Champs-Élysées Christmas lights 2026: switch-on date, times and tips

The Champs-Élysées Christmas lights 2026 will be switched on on Sunday 22 November at 6.30pm, according to the City of Paris. Actress Cate Blanchett will be the guest of honour. Nearly 400 trees along the avenue will stay lit until 4 January 2027. Seeing them is free. Here are the dates, times and practical tips for your visit.

When are the Champs-Élysées Christmas lights switched on in 2026?

The switch-on ceremony is set for Sunday 22 November 2026 at 6.30pm. The date and time appear on the official City of Paris page, updated on 2 November.

Cate Blanchett will press the button alongside the charity Petits Princes. The French band Feu! Chatterton is also on the bill. The guest of honour was announced at a press conference on 28 October.

After that, the avenue stays lit for more than a month. The City says the lights will go off for the season on 4 January 2027.

Champs-Élysées Christmas lights: garlands in the trees of the avenue — Garlands light up the trees of the avenue every evening. Photo: Alonso Navarro / Unsplash

What time are the lights on each day?

According to the City of Paris, the lights come on every day from 5pm. They go off at midnight on weekdays and at 1am at weekends. On the nights of 24 and 31 December, they stay on all night.

Note that another source gives a 1am switch-off every night. If in doubt, rely on the City’s times, as it publishes the official information with the Comité Champs-Élysées, the avenue’s business association.

A light show four times an hour

The website Sortir à Paris describes a sound and light show set to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It runs four times an hour between 5pm and 1am. On 24 and 25 December, the trees turn green and red.

On New Year’s Eve, a new six-minute show is planned, facing the Arc de Triomphe. Between 5pm and midnight, the avenue also sparkles in dialogue with the Eiffel Tower every five minutes.

What will you see along the Champs-Élysées Christmas lights route?

The display covers nearly 400 trees between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. The lighting is 100% LED, which cuts energy use, says the City. The Paris website Le Bonbon mentions 52 kilometres of garlands.

The event opens the festive season in the French capital. Each year it draws Parisians, people from the wider Île-de-France region and visitors from abroad.

The Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Élysées — The Arc de Triomphe closes the view up the avenue. Photo: Dyana Wing So / Unsplash

How much does it cost and how do you get there?

The walk is free and no booking is needed to see the lights from the pavements.

On the evening of the switch-on, the avenue is usually closed to traffic. However, no 2026 traffic plan had been published at the time of writing. Public transport is therefore the best option, and it is worth checking travel updates on the day.

Tips for a good visit

Come on a weekday between 5pm and 7pm to avoid weekend crowds.
Walk up from Place de la Concorde for the best view of the Arc de Triomphe.
Stay a few minutes to catch the light show, which runs four times an hour.
Dress warmly: the walk is about two kilometres long.

Other Christmas events in Paris

A Champs-Élysées Christmas market is also due to open on 22 November, with 200 chalets according to Le Bonbon. For the other markets, see our guide to Paris Christmas markets in 2026.

The La Défense Christmas market is one of the largest in the Paris region. Our French Christmas markets 2026 calendar lists dates across the country.

A tree decorated with fairy lights in Paris — Nearly 400 trees are lit with LEDs. Photo: Ranurte / Unsplash

Why the event matters for Paris

For shops, hotels and restaurants nearby, the switch-on marks the start of a busy period. The choice of 100% LED lighting also reflects a wider push for energy savings by French local authorities.

Paris tourism professionals can share their festive offers on Info Communes, a French app listing local events.

Champs-Élysées Christmas lights: key takeaways

Switch-on on Sunday 22 November 2026 at 6.30pm, with Cate Blanchett.
Lights on until 4 January 2027.
On from 5pm; off at midnight on weekdays and 1am at weekends (City of Paris).
Nearly 400 LED-lit trees and a light show four times an hour.
Free to see; public transport recommended.

Sources: City of Paris (page checked on 5 November 2026), Sortir à Paris, Le Bonbon. Featured photo: Pierre Blaché / Unsplash.