No one dares talk about it openly yet, superstition at play. But the broad strokes of the celebration planned for Sunday, May 31, should PSG beat Arsenal in the Champions League final, are now known. A technical plan has leaked, and a final meeting among all stakeholders (the club, the Prefecture of Police, the City of Paris, and the mayors of the arrondissements) is still on the agenda for this Thursday afternoon to finalise the details. The public celebration will take place at the Champ de Mars, in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, with between 80,000 and 100,000 supporters expected.
Unlike last year and its double-decker buses on the Champs-Élysées, this time Luis Enrique’s players would present themselves on foot before their supporters, in a procession that, in its formality, almost recalls a fashion show. According to a plan published by the residents’ association Les Amis du Champ-de-Mars and confirmed by Le Parisien, Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos, Désiré Doué and their teammates would enter from the Joffre plateau, at the level of the Ecole militaire, as well as via the Avenue Risler.
From there, they would move back toward the Eiffel Tower, with spectators flanking them on both sides, before stopping in the center of the park at Rueff Square. A large stage equipped with a pyrotechnics area would be set up for the trophy presentation. Behind the players, the Iron Lady would serve as a backdrop—a powerful image designed to travel the world, and one that largely explains PSG’s interest in this site. The club would be the event organizer, in liaison with the Prefecture and the City of Paris.
The timing of the celebration is not yet confirmed. Last year, the Champs-Élysées parade began at 5 p.m.
Enthusiasm is not universal. At the 7th arrondissement town hall, led by Rachida Dati (LR), officials openly regret the choice and, above all, that they weren’t included in the early discussions. The mayor’s teams are concerned about the lawn areas of the Champ-de-Mars, recently refurbished at a cost of 300,000 euros, as well as the park’s street furniture (guignol theatre, old carousel, children’s playground).
“Le Champ-de-Mars is not just a last-minute, replaceable event space: it’s a living area, a site of historical heritage, and a populated neighborhood,” the municipal team said in a statement released this Thursday. The residents' association, for its part, is calling for the deployment of the strongest police resources to oversee the event.
The question of potential disturbances remains unresolved. Frédéric Péchenard, in remarks reported by Le Parisien, warned of risks of looting and clashes on the margins of the celebrations. The Préfecture de police announced a strengthened security deployment in Paris and its inner suburbs, extended to public transport and to the usual gathering spots.
The parade in front of the Eiffel Tower would be only the opening act. As last year, a celebration at Parc des Princes in the 16th arrondissement, in the evening, with the club’s supporters, is being considered. Nothing is official yet, but inside the club there are hints that the two events could run in tandem. A stop at the Élysée to present the trophy to Emmanuel Macron, as in 2025, isn’t off the table in the day’s itinerary.
In the meantime, the capital is getting ready. The tour Eiffel will be lit in red and blue from Friday evening, May 29, until midnight, then will sparkle on Saturday at 5:45 p.m., as the players take the field at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna. One hundred and fifty illuminated panels around Paris will display supporters’ messages starting Wednesday, May 27, via the City’s website.
To watch the match in a group setting, PSG is hosting an official screening at the Parc des Princes for 48,000 spectators. The PSG - Arsenal final will be shown free-to-air on M6 (with M6+ streaming), kickoff at 6:00 PM, and also on Canal+ for subscribers.
On the transport front, traffic will be banned in the Champs-Élysées area from 5 p.m. Saturday, with several metro stations (George V, Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Concorde, etc.) potentially shut in the evening depending on the Prefecture's decisions. Note as well that the Grand Palais will close early this Saturday, May 30, for security reasons.
Warning: the celebration parade remains contingent on PSG’s victory on Saturday night and on the absence of major disturbances in the capital. No official confirmation had been issued by the club at the time this article was written.
Location
Pelouse du Champs de Mars
Champ de Mars
75007 Paris 7
Access
Metro Bir Hakeim
Prices
Free
