Every 31 December, Paris welcomes the New Year on the Champs-Élysées, and at the last edition the celebration included fireworks around the Arc de Triomphe. In 2026, New Year’s Eve falls on a Thursday. From the Hôtel R de Paris, a 4★ boutique hotel in the heart of the 9th arrondissement, you can reach the Champs-Élysées by metro and then on foot, as long as you plan for station closures. Our team has gathered here the official benchmarks from the last edition (times, access, transport, perimeter) and flags what is still to be confirmed for the night of 31 December 2026 to 1 January 2027: the programme has not been published yet. It is expected in December (Île-de-France Mobilités updates its page every year in December); announcements from the Ville de Paris and the Préfecture de police are expected closer to the evening.
Before you set off, always check the latest instructions (security, traffic) published by the Ville de Paris and the Préfecture de police. After the show, come back to the comfort of an elegant cocoon.
The next day, unwind in our wellness area.
Times & programme
Public access: opening time on 31 December 2026 to be confirmed; at the last edition, access opened at 19h on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées (Étoile → Concorde), and the Ville de Paris advised arriving before 21h. Mapping & fireworks: last year, a video mapping projected onto the Arc de Triomphe at 23h50 preceded the fireworks, set off at midnight; the official evening wrapped up around 0h20. The 2026 programme is expected closer to the evening. Official details.
Access & perimeter on 31 December
Pedestrian access to the avenue is supervised, open to all and needs no booking; it was free at the last edition (free access in 2026 subject to confirmation). Last year, the public came in through 14 filtered entry points; travel light and avoid bulky items. The perimeter and the bans are set by the Préfecture de police ahead of the evening: last year, traffic and parking were restricted in the 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements, with zone-by-zone access from 15h; among the items banned at the last edition: glass, alcohol, bicycles, scooters. For 31 December 2026, check the orders closer to the evening (subject to confirmation). Orders & guidelines.
Metro & RER on the night of 31 December → 1 January
Early station closures around the avenue were announced last year; the 2026 list has not been published yet. At the last edition: Charles de Gaulle-Étoile and Argentine from 14h; George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau, Concorde, Tuileries, Kléber, Boissière, Saint-Philippe du Roule and Iéna from 16h, with Étoile, Kléber, George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Concorde reopening around 1h. To reach or leave the area, favour stations further away (Alma-Marceau, Miromesnil, Madeleine…), to be checked against the list for the year, and walk. Full list & updates.
Extra service & free travel:
for the night of 31 December 2026, neither free travel nor night service has been announced yet. Last year, public transport in Île-de-France was
free from 17h on 31 December to 12h on 1 January (excluding airport zones), with all-night service on metro lines
1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 14, RER A, B, C, D and E, Transilien lines H, J, L, N, P and R (Melun-Montereau branch) and tram T4; night buses ran as on a weekend night.
The 2026 list and map of all-night lines (and branch details) are expected in December on
the official Île-de-France Mobilités “Nuit du 31 décembre” page
, updated every year.
Where to stand for the best view
- Arc de Triomphe (near Étoile): a head-on view of the Arc and the sky if the show stays centred there, as last year; arriving very early is recommended.
- George V → Franklin D. Roosevelt stretch: clear perspective on the Arc, with side areas to step away from the crowd; note that George V and Franklin D. Roosevelt stations were closed from 16h last year.
- Towards Concorde: more space but a more distant view; check which routes are open as the evening goes on (Concorde and Champs-Élysées-Clemenceau stations were closed from 16h last year).
Concierge tip: pick a fixed point (building, kiosk) as a meeting landmark and set a rendezvous point away from the flow for after the show.
Essential information to remember
- Concerts & shows on the avenue: 2026 programme not announced. Last year, no concert had been announced on the avenue: only the mapping and the fireworks, set to music. Official announcement.
- Official times: to be confirmed for 2026; at the last edition, public access from 19h and finale around 0h20 (Ville de Paris).
From Hôtel R de Paris: simple routes
Two simple options, to adapt to the announced closures: from Saint-Lazare station, a 7-minute walk from the hotel, line 14 → Madeleine then walk towards Concorde (line 14 ran all night last year); or line 13 → Miromesnil, direct from Place de Clichy, Liège or Saint-Lazare, then walk. On the way back, choose a station away from the avenue and wait a few minutes to avoid the peaks in the crowd; as a handy landmark, line 2, which serves Place de Clichy very close to the hotel, was among the lines running all night last year.
Quick FAQ
- Price: free and open access at the last edition (subject to confirmation for 2026).
- Weather: warm layers, windbreaker, gloves; the crowd is dense and the wait long.
- With children: come early, stay on the pavements, bring ear protection; the Ville de Paris advised against pushchairs last year.
- Safety: follow the instructions of the police and security forces; detailed restrictions are published by the Préfecture de police, to be checked in its orders (subject to confirmation).
