Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde… Why are these Paris landmarks lighting up red?

Published by Rizhlaine de Sortiraparis, Julie de Sortiraparis · Photos by Lucas de Sortiraparis · Updated on November 2, 2026 at 12:09 p.m.
Several Parisian and Île-de-France landmarks will be illuminated in red on November 18 and 19, 2026, as part of “Red Week,” an event organized by the Aid to the Church in Need (AED) association to raise awareness of the plight of persecuted Christian communities.

If you’re out and about near Île de la Cité, Montmartre or Place de la Concorde, you may be surprised to see some of the capital’s iconic landmarks glowing scarlet in the middle of the night. On the evenings of Wednesday, November 18, and Thursday, November 19, 2026, several monuments will be lit up in red from dusk.

Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soirNotre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soirNotre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soirNotre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soir

These exceptional illuminations are part of “Red Week,” an event taking place this year from November 15 to 22, 2026, organized by the Aide à l'Église en Détresse (AED) to raise public awareness of religious persecution, and in particular the plight of Christians persecuted because of their faith. For the occasion, hundreds of religious buildings around the world are joining the movement by displaying the same lighting, and prayer vigils are being held. This symbolic scarlet color evokes the blood of the martyrs, and through this initiative, the AED expresses its wish to “make the persecution of Christians visible”.

Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soirNotre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soirNotre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soirNotre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Concorde... pourquoi ces monuments de Paris s'illuminent en rouge ce soir

Here is the list of monuments taking part in Paris and the Île-de-France region:

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Sacré-Cœur Basilica : Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Pont Neuf: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, every hour for 10 minutes, from when the monument is lit up (usually at dusk) until midnight
Luxor Obelisk: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, and Thursday, November 19, 2026
Arches of the Pont de l'Archevêché: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
July Column on Place de la Bastille: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

 

Source

 

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From November 18, 2026 to November 19, 2026

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.

    Places

    Cathédrale Notre-Dame
    75004 Paris 4

    Route planner
    Access
    Metro - RER: - Cité (4) - Saint Michel - Notre-Dame (B,C) - Hôtel de Ville (1,11) - Maubert-Mutualité / Cluny - La Sorbonne (10) - Châtelet - Les Halles (7,14,A,D)


    35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre
    75018 Paris 18

    Route planner
    Access
    Metro Jules Joffrin (Line 12) Pigalle (Lines 12 and 2) Anvers (Line 2)