Paris Tropical Carnival 2026 on the Champs-Élysées: date and schedule

The Paris Tropical Carnival 2026 returns to the Champs-Élysées on Sunday, July 5, 2026, for another festive edition that showcases the cultures of the overseas territories and cultures from around the world. Free admission, open to all.

The Carnaval Tropical de Paris is back in the capital for another colorful edition. It will take place on Sunday, July 5, 2026, on the world's most famous avenue, as the Overseas territories and cultures from around the globe take over the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement. The carnival parade runs from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and access is entirely free, of course.

What is the Paris Tropical Carnival?

Organized by the City of Paris in collaboration with the Federation of the Tropical Carnival of Paris, this event, launched in 2001, draws nearly 200,000 spectators each year along its route. What sets it apart is the sheer diversity of participating groups: associations from across Île-de-France, but also the Antilles (Guadeloupe, Martinique), from Réunion, from Guyane, and from much farther afield countries like Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, or Haiti. Each troupe hits the street with its costumes, its choreographies and traditional rhythms, from Gwo Ka to samba, including bèlè and the drums of Guyana.

What is the route for the 2026 parade?

The procession will begin at the foot of the Champs-Élysées, on the side of Place de la Concorde, before winding up to the George V station and then descending again along the Winston Churchill Avenue, between the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. It is here that each group appears before the jury to compete for the prestigious Grand Prix Ville de Paris, as well as in three other artistic and cultural categories.

What took pride of place in previous years?

In 2025, as it marked its 25th anniversary, the Tropical Carnival spotlighted the theme "Amazonies," tying in with the saison culturelle Brésil-France and the summer program "Paris en Seine." The edition offered a vibrant exploration of Amazonian cultures through dances, costumes and traditional music, even as a few showers failed to dampen the participants’ energy.

For 2026, the theme hasn’t been announced yet, but the event is already on the calendar for anyone who loves festive, multicultural, and free celebrations in the heart of Paris. To stay informed about the program and the participating groups, you can follow the official Federation site and the Paris City Hall page.

Who is the Tropical Carnival of Paris for?

This is an event for everyone: with family, with friends, solo, or in a group. Kids revel in the colors and music, lovers of world cultures will find plenty to enjoy, and curious passersby in the capital will stumble upon one of the liveliest parades of Parisian summers. It’s easy to reach from the metro stations Champs-Élysées-Clémenceau (lines 1 and 13), Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9) or George V (line 1).

To uncover more festive parades and processions in Paris and Île-de-France, we invite you to consult our calendrier 2026 des carnavals et défilés. And if you’d like to extend your stroll through the neighborhood, the Grand Palais and its exhibitions are just around the corner, as are the Tuileries Gardens on the Concorde side.