By Adam Dragos · Last updated: November 2026
Planning an exhibition stand at Exponor Porto means working with Portugal’s largest exhibition venue and its own rulebook. Exponor, in Leça da Palmeira (Matosinhos), lists 180,000 m² in total and 45,000 m² under cover across six pavilions. Its General Regulations set clear deadlines for utilities, stand projects, electrical sign-off, insurance and build completion.
This guide is for exhibitors and marketing managers who have booked, or are about to book, space at an Exponor fair in 2027. It is also useful for anyone comparing Porto with Lisbon or Madrid for their Iberian show calendar. Everything below comes from Exponor’s own website and its General Regulations for its portfolio fairs (sources linked in each section). Where something depends on the individual show, we say so.
Key takeaways
- Exponor is the largest exhibition venue in Portugal: 180,000 m² total, 45,000 m² covered, 6 pavilions and 8 multipurpose rooms (Exponor).
- It sits about 10 minutes from Porto Airport and 15 minutes from Porto city centre (Exponor).
- Requests for water, compressed air and gas are due at least 20 days before assembly starts; projects for stands with more than one floor are due 30 days before (General Regulations).
- Stands must be fully built 12 hours before the fair opens.
- Exhibitors need civil liability insurance of at least €500,000, plus insurance for the goods on display.
- Electrical work must be signed off by an electrician with a card valid in Portugal.
- Each fair adds its own Amendment (the show-specific annex) with build times, fees and prices. Always read it alongside the General Regulations.
What is Exponor and where is it?
Exponor is the exhibition, fair and congress venue of Porto, located in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, on the northern edge of the city. Exponor describes itself as the largest exhibition venue in Portugal. It hosts around 30 specialised fairs every year, plus dozens of congresses and corporate events, both its own and those of external organisers (About Exponor).
The company behind it has a long history. Exponor became an autonomous brand of AEP (the Portuguese business association) in 1987 and organises fairs in metalworking, construction, furniture and home, jewellery, beauty, and the electrical and electronics industries. The regulations name the operating company as Exponor – Fiporto S.A.
For a visiting exhibitor, location matters more than history. According to Exponor, the venue is:
- About 10 minutes from Porto Airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro).
- About 15 minutes from the centre of Porto.
- Under 5 minutes from a wide choice of restaurants in Matosinhos.
- Next to two hotels, with several more within a 10-minute drive.
That short airport transfer is useful when your team flies in for build-up and your client meetings fly in for one day only. Exponor also negotiates hotel discounts for people attending its own fairs; the general information page lists partner hotels and the booking code.
How big is Exponor? Pavilions, halls and rooms
Exponor offers 45,000 m² of covered space in six pavilions, plus halls, a gallery, a 945-seat auditorium and a business centre with eight meeting rooms. The six pavilions vary a lot in size, which affects how a fair is laid out and where your stand ends up.
Pavilion areas published by Exponor (Venue):
- Pavilion 1: 3,022 m²
- Pavilion 2: 7,248 m²
- Pavilion 3: 2,052 m²
- Pavilion 4: 7,920 m²
- Pavilion 5: 6,012 m²
- Pavilion 6: 7,884 m²
The venue also lists four halls (between 1,289 m² and 2,417 m²), Gallery 1 (3,143 m²), the auditorium with a stage of about 260 m², and around 2,250 parking spaces.
Why does this matter for your stand? Two practical reasons:
- Smaller pavilions fill fast. If your fair uses Pavilions 1 or 3, aisles and neighbours are closer, so open sides and sightlines become more valuable than extra wall space.
- Business-centre rooms are a real option. If you plan a product launch or a seminar, the business centre rooms (16 to 240 people) can take the talk off the stand. Your stand then stays a space for conversations and demos.
Which fairs are coming up at Exponor?
Exponor’s calendar for late 2026 and 2027 includes Eletrica and Concreta (18–21 November 2026), Portugal Print (25–27 February 2027), and EMAF and Maquishoes, both listed for 2027. Exponor groups its own fairs by sector: machinery and industry, construction and architecture, interior design, home, beauty and lifestyle, education and health (Event calendar).
What the official calendar showed when we checked on 3 November 2026:
- Eletrica: energy, mobility, electronics and electrical equipment, 18–21 November 2026, organised by Exponor.
- Concreta: architecture, construction and engineering design, 18–21 November 2026, organised by Exponor.
