Agriculture Show Attendance Slides 25% in First Four Days After Cattle Pullout

Overview

• Show officials said visitor numbers were down by about a quarter through Tuesday compared with last year, confirming lighter footfall since the Feb. 21 opening in Paris.
• Breeders kept cows at home over bovine lumpy skin disease, with further pressure from nationwide school holidays, fair weather and construction at the Porte de Versailles that shifted key food halls away from the main entrance.
• Exhibitors and nearby restaurants report steep revenue declines, with some vendors estimating 30–40% lower sales and several eateries down 50–70% versus 2025.
• To compensate, organizers expanded equestrian programming, adding more horses and showcases such as the Cadre noir of Saumur, though the fuller stands at shows have not translated into packed aisles.
• A Sunday brawl resulted in 15 arrests, described by organizers as an isolated incident, as the show works to boost stand visibility and hopes for a late‑week rebound before Sunday’s close.