Accessibility for event venues is not limited to building compliance. Finding a booth at an exhibition center, following a conference program, or navigating through a festival crowd remains a real obstacle course for some of the public. Yet, since the law of February 11, 2005, venues hosting events have been required to be accessible to everyone. In France, 12 million people live with a disability, and 80% of disabilities are invisible. Their experience depends as much on information, orientation, and reception as it does on ramps and elevators. From obligations and target audiences to professions, pioneering sites, and funding, here is the essential summary of the white paper produced by Ezymob with UNIMEV.
What are the accessibility obligations for an event venue?
Venues that host trade shows, conferences, concerts, or festivals are public-access establishments (known in France as ERPs). As such, they must be accessible to all people with disabilities—whether motor, sensory, cognitive, or psychological—and not just those with reduced mobility.
This framework was built in stages:
Accessibility standards for public-access establishments primarily concern the physical structure, from pathways and reception areas to restrooms and signage. The details of these technical rules are provided by Service-Public.
The framework also extends to digital accessibility. The update of the RGAA (General Accessibility Improvement Framework) and the 2019 European Web Accessibility Directive, followed by the European Accessibility Act which came into effect in 2025, are gradually impacting private sector players. Online ticketing, event websites, or visitor apps may therefore also be subject to these requirements.
Regulations set a baseline. It is from this foundation that a truly inclusive event can be built.
What is the public accessibility register?
The public accessibility register is a document that informs visitors about the level of accessibility of an establishment and its services. Since 2017, every public-access establishment must keep it available at the main reception point. It can also be made available online if the establishment has a website.
It is the responsibility of the establishment's operator to create and maintain it. The register includes:
For an event venue, the register is much more than a formality. It allows visitors to plan their visit by knowing in advance which facilities and services await them on-site. It also assists organizers, who can rely on the venue's information to design their event's reception and supplement any missing elements.
Beyond the physical structure: audiences with very different needs
A compliant building does not guarantee that an event is accessible, because disability takes many different forms. In France, 12 million people live with a disability, which is one in six people. 80% of these disabilities are invisible, and 85% occur during a person's lifetime. One in two people will be affected at some point in their life.
There are generally six categories of disability:
Each one calls for different solutions. A long distance between two halls is a burden for a visitor in a wheelchair, an audio-only announcement is missed by a deaf person, and crowds or noise can make a trade show overwhelming for someone with an autism spectrum disorder.
The aging population further expands these needs. By 2050, more than a third of the French population will be over 60. In addition to these visitors, there are families with strollers, international audiences who need translated signage, and anyone for whom the sensory environment of an event can become an obstacle.
Thinking about event accessibility means starting from this real diversity of audiences, rather than from a "typical" visitor who does not exist.
Accessibility: A matter for all event industry professionals
An accessible event does not depend on a single stakeholder. For this white paper, around twenty industry professionals shared their practices, progress, and questions, providing complementary perspectives across the entire chain.
They all agree on one point: accessibility depends on the flow of information between all stakeholders.
Accessibility considered at every stage of the visitor journey
The white paper proposes a common definition for the industry.
This definition invites us to look at the entire visitor journey, not just the venue itself.
When approached this way, accessibility becomes a driver for innovation. An accessible event is easier to navigate before arrival, more fluid on-site, and allows everyone to understand, find their way, and participate. An accessible event is an event better designed for all audiences.
Viparis and Lille Grand Palais: Two pioneering sites
Two major industry sites have made digital accessibility a permanent standard by integrating the Ezymob solution as a feature that every organizer can activate.
Viparis, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
As the leading event venue manager in France, Viparis operates eleven sites in the Île-de-France region, including Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. With over 600,000 m² dedicated to trade shows, congresses, and public events, it is one of the largest event spaces in Europe. The challenge was to enable visually impaired visitors to navigate independently across multiple halls and levels.
Ezymob and Viparis have deployed Map’Expo there, an interactive and inclusive map co-developed with specialized associations. Each visitor can plan their route in advance and then be guided according to their profile on-site and from nearby public transport. The system is permanent and can be activated for every event hosted.
Conclusion
Building compliance remains the foundation of accessibility for public-access buildings (ERP). However, an inclusive event is built on much more. It takes into account the real diversity of audiences, mobilizes all industry professions, and supports the visitor from the moment they prepare for their visit until they leave. The examples of Viparis and Lille Grand Palais show that an approach led by the venue can benefit hundreds of events, and funding mechanisms exist to take action. The white paper produced by Ezymob with UNIMEV gathers feedback and concrete benchmarks to help your organization embark on this process, starting with your next event.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for maintaining the accessibility register?
It is the responsibility of the establishment's operator to create the public accessibility register and keep it up to date. For an event venue, this is the site manager. Organizers can then use this register to prepare for hosting their event.
How do I know if my public-access building (ERP) is accessible?
The compliance of an ERP is verified through its accessibility certificate. This is issued by a technical inspector or an architect for category 1 to 4 establishments, and by a sworn statement for category 5. Beyond the paperwork, observing real journeys with affected visitors remains the best way to measure the actual experience of accessibility.
Is the RGAA mandatory?
The RGAA is mandatory for public organizations and companies that exceed a certain turnover. Since 2025, the European Accessibility Act has also extended digital accessibility requirements to many private entities, particularly in transport and e-commerce. Our article on mobile app accessibility details these obligations.
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