SIA 2026: no cattle will be present at the show

During a press briefing held this Tuesday, the Paris International Agricultural Show provided a progress update on the preparation of its 2026 edition, in a difficult health and human context for livestock sectors and in a tense climate for French agriculture as a whole. Out of respect for farmers and breeders, the organizer chose to communicate with transparency and responsibility.

The Selection Organizations for bovine breeds have decided not to take part in the 2026 Concours Général Agricole due to the situation linked to lumpy skin disease (LSD). This decision leads to an unprecedented situation: no cattle will be present and no bovine competitions will take place during the Show. The Concours Général Agricole will nevertheless be held in 2026, with all other competitions and species maintained.

The absence of cows represents an unprecedented situation for the Show. In this context, the Show has chosen to adapt, to keep moving forward and to stay the course, with solidarity as its guiding principle. As Jérôme Despey, President of the Paris International Agricultural Show, points out: “The Show is a landmark deeply rooted in the history of French agriculture. In moments like this, the responsibility is to be present, alongside farmers, and to continue making the Show a place of respect, dialogue and recognition.”

The organizers reiterated that the Paris International Agricultural Show will indeed take place from 21 February to 1 March 2026 at Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles, with the determination to be there for visitors and to continue offering the general public this major and unique moment of meeting and dialogue with the agricultural world.

They also announced a new communication direction, traditionally embodied by a cow. This year, the message will be simple and powerful: “coming means supporting” the agricultural sector, but also the Show itself. A deliberate choice aimed at turning the situation into a message, as explained by Arnaud Lemoine, Director of Ceneca: “It was not possible to act as if this situation did not exist. In 2026, coming to the Show is a clear gesture of support for farmers, the sectors, and for a Show that continues to play its role as a link between agriculture and the French public.”

The Show brings together all French agricultures, from mainland France to overseas territories. Beyond bovine farming, all animal sectors will be represented, with nearly 3,000 animals (pigs, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, rabbits, dogs and cats). The Show will also highlight crops, products, flavors and know-how from the regions, as well as agricultural professions and training, with the presence of young people committed to the agriculture of tomorrow. This diversity lies at the heart of the Show’s DNA, as emphasized by Valérie Le Roy, Director of the Paris International Agricultural Show: “Above all, the Show is about encounters. In 2026, visitors will find all the richness of French agriculture: animals, products, professions, young people, innovations. A lively Show, true to what it has always been.”

Finally, for this 2026 edition, the Show will spotlight Côte d’Ivoire, confirming its international outlook.

In this particular year, coming to the Show is much more than a visit: it is a concrete act of support for farmers, the affected sectors and the Show itself, a place for gathering and meeting between the agricultural world and the general public. A new communication milestone will be organized at the beginning of February to provide further details on the organization of the 2026 edition, its highlights and its program.