NCT Wish, Monsta X to headline K-Expo France 2026 in Paris

A large-scale expo showcasing K-culture is set to open in Paris to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France. The event will bring together 46 companies spanning content, food, beauty and tourism alongside a major K-pop concert, with the aim of deepening cultural exchange and expanding economic cooperation.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced they will jointly hold K-Expo France 2026 in Paris from Tuesday through Friday, in partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency and other related organizations.

The expo is a comprehensive event designed to help K-culture companies — spanning content, food, beauty, fashion and tourism — expand into overseas markets, combining a K-pop concert with industry exhibitions, hands-on experiences and export consultations. The K-pop concert held alongside the expo has been organized as a flagship event commemorating the 140th anniversary of Korea-France ties, under the theme of "companionship, romance and gratitude."

From Tuesday through Thursday, a consumer exhibition introducing the present and future of K-culture will be held at the Palais des Congrès, one of Paris's premier international event venues. Netflix will operate a joint pavilion with 12 companies and organizations that have incorporated popular titles — including "K-Pop Demon Hunters," "Squid Game" and "Culinary Class Wars" — into product sales and promotions. The Korea Tourism Organization will recreate a subway station and a hiking trail to promote Korea's four seasons, and will run an aircraft seat experience in collaboration with Korean Air.

The expo will also feature a K-food zone where visitors can try Han River ramyun and vegan kimchi, as well as a Korean seafood experience hall, a King Sejong Institute promotional pavilion, a K-cosmetics experience hall and a K-book exhibition — extending the content lineup across food, beauty and publishing. CJ ENM and 11 other companies will present an AI-based film and animation experience hall, an augmented reality book content exhibition and a digital showcase of Korea-France brand collaborations.

On Thursday and Friday, a series of side events will run alongside an export consultation fair involving 46 companies in total — 36 in content and 10 in beauty. The side events include a cooking show themed around K-seafood, a hansik storytelling program featuring actor Ryu Su-young, a Korean skincare demonstration, a lecture by an invited Korean author and a K-pop dance random play session.

On Wednesday, a concert will feature a lineup of K-pop acts popular in France, including Taemin, Monsta X, Hearts2Hearts, NCT Wish, Stella Jang and 82MAJOR. The evening will open with a diplomatic anniversary ceremony attended by the culture ministers of both countries, followed by performances centered on the theme of friendship and cultural exchange — including Korean artists performing beloved French songs and French favorites from Korea.

Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young will also visit the venue to inspect preparations and meet with France's culture minister and representatives of cultural and arts organizations to discuss avenues for cooperation.

"It is deeply meaningful to jointly introduce the new and diverse appeal of K-culture to France — a country with which Korea has shared 140 years of cultural exchange — through a cross-ministry effort," Choi said. "I hope the Lumière Summit, a film and screen summit to be co-hosted by Korea and France in September, will further deepen and expand cooperation between the two countries."