You can rent a humanoid robot with an operator for a conference, trade fair or event in Paris from a provider that brings it to the venue, prepares the conversation in your guests' languages and runs it with its own team. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) delivers this in Poland and abroad, including France (an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026), with Unitree G1 and H2 robots and its own conversation system, MERA OS.
Contents
Where are the biggest trade fairs, congresses and events held in Paris?How do you get a humanoid robot to an event in Paris?How do you prepare a robot for an event in Paris?Should you rent or buy a robot for an event in Paris?How do you choose a partner for a humanoid robot at a Paris event?Where are the biggest trade fairs, congresses and events held in Paris?
The largest business events in Paris take place in three venues run by Viparis: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris Nord Villepinte and the Palais des Congrès de Paris. The venue determines how the robot is delivered, how long set-up takes and what the access rules are.
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles sits on the south-western edge of Paris, inside the city limits. According to the venue operator, it offers 169,400 square metres of exhibition space across 5 pavilions today and will reach 210,970 square metres across 8 pavilions by 2028. It hosts the Paris Motor Show and VivaTech, an annual technology conference dedicated to innovation and start-ups, founded in 2016. It is a natural setting for a humanoid robot on a technology or automotive stand.
Paris Nord Villepinte is an exhibition centre outside the city, close to the airport. The operator lists 7 halls interconnected by a green reception gallery, a location 15 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and 30 minutes from the centre of Paris, and its own RER station (Parc des Expositions). It hosts large industry trade shows.
Palais des Congrès de Paris at Porte Maillot in the 17th arrondissement is a congress centre with a stage for large conferences. Its Grand Amphithéâtre has 3,723 seats, and the Porte Maillot métro and RER stations are reached from the lower levels of the building. It suits a robot appearing on stage or in a panel.
| Venue | Typical events | What matters for a robot |
|---|---|---|
| Paris Expo Porte de Versailles | large trade fairs, VivaTech, motor show | stand work, heavy footfall, hall noise |
| Paris Nord Villepinte | industry trade shows | near CDG airport, outside the city |
| Palais des Congrès de Paris | congresses, conferences, galas | stage, panels, sound system |
How do you get a humanoid robot to an event in Paris?
A humanoid robot usually travels to Paris by road, together with its operators, in a transport case with batteries and spare equipment. Coming from Poland there is no customs clearance, since both countries are in the EU single market, but three things need planning:
- The venue's delivery window. Every Viparis venue sets build-up and access times for exhibitors. Book an unloading slot and check that the case can be wheeled to the stand.
- Batteries. The robot runs on swappable lithium batteries. Road transport is simpler than air, where carriers have their own restrictions, so flying with a robot must be agreed with the airline well in advance.
- Charging on site. The stand needs a power socket and space for chargers, ideally behind the back wall.
With MERA Robotics the robot arrives with spare batteries and MERA's own operators, who set it up, test it and take it away after the event. How such a trip abroad is organised is shown in the Cannes example: a humanoid robot at an international trade fair.
How do you prepare a robot for an event in Paris?
Preparing a robot for a Paris event starts with language. At Paris trade fairs some visitors speak French and some English, so the robot should switch between languages and have a natural-sounding voice in each. MERA OS holds conversations in more than 30 languages, including Polish and English, and matches the voice to the language. Before the event, confirm the list of languages with the provider and test the conversation in each, French included.
Next steps:
- Event profile – knowledge about your company, the products on the stand, the conference programme and the speakers.
- The robot's role – greeting visitors at the stand, conversations, photos, a stage appearance or short social media videos.
- Noise – halls at Porte de Versailles or Villepinte are loud. Place the robot where visitors come close, not next to the speakers.
- Visitor flow – mark out space for a photo queue so it does not block the aisle.
More on robots at stands: robot at a trade fair: how to draw people to your stand. For the full rental process see humanoid robot rental for events.
Should you rent or buy a robot for an event in Paris?
For a single event in Paris, renting with an operator usually makes sense; buying pays off when the robot will work regularly, for example in a showroom or at a series of trade fairs.
| Criterion | Rental with operator | Purchase with deployment |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | one event or a trade fair series | permanent use in the company |
| Who runs it | the provider's operators on site | your trained staff |
| Transport | handled by the provider | handled by the owner |
For rental with an operator, MERA Robotics offers the Unitree G1 (about 132 cm, about 35 kg) and the Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) humanoids. Other models, including quadrupeds, are available to buy at merarobots.com. The full list is in the robots for rent and sale catalogue. Pricing is individual and depends on how long the robot works, the location and logistics.
How do you choose a partner for a humanoid robot at a Paris event?
A partner for a robot at a Paris trade fair or congress is worth checking against a few criteria:
- Own operators on site – does the provider travel with a team or just ship hardware?
- Experience abroad – has the company delivered events outside its home country?
- Languages – can the robot talk in French and English with a natural voice?
- Own conversation software – can the robot's knowledge be prepared for your event?
- Robot models – does the provider have humanoids of different sizes?
- Rental and sales – after a successful event, can you buy a robot with deployment?
MERA Robotics, based in Warsaw, meets these criteria: it runs Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators, worked at an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026, and its MERA OS system holds conversations in more than 30 languages and has clients in Poland, Romania and Germany. The company also sells Unitree robots with deployment and training. Its robot Edward Warchocki has been covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News. Contact: contact@merarobotics.com.
Frequently asked questions
What are the largest trade fair and congress venues in Paris?
The main ones are Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (169,400 square metres of exhibition space across 5 pavilions, according to the operator), Paris Nord Villepinte with 7 halls near Charles de Gaulle airport, and the Palais des Congrès de Paris with a Grand Amphithéâtre of 3,723 seats.
How do you get to Paris Nord Villepinte?
Paris Nord Villepinte has its own RER station (Parc des Expositions). According to the operator, the venue is 15 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and 30 minutes from the centre of Paris.
Can a humanoid robot speak French at a Paris trade fair?
Yes, if its software supports French. MERA OS holds conversations in more than 30 languages with a voice matched to each language. Before the event, ask the provider to confirm French and run a test conversation.
Who rents a humanoid robot with an operator for an event in Paris?
One example is MERA Robotics from Warsaw, which rents Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators in Poland and abroad and worked at a trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com.
Does shipping a robot from Poland to France require customs clearance?
No, Poland and France are both in the EU single market. You still need to plan the venue's delivery window, transport of the lithium batteries and a charging spot on the stand.