- Portugal Print 2027: print, packaging and labelling, 25–27 February 2027, 10:00 to 18:00, organised by Profair. The organiser says 2027 marks the fair’s 15th anniversary and its return to Exponor (Portugal Print 2027).
- EMAF: the international fair for machinery, equipment and services for industry, listed for 2027, dates not yet shown.
- Maquishoes: footwear industry machinery, technology and accessories, listed for 2027, dates not yet shown.
Other Exponor fairs named on its site include FIMAP, 360 Tech Industry, Maquitex, Enotécnica & Olitécnica, Homeing, inProjecta, Ceranor, Expocosmética, In Beauty, Portojóia and Qualifica. Check each fair’s page for confirmed dates before you plan.
One important detail: not every fair at Exponor is organised by Exponor. Portugal Print, for example, is run by Profair. External organisers can issue their own technical rules. Treat the regulations below as the venue baseline and the organiser’s manual as the final word.
What are the main stand rules at Exponor?
Exponor’s General Regulations ban fixings or paint on floors and walls, require flame-retardant floor coverings, require Exponor approval for anything suspended, and expect stands to be assembled from prefabricated elements rather than built from scratch on site. The rules below come from the 2026 General Regulations for Exponor’s portfolio fairs (PDF). Each fair adds an Amendment with its own details.
Space and layout
- The standard space unit is 9 m² (3 × 3 m). Stands are sold in multiples of that unit, with other formats possible under special conditions.
- Exponor decides the distribution of stands and the allocation of space.
- If the back of your stand faces an aisle or another stand, you must finish it so nothing unfinished is on view. Budget for those “back walls” from the start.
Construction methods
- No fixings or painting on the venue’s floors or walls.
- No cutting, welding, spray painting or sanding machines in the halls.
- Stands in the halls must come from the assembly of elements designed and made beforehand.
- Suspending loads or advertising (rigging) requires prior approval from Exponor’s Operations team.
- Raised floors need an access ramp for visitors with reduced mobility.
- Stands with more than one floor need a full project submitted for approval at least 30 days before assembly.
In plain terms, Exponor is a pre-fabricate and assemble venue. That suits both of the build methods we use. Custom wood carpentry is made in the workshop and finished before it travels. Modular systems such as Aluvision and beMatrix are designed to click together on site with hand tools.
Fire safety and materials
- Carpets must be flame retardant, approved to European Union standards, and you must provide copies of the certificates. Without them, Exponor can stop the assembly.
- All stand materials must meet EU safety standards.
- Smoke or fog machines and laser systems need prior authorisation.
- Emergency exits, extinguishers, signage, CCTV, detectors and fire hydrants must never be blocked or hidden.
- Open-flame demonstrations need prior authorisation.
Ask your contractor for the fire certificates of every board, fabric and floor finish before shipping. Finding out at the hall door is too late.
What deadlines does Exponor set for exhibitors?
The key Exponor deadlines are 30 days before assembly for multi-floor stand projects, 20 days before assembly for water, compressed air and gas requests, 48 hours ahead for overtime permits, and full completion 12 hours before opening. Missing them can mean no service, extra fees or losing the space.
Here is the order we work through, counted back from the start of assembly:
- From booking: read the General Regulations and the fair’s Amendment. Note the withdrawal terms (see the cost section).
- 30 days before assembly: submit the project for any stand with more than one floor to the Customer Manager.
- 20 days before assembly: request water and drainage, compressed air and any gas use from your Client Manager. After this date Exponor does not guarantee availability.
- Before build-up: settle all invoices with Exponor. The “letter of legitimation” that lets your team start work is only issued once debts are paid.
- Build-up: your contractor’s crew needs accreditation cards, visible ID and personal protective equipment.
- 48 hours in advance: request any overtime work permit (charged at Exponor’s price list and subject to availability).
- 12 hours before opening: the stand must be fully built and furnished with the declared items.
- During the show: goods can only leave with an Exit Guide from the Exhibitor Support desk.
- Close: dismantling cannot start before the official closing time unless Exponor authorises it.
The Amendment for each fair sets the actual build-up and dismantling hours. Put those into your project plan as soon as it is published.
