Humanoid robot at VivaTech in Paris: role on the stand, the public day and planning (2027)

When is VivaTech in Paris and who attends?

VivaTech 2027 takes place on 16-19 June at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, according to the organiser. The previous edition (17-20 June 2026) surpassed 200,000 visitors from 165 countries; more than 4,500 exhibitors took part, 61% of them international, and more than 15,000 startups connected with companies from over 30 sectors. In 2026 there were also 60 country pavilions.

For a stand this means a very mixed audience: buyers and representatives of large companies, startup founders, investors and, on the last day, ordinary curious visitors. One robot has to talk to people with very different expectations.

Will a humanoid robot make a stand stand out at VivaTech?

A humanoid robot alone will not make a stand stand out at VivaTech, because robots are part of the programme. In 2026 the organiser listed among its notable demonstrations a Unitree x HABS demonstration of a humanoid robot controlled by human brain activity, and for the public day it announced humanoid robot parades. What gets attention is therefore what the robot can say and do for a specific brand:

1. A greeting in the guest's language: with visitors from 165 countries, English is the base and French matters because you are in Paris.
2. A short description of the offer: knowledge of a product, service or startup delivered in a few dozen seconds, without reading from a screen.
3. Recognising exhibits through the camera: the robot sees a prototype or product on display and talks about it.
4. Photos and recordings: material for social media is created during the show.
5. Handing the visitor to the team: the robot asks one qualifying question and calls a salesperson when a guest asks for details.

At an event, a MERA robot greets guests, holds live conversations, poses for photos, can record video material and talk about the client's offer. A robot can also get its own brand identity: a name, a character, a way of speaking and knowledge of the offer. MERA OS supports conversations in more than 70 languages, including Polish and English, with a voice matched to each language.

How do you adapt the robot to business days and to the public day?

In 2026 VivaTech had one day open to the general public. According to the organiser, on Saturday 20 June guests could see the latest in AI and robotics and attend career events, and the festival programme announced nearly 1,200 innovations for tech enthusiasts and families, among them humanoid robot parades. The schedule for 2027 is announced by the organiser, so ask whether that format will return. It helps to prepare two variants of the robot:

At MERA Robotics the tone, vocabulary and topics the robot avoids are agreed with the client before the event, and a MERA operator watches the conversations and can stop the robot at any moment. In a crowd, including children, an operator's ability to stop the robot at once is an important criterion when choosing a supplier.

What should you agree with the organiser and the hall before a robot demonstration?

The rules for VivaTech exhibitors and the hall are set by the organiser, so ask for the current regulations and exhibitor manual before you design the stand. For a robot, ask about six things:

1. Connectivity: whether you may run your own Wi-Fi network or radio equipment, and how to register the robot and the operator's app.
2. Noise: the sound level limit for demonstrations and music on the stand.
3. CE marking and emergency stop: whether the organiser requires markings for demonstration machines and who can stop the robot.
4. Overnight supervision: whether the robot can stay on the stand and how security works.
5. Filming: the rules on recording at the stand and guests' image rights.
6. Deliveries: hours, gates, lifts and the route from unloading to the stand.

General rules for exhibitors abroad are in our text on a robot on a stand abroad.

What do the AI Act and GDPR mean for a robot on a stand?

A robot that talks to guests has to make clear that it is an AI system. Under Article 50 of the AI Act, people interacting with an AI system must be informed of it, unless this is obvious, and the information must be given clearly at the latest at the first interaction. In practice the robot introduces itself as a robot and a short notice is posted at the stand.

If the robot records images or sound, the exhibitor must meet GDPR requirements: state the purpose of the recordings, the retention period and inform guests. Be especially careful with children, so the safest course is not to record them without a parent's consent. Details are in our text on a robot with a camera at an event.

How do you plan a robot for VivaTech?

Plan the robot together with the stand design: first the goal, then knowledge, languages, connectivity, floor space and power. Four show days call for a plan for breaks and battery swaps, and the script has to separate business days from a possible public day. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 (about 132 cm) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) humanoid robots for events together with operators who run the robot on site. MERA Robotics runs events across Europe: a robot with MERA operators comes to an event in every country of the European Union, so also to France. MERA's work abroad includes the international trade fair in Cannes (September 2026). We write about events in that country in our text on a robot at an event in France.

How do you choose a company to supply a robot for VivaTech?

When choosing a supplier, check five things you can verify before the contract:

1. An operator experienced with crowds: the company's own operator who can steer a robot among people and stop it at once.
2. Languages: the list of conversation languages, including French and English, and how knowledge of your offer is prepared.
3. Two scenarios: a separate one for business days and for the public, with different topics and tone.
4. Work abroad: documented projects at international trade fairs, not just claims.
5. A contingency plan: checked hardware, spare batteries and cover for four days.

You can find models for rent and sale in the catalogue of robots for rent and sale, and a description of the service in our text on humanoid robot rental for events.