Collectors and dealers of historical maps operate on a different cadence than large contemporary art fairs. In November, Paris hosts a focused one-day market that brings specialist booksellers and map dealers together in a central venue.
The 2026 edition at Espace Cléry
The main event runs on 21 November at Espace Cléry, 17 rue de Cléry, in historic Paris. Opening hours are 11:00 to 18:00 and admission is free. On Friday 20 November there is a welcome cocktail from 19:00 to 20:00 with an open bar; attendance to the cocktail is by reservation. The venue is notable for its Eiffel-style glass roof and central location near the pedestrian streets of Montorgueil.
Exhibitor profile at the fair
The participant list includes specialist antiquarian booksellers and map dealers from France and abroad. Confirmed exhibitors include Librairie Loeb-Larocque, Librairie Le Bail, Pingel Rare Books and Sartoni & Cerveau Gallery from France. From the United States appear Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. and Geographicus Rare Antique Maps. Additional exhibitors come from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain and other countries. Stands will display historical maps, mappemondes, sea charts, city plans, atlases and terrestrial and celestial globes.
Program highlights and on-site services
Alongside the exhibition, Paris Map Fair 2026 includes lectures and free valuation and expertise services during the day on 21 November. The Friday cocktail serves as a pre-event chance to meet collectors and dealers and requires prior reservation. Organizers publish a participants list with contact details useful for planning targeted visits to specific booths.
Practical tips for business outreach at the fair
- Review the exhibitors list in advance and mark those with holdings relevant to your search. Reaching out beforehand helps schedule brief meetings.
- Bring digital reference sheets for sought items including images and dimensions to speed verification at the stand.
- Prioritize dealers by specialism such as sea charts, historical atlases or globes and plan a route through the fair accordingly.
- Use the Friday evening cocktail to initiate informal conversations; the open bar runs from 19:00 to 20:00 and allows time to discuss catalogs and terms before the main day.
Access and transport
Espace Cléry sits in the 2nd arrondissement near Montorgueil. Useful metro stops include Bourse and Sentier on line 3 and Bonne Nouvelle and Grands Boulevards on lines 8 and 9. Major rail stations such as Châtelet les Halles, Gare du Nord and Gare Saint-Lazare are around ten minutes away according to the event information.
Final note and next steps
For those trading in antique maps, atlases or globes, the Paris Map Fair 2026 provides a concentrated opportunity to compare holdings and meet specialist dealers at Espace Cléry. Book the cocktail if you need early meetings and consult the participant list to plan stand visits. Full details and reservations are available at the official site http://www.map-fair.com/paris