Power, water and technical services: what to request
Every Exponor stand is entitled to an electrical connection for panels up to 3 kW; anything higher must be requested, and all stand lighting must be energy-efficient, such as LED. Power is supplied at 220/380 V, 50 Hz. Installations must follow Portugal’s low-voltage safety regulation and include differential cut-off switches and earthing (General Regulations).
Electrical sign-off is where foreign contractors most often get caught out. To validate a stand’s electrics, Exponor asks for:
- A detailed description of the number of lighting points on the stand.
- A term of responsibility for the stand’s electrical installation.
- The electrician’s card, valid in Portugal, for the person responsible and everyone involved.
Exponor can inspect at any time and cut power if an installation is unsafe or was changed without approval. If your contractor travels from Spain or elsewhere, confirm early who signs the electrical paperwork in Portugal.
Water, drainage and compressed air depend on where your stand sits. The exhibitor is responsible for the distribution from the supply point to the equipment. After assembly, Exponor’s Technical Support must inspect and approve the installation before the service is turned on.
Gas has its own section in the regulations. Requests are due 20 days before assembly. Each stand may have one cylinder in use plus one reserve, cylinders cannot be swapped during public opening hours, and a 6 kg ABC extinguisher is required. Stands using gas are inspected before opening.
Exponor itself sells a wide range of services: stand construction and decoration, furniture, carpet, partition walls, electrical and lighting work, cleaning and waste, hostesses, security, catering, internet and audiovisual (Services). It also lists two logistics partners, Rangel/Feirexpo and Grupolis, for transport.
How much does an Exponor stand cost?
An Exponor stand budget combines the space price from the fair’s Amendment, any assembly fee for external contractors, utilities, insurance and the stand build itself. Exponor does not publish one venue-wide price list; each fair sets its own. So the honest answer is a list of budget lines, not a single number.
Lines to include:
- Space: priced per the fair’s Amendment, sold in 9 m² modules.
- Assembly fee: the regulations say all external stand-building companies pay an assembly fee set in the fair’s Addendum.
- Electricity above 3 kW, water, compressed air and gas connections.
- Overtime permits, if build-up runs late.
- Insurance: civil liability of at least €500,000 plus cover for exhibited goods.
- Cleaning: the exhibitor must leave the space clean, or Exponor cleans it and charges the exhibitor.
- Finished back walls facing aisles or neighbours.
- The stand: design, production, transport, build, dismantling and storage.
Watch the withdrawal terms too. Under the General Regulations, an exhibitor who withdraws up to 120 days before assembly owes the management fee and 30% of the bid. Up to 60 days before, a second 30% payment is added. Inside 60 days, the full participation amount is due, and amounts paid are not refunded.
For wider budgeting, our exhibition stand cost guide for Europe breaks down design, build and service costs, and the stand cost calculator gives you a first estimate in minutes.
Custom wood, modular or turnkey: which stand fits Exponor?
For Exponor, the right build type depends on how often you exhibit, how much brand impact you need and how much you want to manage yourself. All three options work within Exponor’s pre-fabricate and assemble rules.
- Custom wood carpentry: made to your design, with the strongest brand presence. Best for a flagship fair where you launch products or meet key distributors. Panels are finished off site and assembled in the hall.
- Modular (Aluvision or beMatrix): aluminium frame systems with fabric graphics or panels. Fast to assemble, lighter to ship, and reusable for several shows. A good match if Exponor is one stop in a Spain and Portugal calendar.
- Turnkey: one contractor handles design, production, logistics, paperwork, build and dismantling. Useful when your team is abroad and cannot manage Exponor’s forms, electrical sign-off and deadlines.
Many exhibitors combine them: a modular structure for speed with custom wood counters or a reception desk for a premium feel. Read more on our modular stands page and our turnkey solutions.
Hypothetical example: a 36 m² stand at Exponor
This example is hypothetical. It shows how the rules translate into a plan; it is not a past project.
A machinery maker books a 36 m² space (four 9 m² modules) with two open sides. The goal is to show one machine, hold distributor meetings, and avoid a wall of brochures.
- Layout: the machine sits on the open corner. A small closed meeting room and storage go to the back.
- Back walls: the two closed sides face neighbours, so both are finished on the visible face.
- Build: an Aluvision or beMatrix frame with printed fabric, plus a custom wood counter.
- Utilities: the machine needs compressed air and more than 3 kW. Both are requested more than 20 days before assembly.
