The Place de la Concorde kicks off its transformation several weeks ahead of the arrival of Pope Leo X. The infrastructure needed for the grand Mass planned for Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM, on the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées, is being installed progressively, with direct consequences for motorists. The Police Prefecture has even issued a specific order, temporarily altering the traffic rules on the square.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Paris: Notre-Dame, the Stade de France, the Champs-Élysées… the full schedule
Notre-Dame, the Stade de France, the Champs-Élysées, the Place de la Concorde… Pope Leo XIV will be in Paris on September 25 and 26, 2026 for a series of religious and official engagements. The programme, public highlights and practical information: here are the essentials. [Read more]
From Wednesday, September 2 at 10 p.m. until September 16 at 10 p.m., the central median on Place de la Concorde will be inaccessible. In particular, crossing the square from south to north will no longer be possible. To bypass the closure, drivers should use the Quai des Tuileries. Other traffic remains as directed by the Police Prefecture's established routes.
This initial setup keeps several routes around the square open, but it’s only the beginning of the plan. Restrictions are expected to tighten considerably as the papal visit approaches.
A new milestone will be reached on Wednesday, September 16 at 10 p.m. By that time, the area allocated for assembling the infrastructure will be expanded and traffic around Place de la Concorde will be heavily restricted. This second phase is set to run until September 28 at 12 p.m., two days after the main Mass.
The Police Prefecture, however, is lining up detour routes to preserve the main links between the Champs-Élysées, the Madeleine, Rue de Rivoli and the quays of the Seine. At this stage, the precise list of streets that will be closed or subject to restrictions during this period has not yet been released.
The difficulties won't end with the pope's departure. After the celebration, the dismantling of the installations will, in turn, trigger new restrictions from September 28 at 12:00 to October 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM around the Place de la Concorde.
Finally, the City of Paris confirms that security perimeters will be put in place on September 25 and 26 for the visit of Léon XIV. The exact routes, activation times, and any road closures, parking bans or impacts on public transport still need to be detailed by the authorities.
The arrangements are set to evolve further ahead of the pope’s visit. The Police Prefecture’s forthcoming announcements will specify exactly which routes around the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées will be affected during the peak periods on September 25 and 26.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Paris: Notre-Dame, the Stade de France, the Champs-Élysées… the full schedule
