking French SMEs with international nuclear engineers, and several firms are conducting on-the-spot interviews for long-term ICT permits. The event also sees the launch of a Franco-Canadian mobility scheme enabling reciprocal recognition of radiation-protection credentials, which could shorten assignment lead-times.
The exhibition runs until 6 November, with networking receptions scheduled each evening. Paris police have designated the venue a “green zone,” meaning no unauthorised demonstrations within 500 metres—useful information for security officers planning delegate ground transport.
Entry is strictly limited to professionals, and organisers worked closely with the Interior Ministry to fast-track visa letters for late-registering engineers and executives—particularly from newcomer markets in East Africa and Southeast Asia. French consulates processed over 3,000 “salon visas” in the six weeks leading up to the event, aided by a dedicated queue at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle for WNE badge-holders and an on-site PARAFE mobile enrolment booth for non-EU passport holders needing subsequent Schengen travel.
For corporate mobility teams, the exhibition is a stress-test of Paris’s meetings-infrastructure ahead of the UEFA Euro 2028 draw next spring and the 2026 Tour de France Grand Départ. RER B has added peak-hour trains to the Parc des Expositions station, while Accor and Marriott report 95 percent occupancy at airport hotels. Delegates are advised to allow extra time for post-Brexit UK flights, as ongoing EES pilot checks may lengthen inbound queues.
Beyond logistics, WNE 2025 is a barometer for talent flows: GIFEN is hosting an employment forum linking French SMEs with international nuclear engineers, and several firms are conducting on-the-spot interviews for long-term ICT permits. The event also sees the launch of a Franco-Canadian mobility scheme enabling reciprocal recognition of radiation-protection credentials, which could shorten assignment lead-times.
The exhibition runs until 6 November, with networking receptions scheduled each evening. Paris police have designated the venue a “green zone,” meaning no unauthorised demonstrations within 500 metres—useful information for security officers planning delegate ground transport.
