Organizers of NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026, two of Europe’s largest Web3 conferences, have canceled the events just one month before they were set to begin. The team cited the ongoing weakness of the NFT sector and the aftermath of the 2025 market collapse as key reasons behind the difficult decision.
Four years of growth end with cancellations
In a statement posted on Monday, the organizers said:
“After four editions bringing together the global Web3 community in Paris, we have to face reality : NFT Paris 2026 will not happen.” They added, “The market collapse hit us hard. Despite drastic cost cuts and months of trying to make it work, we couldn't pull it off this year.”
NFT Paris had been scheduled for February 5–6, 2026, at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris. Earlier promotional material projected an attendance of more than 20,000 people, with hundreds of speakers and side events planned across the French capital. The companion event, RWA Paris, was also expected to attract investors and builders focused on tokenized real-world assets. Both have now been canceled.
The announcement marks the end of a four-year run that turned NFT Paris into one of the landmark gatherings for the global Web3 industry. Past editions showcased collaborations between digital artists, blockchain developers, and traditional brands testing NFT-based experiences.
NFT Paris & RWA Paris 2026 are cancelled.
— NFT Paris (@nft_paris) January 5, 2026
After four editions bringing together the global Web3 community in Paris, we have to face reality: NFT Paris 2026 will not happen.
The market collapse hit us hard. Despite drastic cost cuts and months of trying to make it work, we…
Ticket refunds and sponsor issues
The NFT Paris team confirmed that all ticket holders will receive full refunds within 15 days. “All tickets will be refunded within 15 days,” they said, addressing concerns from attendees who had already booked flights and hotels. The message acknowledged the disappointment of the community and thanked staff and supporters for their contributions over the years:
“To those of you who had already booked flights and hotels, we're truly sorry. We know how frustrating this is. To our team, thank you for everything.”
However, sponsors face a different outcome. Some have reported that they have not been offered refunds due to unrecoverable costs linked to event logistics. Emails shared by sponsors referenced contractual clauses outlining non-refundable costs already incurred before the cancellation.
As a sponsor i got the mail as well, mentioning:
— serc (@serc1n) January 5, 2026
“As per Article 12 of our agreement, the non-refundable costs incurred for the event exceed the total sponsorship contributions received, so we are unfortunately unable to offer a refund at this time.”
Looking forward to chat…
NFT market downturn deepens
Data from CoinGecko shows that the NFT market capitalization sits at about $2.7 billion, down 68% year over year. Monthly sales volumes dropped to around $320 million in November 2025, with an even sharper decline in December.
Trading across major NFT marketplaces remains a fraction of its 2021 levels. Volumes have fallen roughly 95% from peak figures, even as segments of the wider crypto market showed signs of recovery during 2024 and 2025.
Collections once considered market anchors, including Bored Ape Yacht Club, CryptoPunks, and Pudgy Penguins, have seen steep declines in floor prices. According to public dashboards, Bored Apes now trade near a 5.36 ETH floor, while CryptoPunks hover below their previous 2024 lows.
Other indicators also point to sector stress. OpenSea, once the leading NFT exchange, announced a pivot in late 2025 from being solely an NFT marketplace to a broader platform to “trade everything,” incorporating tokens, collectibles, and digital culture assets. Competing platforms such as X2Y2 and Rarible have undergone similar shifts, reflecting a pivot toward more sustainable business structures.
Event cancellations highlight wider pressure
The NFT Paris and RWA Paris cancellations underscore how fragile the event economics remain in the current environment. Ticket revenue, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees have all been hit by declining trading activity and waning corporate budgets for NFT marketing. Smaller NFT gatherings in Europe have also faced postponements or downsizing over the past year.
Despite these conditions, on-chain building has continued. Developers still launch NFT drops tied to gaming, cultural collaborations, and brand engagement, but fewer high-value auctions or speculative trades now support the broader market.
The organizers stopped short of declaring a permanent end to NFT Paris, writing, “We will be doing all we can to close this chapter properly.” That message suggests a pause rather than a total discontinuation, though there is no confirmed roadmap for any relaunch.
A chapter closes for Web3 events in Paris
The NFT Paris team ended their message with gratitude:
“Looking back at four years, we're proud of what we built together: tens of thousands of attendees, hundreds of speakers, and countless connections made. But endings are tough.”
For now, the end of NFT Paris 2026 serves as another sign of how far the NFT market has retreated since its high point. While real-world asset tokenization remains a rising narrative, its momentum has not been enough to offset the decline in NFT enthusiasm.
Tanya Petrusenko
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