2026 Salon du Chocolat in Paris: Dates, Program, and Gault&Millau Chefs

Must-Sees at the 2026 Salon du Chocolat

At the heart of the event is the Pastry Show stage, hosted by the world-famous Mercotte, where the cream of the crop of chocolatiers and pastry chefs take turns giving free demonstrations. Among them are Grégory Masse of L’Assiette Champenoise (5 toques) in Tinqueux (51), Baptiste Vial, from Les Étangs de Corot in Ville-d’Avray (92), and Coline Doussin, from Le Saint James in Paris (75), who will be joined by colleagues such as Parisian pastry chefs Maxence Barbot and Johan Giacchetti from Le Bristol – Épicure (4 toques) in Paris; the 2026 French dessert champions (senior and junior), Adrien Salavert of the restaurant Les Belles Perdrix (3 toques) at Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion (33), and Bastien Meulot, from the Lycée des Métiers in Bazeilles (08), as well as Aurélien Cohen, from the pastry shop of the same name in Asnières-sur-Seine (92).

It is also on this stage that Gault&Millau will feature a panel of renowned chefs who, as they did last year, will delight the audience with their creations, available for tasting on site. After all these demonstrations, eyes will still be sparkling as visitors admire the chocolate creations and craftsmanship on display along the “Allée de l’Inspiration.” Technical mastery and creativity give rise to impressive chocolate sculptures and outfits designed in partnership with renowned fashion designers. The fascination continues a little further on, inside Santa’s House, where the most beautiful Yule logs from luxury hotels and prestigious establishments are on display, vying each year for talent and elegance.

Finally, each day of the Salon du Chocolat will feature two performances of the hit musical that premiered in 2025. This year, the show will blend burlesque, art, and chocolate for costumes themed around incandescence. “Cabaret Rock!”—as it’s called—is a production conceived by Aicom, a multidisciplinary group of professional performing arts schools.

© Brunet Monié

Reflections on the Cocoa Industry

While the Salon du Chocolat et de la Pâtisserie remains a gourmet event, it is also a space for reflection and networking. Each edition features a series of conferences on the origins of cocoa, production methods, and consumer trends. Chocolatiers, pastry chefs, culinary professionals, and representatives from various sectors exchange ideas and share their expertise both on stage and at their booths.

For the 2026 edition, the “bean-to-bar” movement is the talk of the town. Now an unmissable trend, it will be represented by numerous French and international artisans. It’s also an opportunity to sample “tree-to-bar” chocolates crafted by artisan chocolatiers who grow their own cacao trees before transforming the beans into chocolate.

Even More New Features for the 2026 Edition

Continuing the transformation that began last year to mark its^30th anniversary, the fair is opening a new interactive and educational space. Younger visitors can try their hand at the “choco’quiz” or enjoy musical performances celebrating cocoa-producing countries. Both enthusiasts and professionals will gather there to attend tastings as part of the national championship for the best pain au chocolat. More than 200 gourmet workshops are scheduled over the five days: an ever-increasing number, designed to appeal to all audiences, ranging from fun activities for children to specialized chocolate tastings for enthusiasts. New this year is the “Signatures Pavilion,” designed as an exclusive space featuring must-see pastry chefs. Aurélien Cohen, along with Julien Dugourd and Théo David, will offer—among other treats—creations to take home or enjoy on-site to the beat of lively DJ sets.

Practical Information: Dates, Hours, and Prices

• Opening night: Tuesday, October 27, starting at 7 p.m., featuring a preview of the musical show.
• The fair will then be open from Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November¹, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Pavilion 5 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
• Prices: €10–20 for adults, €5–10 for children; opening night pass for €30.