Paris: Why will the City Hall be lit up in Rome's colors on January 30th?

Parisians are accustomed to seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up to support various causes. However, it's much less common to witness the Hôtel de Ville de Paris change its color. Yet, that’s exactly what’s planned for Friday, January 30, 2026. On that day, the building housing the Paris City Hall will be illuminated in the colors of both the French capital and Rome. But what's the reason behind this?

Mark your calendars: 2026 will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the twinning between Paris and Rome. To mark the occasion, a series of events are planned, starting with official ceremonies attended by the mayors of both cities, along with a range of cultural activities scheduled throughout the year across Paris and Rome. 

In Paris, the Théâtre de la Ville will open its doors on February 2nd with an exclusive concert by Nicola Piovani. Additionally, a discussion on the diplomatic relations between Rome and Paris is scheduled for February 5th at the Hôtel de Ville Library. Not to be missed, the traditional Italian literature and culture festival, "ITALISSIMO", will celebrate its twinning from April 7th to 12th. The outdoor Italian film festival "Dolcevita sur Seine" is also set to take place from July 2nd to 6th, 2026.

• To be read
• What to do in Paris and Île-de-France this weekend, January 23-25, 2026
• What to do in Paris this week, from January 26 to February 1, 2026: must-see events and outings
• News and information from this web Saturday January 24, 2026 s in Paris and the Île-de-France region

But just before that, on January 30, 2026, the City Hall facade will be lit up in the colors of Paris and Rome to celebrate this twinning. In the Italian capital, the Trevi Fountain will also glow in the hues of both cities on January 29.

Did you know that Paris is uniquely twinned with only one city: Rome? Unlike many other urban areas, which often have multiple sister cities, Paris's sole partner is the Italian capital. For instance, New York boasts 13 sister city arrangements, including London, Madrid, and Cairo. But Paris and Rome have chosen a special exclusivity, establishing a mutual friendship that’s celebrated through the famous motto: “Solo Parigi è degna di Roma, solo Roma è degna di Parigi,” meaning “Only Paris is worthy of Rome, only Rome is worthy of Paris.”

As the City of Paris reminds us, twinning "encourages cultural events that showcase each city within its 'sister' metropolis." To this end, concerts, festivals, and exhibitions are regularly held to highlight the unique strengths of each city in the other.

Did you know? The museums operated by the City of Paris are free of charge for residents of Rome — and the same applies in reverse.
For decades, a reciprocal agreement has allowed Parisians to enjoy free entry to numerous museums in Rome, and vice versa for Romans visiting Paris. It’s a quiet but tangible benefit of the official partnership between these two capitals. Here’s everything you need to know! [Read more]