On Tuesday, Le Parisien presented the program planned by the Paris City Hall for the New Year’s Eve celebrations on the Champs-Élysées this Wednesday. Among the guests is Ousmane Dembélé, the 28-year-old striker for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. He will be honored for his 2025 Ballon d’Or, as will PSG for its achievements this year.
Starting at 11:50 p.m., spectators will be drawn to the Arc de Triomphe to admire a giant video mapping display, accompanied by a musical composition by Ena Eno and André Manoukian.
Several lighthearted moments will punctuate the evening. One display will pay tribute to the 70th anniversary of the twinning between Paris and Rome, celebrated in 2026. Parisian sports will also be featured, with references to the “historic year” achieved by Paris Saint-Germain. Specifically, a tribute to Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, is planned.
At the stroke of midnight, the traditional fireworks display, the largest in Europe, will begin. The all-female playlist will highlight current hits, with a nod to Italy. The show will end with John Lennon’s “Imagine,” to kick off 2026 “in a spirit of peace, hope, and brotherhood.” The event will be broadcast live on France 2.
A great program, then, with PSG having earned their place after an exceptional year. Dembélé too, with a Ballon d’Or that makes French football proud. It’s just a small thing, but it’s always good for the Parisian club to be recognized for its achievements. All this in the middle of an evening that we hope will be purely festive, without any incidents or disturbances.