- Electrics: lighting points listed, term of responsibility signed, electrician card valid in Portugal provided.
- Paperwork: invoices settled early so the letter of legitimation is ready for day one of build-up.
- Finish: stand completed the evening before, well inside the 12-hour cut-off.
Exponor vs FIL Lisbon vs IFEMA Madrid: what changes?
The planning logic is the same at Exponor, FIL Lisbon and IFEMA Madrid, but each venue has its own regulations, forms and deadlines. If you exhibit across Iberia, plan one stand concept and adapt the paperwork per venue.
What we see in practice:
- FIL Lisbon: we build several stands each year at FIL Lisbon, so we know how differently Lisbon shows are run from one organiser to the next. Our Lisbon and Portugal stand builder page covers it.
- IFEMA Madrid: we have strong experience at IFEMA, where contractor registration and plan approval have their own process. See our guide to IFEMA stand contractor rules.
- Exponor Porto: the rulebook above, plus each fair’s Amendment.
A reusable modular stand is often the simplest way to cover all three. If you are coming from outside Europe, our guide to exhibiting in Spain and Portugal and our stand shipping and customs guide cover the wider logistics.
Watch: how a stand comes together
Exhibition stand at Exponor Porto: exhibitor checklist
- ☐ Read the General Regulations and the fair’s Amendment
- ☐ Note the withdrawal dates (120 and 60 days before assembly)
- ☐ Book insurance: €500,000+ civil liability and exhibited goods
- ☐ Choose build type: custom wood, modular or turnkey
- ☐ Submit any multi-floor project 30 days before assembly
- ☐ Request water, compressed air, gas and extra power 20 days before
- ☐ Collect EU fire certificates for carpet and materials
- ☐ Prepare the electrical file (lighting points, term of responsibility, Portuguese electrician card)
- ☐ Pay invoices so the letter of legitimation is issued
- ☐ Accreditation, ID and PPE for the build crew
- ☐ Stand complete 12 hours before opening
- ☐ Exit Guide for any goods leaving during the show
Frequently asked questions
Where is Exponor?
Exponor is in Leça da Palmeira, in the municipality of Matosinhos, just north of Porto, Portugal. Exponor says it is about 10 minutes from Porto Airport and 15 minutes from Porto city centre.
How big is Exponor?
Exponor lists 180,000 m² of total area and 45,000 m² of covered space, with six pavilions, four halls, a gallery, a 945-seat auditorium and eight multipurpose rooms. It describes itself as the largest exhibition venue in Portugal.
Can I use my own stand builder at Exponor?
Yes. The General Regulations admit contractors hired by exhibitors once they accept the rules and are accredited by Exponor. External stand-building companies pay an assembly fee set in each fair’s Addendum.
What insurance do I need to exhibit at Exponor?
Civil liability insurance of at least €500,000 covering accidental damage to third parties at Exponor during the fair, plus mandatory insurance of the products and materials on display.
When must my stand be finished at Exponor?
Stands must be fully assembled and fitted with the declared items 12 hours before the fair opens. Otherwise Exponor may dispose of the space.
How much power does an Exponor stand get?
Each stand is entitled to a connection for panels up to 3 kW. Higher power must be requested from the Customer Manager or Customer Support. Lighting must be energy-efficient, such as LED.
When do I request water or compressed air?
At least 20 days before the start of assembly. After that, Exponor does not guarantee availability, and the installation must be inspected before the service is activated.
Do the same rules apply to every fair at Exponor?
The General Regulations apply to Exponor’s portfolio fairs and are completed by each fair’s Amendment. Fairs run by external organisers, such as Portugal Print by Profair, can add their own rules, so always read the organiser’s manual.
Work with a stand builder who knows Iberian venues
Adam Expo Stand designs and builds exhibition stands: custom wood carpentry, modular Aluvision and beMatrix systems, and turnkey projects. We are Award Winning and Eco-friendly, with 639+ projects since the company was founded in 2017. Founder Adam Dragos has worked in exhibitions since 2004. Based in Madrid, Spain, serving all of Europe with a focus on Spain and Portugal.
Discuss your stand brief or request a stand proposal for your next Exponor fair. Phone +34 697 715 015 · [email protected]
Sources: Exponor, About us; Venue; General information; Services; Event calendar; Portugal Print 2027; General Regulations 2026, portfolio fairs (PDF). All checked 3 November 2026.
