The Olympic cauldron at the Tuileries Garden this summer 2026: what you need to know

She was an unforgettable symbol of the Paris 2024 Games. She is now a summer symbol in Paris. At least until 2027. In any case, it’s official: the vasque returns this summer again to the jardin des Tuileries, for the delight of tourists and locals alike. This giant balloon that once housed the Olympic flame graces the Parisian park once again until September 14, 2026.

It's a sight you never tire of: the basin is installed every summer in the heart of the Tuileries Garden, between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. By day, the basin is freely accessible, free of charge. Passersby can circle it and admire it when it's on the ground. In the evening, when the weather allows, the basin takes off into the Paris sky and shines under the stars. A poetic spectacle not to be missed!

During the 2024 Olympic Games, visitors had to book a time slot to approach the cauldron. In 2026, it will be in open access. Of course, visitors must follow the visiting rules, namely not touching the structure, and not attempting to touch the electric flame…

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When night falls and the basin takes off, access to the site is restricted for safety reasons. That said, it has become more accessible, and you can get fairly close from the Louvre side or in the Tuileries Garden, up to the fence just a few metres away. To get a clear view of the basin, it's worth stepping back a bit to find a higher vantage point and really take in the panorama. Each day, the site officiel de la vasque indicates whether the flight is possible that evening, and the horaire du décollage of the basin.

So mark your calendars this summer at the Tuileries Garden to enjoy this temporary attraction!

Last days of the Vasque Olympique: where to see the hot-air balloon at night, where to admire it
One year after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Olympic cauldron will once again rise into the sky aboard its hot-air balloon at dusk for the summer of 2025. An opportunity for Parisians of all ages to admire it from a variety of vantage points. Here are our ideas for night-time spots to see this flame levitating above the capital until September 14, 2025. [Read more]