Accor Arena confirms its international standing: ranked 5th arena worldwide by Billboard and 5th best UFC venue in the world by USA Today
Accor Arena confirms its international standing: ranked 5th arena worldwide by Billboard and 5th best UFC venue in the world by USA Today
Accor Arena confirms its international standing: ranked 5th arena worldwide by Billboard and 5th best UFC venue in the world by USA Today
Accor Arena
As the 2025-2026 season draws to a close, Accor Arena confirms its position among the world's leading references in live entertainment, sport and entertainment. The Parisian venue ranks 5th arena worldwide and 1st French venue in the Midyear 2026 rankings published by Billboard Boxscore, the international benchmark for the live industry. A few days later, it was also voted the 5th best UFC venue in the world by USA Today readers. Two accolades that reflect Accor Arena's international reach and its ability to host the biggest cultural and sporting events in the heart of Paris.
With 77 events recorded over the period studied, 1.7 million spectators welcomed and $77.2 million in gross revenue, Accor Arena ranks 5th worldwide among venues with over 15,000 seats in the Billboard Boxscore Midyear 2026 rankings. It appears ahead of numerous major North American venues and stands as the top-ranked French venue in the list.
This industry recognition is complemented by an accolade awarded directly by the public. As part of the USA Today Sports Readers' Choice Awards 2026, Accor Arena was voted the 5th best UFC venue in the world by readers of the American outlet, behind only RAC Arena (Perth), Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney), Etihad Arena (Abu Dhabi) and Madison Square Garden (New York).
This ranking rewards the experience offered to spectators during UFC events hosted in Paris in recent years, which have become unmissable fixtures on the international sporting calendar. As Accor Arena prepares to host a new edition of UFC Paris on 5 September, its designation among the world's best UFC venues confirms the distinctive place the Parisian arena now holds on the international MMA stage.
A SEASON DEFINED BY THE BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Over the course of the 2025-2026 season, Accor Arena hosted several of the most notable events on the national and international stage, including concerts by Lady Gaga, Drake, Rosalía, Gojira and Indochine. The venue also cemented its status as a stronghold for major international sporting events and entertainment by hosting UFC Paris, Valorant Champions Paris 2025, the Paris Sumo Tournament and the France–Canada ice hockey game. An eclectic programme that illustrates Accor Arena's ability to bring together the greatest names in music, sport and global entertainment under one roof.
"These two accolades are particularly significant as they reflect two essential dimensions of what we do. The first measures our ability to host the biggest international events and to elevate Paris's profile in the global live industry. The second is the result of a public vote and recognises the experience we strive to deliver to every spectator. Together, they embody the ambition that drives Accor Arena: to be much more than a venue and to establish itself as a must-visit destination for artists, promoters and audiences from around the world."
Marie Barsacq, CEO of Paris Entertainment Company