Eiffel Tower lit in the colors of the USA this Friday, and free activities this weekend

The Eiffel Tower lit in the colors of the United States is the spectacle waiting for Parisians this Friday, July 3, 2026, starting at 11 p.m. The Iron Lady thus kicks off the celebrations of the 250 years of American independence, observed on July 4 across the Atlantic. The City of Paris is rolling out for the occasion a free and open-to-all summer program, concentrated in Paris Centre, the 8th and 16th arrondissements.

The wink is no accident: these celebrations land right between the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Los Angeles 2028 edition. Sport thus holds a premier place in this program, dubbed America 250, alongside photography exhibitions and musical events.

A special lighting display on the Eiffel Tower this Friday, July 3

To kick off the celebrations, the Eiffel Tower will glow in the event’s colors on Friday, July 3 in the evening, from 11 p.m. A moment not to be missed from the Champ de Mars or the Trocadéro, where visitors are advised to arrive a little early to enjoy the 11 p.m. sparkle just before the special illumination goes on.

What sporting events are planned for America 250 in Paris?

The Fourth of July weekend sets the tone with two all-American, free events:

• Flag football initiation: Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Parc Rives de Seine (Paris Centre). Organized with the French American Football Federation, this free session lets you discover the sport, which is making its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028.
• NBA Summer House: July 31 to August 2, 2026, at Palais Brongniart (Paris Centre). The French edition of the event, co-organized by the NBA and the French Basketball Federation, free and available for pre-registration.

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Free exhibitions to discover this summer in Paris

Parisian public space also shifts into American mode, with a series of outdoor exhibitions, all freely accessible:

• "Coney Island": July 4–30, 2026 on the Banks of the Seine, Right Bank. An exhibition paying homage to Brooklyn’s iconic beach.
  
  
• "Urban Beaches: USA": photographs by National Geographic photographers, on display July 4–August 30, 2026 on the Banks of the Seine (Paris Centre).
  
  
• "Paris, USA": July 15–August 30, 2026, on the railings of the City Hall, Paris Centre. A nod to American cities named “Paris.”
  
  
• Paris Match Exhibition: a retrospective celebrating Franco-American friendship through contemporary photography, starting July 1 in the square of Place des États‑Unis (16th), with the U.S. Embassy in France.
  
  
• Aquarelles by Marielle Durand: paintings dedicated to Philadelphia, cradle of American independence, shown alongside the Paris Match exhibition, from July 1, at Place des États‑Unis (16th).

History enthusiasts extend their exploration at the Carnavalet Museum (central Paris) with the exhibition “1776-2026: 250 Years of Franco-American Friendship”, on display free of charge until September 27, 2026 within the permanent collections. It looks at the bonds between Paris and Philadelphia, the first capital of the United States.

A New Orleans brass band at the Carnaval Tropical

The season’s final summer highlight: the Carnaval Tropical de Paris, making its way up the Champs-Élysées (8th arrondissement) on Sunday, July 5, 2026 for its 26th edition. In response to America 250, a brass band from La Nouvelle-Orléans will fire up the second line brass across the avenue, with Cha Wa joined by the New Orleans French Connection. A musical bridge between France and America, from French Louisiana to shared Creole roots.

And to relive the American independence in eighteenth‑century style, head to the Yvelines: the Palace of Versailles is staging a grand historical reenactment on July 4 and 5, 2026 at the Trianon estate, featuring an authentic military camp where French and American forces team up against the British.