What is Sirha and when does it take place?

Sirha is the world's largest hospitality and food service trade show, held biennially at Eurexpo Lyon (odd years, January). It attracts over 200,000 visitors and 4,000 exhibitors. Plan around it if your audience overlaps, or avoid it if you need hotel availability in January of Sirha years.

How does Lyon's food scene enhance events?

Lyon has over 4,000 restaurants including 15+ Michelin-starred establishments. Catering companies draw on a deep culinary tradition. Options range from bouchons lyonnais (traditional bistros) for authentic networking dinners to Bocuse d'Or-level fine dining for galas. Food is a genuine competitive advantage for Lyon events.

Is Lyon suitable for biotech and pharma conferences?

Lyon is France's top biotech hub with Lyonbiopôle, bioMérieux HQ, and Sanofi Pasteur's global vaccine headquarters. Academic research at University of Lyon supports the sector. The city hosts BioVision, PharmaCongress, and numerous specialist events. Audiences in life sciences are local and engaged.

What are the best areas to stay for conference attendees?

The Presqu'île offers the best balance of proximity to venues, restaurants, and attractions. Part-Dieu is convenient for TGV arrivals and close to business venues. Confluence provides modern hotels near La Sucrière and Musée des Confluences. Vieux Lyon is charming but more tourist-oriented.

Lyon, France

Craft Exceptional Lyon Events

France's gastronomic capital and innovation hub — perfect for biotech summits, trade fairs, and corporate gatherings

Why Lyon for Events

France's third-largest city and UNESCO World Heritage site with a strong biotech and pharmaceutical cluster

Eurexpo Lyon offers 125,000 sq m of exhibition space for major international trade fairs

Centre de Congrès de Lyon provides 26,000 sq m of conference space along the Rhône river

Gastronomic capital of France — exceptional dining and catering options elevate every event

Top Event Venues

Eurexpo Lyon

Centre de Congrès de Lyon

Halle Tony Garnier

Musée des Confluences

Palais de la Bourse

La Sucrière

Lyon's Event Credentials

Lyon punches well above its weight as a global event destination. The Centre de Congrès de Lyon, perched on the banks of the Rhône, is one of Europe's largest congress centres with a 3,000-seat amphitheatre and 26,000 sq m of total event space. Eurexpo, located near the airport, provides 125,000 sq m of exhibition space and hosts major trade fairs including Sirha (world's largest hospitality trade show) and Pollutec (environmental technology).

The city's UNESCO World Heritage status, spanning Roman ruins in Fourvière to Renaissance architecture in Vieux Lyon, creates an extraordinary backdrop for delegate experiences. Lyon's reputation as the global capital of gastronomy — with over 4,000 restaurants including numerous Michelin-starred establishments — makes it unrivalled for culinary-themed events and networking dinners.

Key Industries

Lyon is France's leading biotech and pharmaceutical hub, hosting major events for companies like Sanofi, bioMérieux, and Boehringer Ingelheim. The annual BioVision World Life Sciences Forum attracts global leaders. Chemical and textile industry events connect to the region's historic manufacturing base and modern materials innovation cluster.

Digital and tech events are growing rapidly, driven by Lyon's designation as a French Tech hub. The gaming industry (Ubisoft, Ivory Tower), cybersecurity, and AI research generate developer conferences and industry meetups. Lyon is also a centre for the food-tech industry, combining culinary tradition with food science innovation at events like the World Cuisine Summit.

Getting There and Around

Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) offers direct flights to major European hubs and some intercontinental destinations. The airport connects to the city centre in 30 minutes via the Rhônexpress tram. Lyon's TGV station provides high-speed rail access — Paris is 2 hours, Geneva 2 hours, Marseille 1.5 hours, and Barcelona 5 hours.

Lyon's metro, tram, and bus network is efficient and connects all major venue areas. The city is compact and walkable, particularly the Presqu'île (city centre peninsula), Confluence, and Part-Dieu business districts. Hotels range from luxury properties in the Presqu'île to business-oriented options near Part-Dieu station. Costs are 30-40% below Paris, offering excellent value.

Seasonal and Cultural Events

Lyon's Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) in early December draws 4 million visitors over 4 nights — avoid conflicts or leverage the spectacle for your event. Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November) are optimal for business events, with mild weather and strong attendance patterns.

Summer events benefit from long evenings and outdoor possibilities along the Rhône and Saône rivers. The Confluence district, a transformed industrial zone at the meeting of the two rivers, offers modern event venues including the architectural gem Musée des Confluences. For evening programmes, Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse provides a world-famous food market experience that delights international delegates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lyon offers 30-40% lower venue and hotel costs, a more compact and navigable city centre, world-class gastronomic experiences, and excellent TGV connections. The Centre de Congrès de Lyon rivals Parisian venues in quality. Lyon is ideal for events where attendee experience and budget efficiency are priorities.