Every year, the fireworks launched from the Eiffel Tower is the highlight of Bastille Day celebrations. After the military parade on the Champs-Élysées and the traditional Concert of Paris at the Champ de Mars, thousands of rockets illuminate the capital’s sky before hundreds of thousands of spectators.
But in 2026, this signature event won’t take place on July 14. The City of Paris has indeed decided to move the show up to Monday, July 13, a rare move that has surprised many Île-de-France residents.
This scheduling change isn't due to technical or organizational constraints. It reflects a decision to dedicate July 14, 2026 to a moment of national reflection.
This year indeed marks the 10th anniversary of the Nice attack, which unfolded on July 14, 2016. That evening, a truck sped into the crowds gathered on the Promenade des Anglais to watch the Bastille Day fireworks, leaving 86 dead and hundreds injured.
In coordination with the President of the Republic, the City of Paris has decided to move the fireworks to July 13 so that the commemorations and tributes to the victims can receive the full prominence they deserve on July 14.
Yes. Just like the fireworks, the traditional Concert de Paris has been unusually moved up to July 13, 2026. Hosted on the Champ de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, it will unite the Orchestre National de France, the Choir and the Radio France Maîtrise, along with several soloists of international renown. At the end of the concert, spectators will be able to enjoy the grand pyrotechnic show, also advanced by one day. This calendar shift follows the same aim of keeping July 14 reserved for official ceremonies and the commemorations marking the tenth anniversary of the Nice attack. The Concert de Paris will be broadcast live on television and radio, as in previous editions.
National Day 2026: The Concert de Paris will echo across the Champ-de-Mars on July 13.
To crown Bastille Day in style, the Orchestre National de France, the Maîtrise, and the Radio France Choir stage a grand symphonic concert each year on the Champ-de-Mars, with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. Because the fireworks this year are being held a day earlier than usual, the free concert has been moved to Monday, July 13, 2026. This year, Gautier Capuçon, Marina Viotti, and Corinne Winters are among the artists expected to perform. [Read more]
Yes. This change affects only the fireworks display. The traditional military parade on the Champs-Élysées will go ahead as usual on Tuesday, July 14 in the morning, in keeping with tradition. The French Air and Space Force aircraft will open the ceremony before the march-past of foot troops, military vehicles, riders of the Republican Guard, and the various units taking part.
The Bastille Day military parade makes its grand return along the Champs-Élysées to celebrate the national holiday. Schedule, times, rehearsals, access, TV broadcast, tips for watching the event… Find here all the essential information, along with our practical guides to ensure you don’t miss a moment of this 2026 edition. [Read more]
If the date shifts, the show is still expected to dazzle just as much. Fireworks will light up the sky from the Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower, as they do every year. Spectators will enjoy a grand spectacle blending pyrotechnics, luminous installations, and a drone ballet—now one of the defining features of Parisian celebrations in recent years.
To install the technical equipment, the Eiffel Tower will be closed to the public on July 13, before reopening its doors the very next day, on July 14. Visitors who booked a ticket for July 13 will be automatically refunded by the Eiffel Tower Operating Company.
The relocation of the fireworks display marks a first in many years. It signals the public authorities’ aim to reconcile Bastille Day celebrations with a duty to remember.
The festivities aren’t canceled; they’re simply restructured. The fireworks display is moved up to July 13 to preserve the event’s festive spirit, while July 14 will feature the official ceremonies, the military parade, and tributes to the victims of the Nice attack. It’s a reminder that France’s National Day is both a time of celebration and a moment of remembrance and unity.
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National Day 2026: The Concert de Paris will echo across the Champ-de-Mars on July 13.
Military Parade on July 14, 2026 in Paris: schedule, tips, how to watch and the latest updates—everything you need to know.
