Paris has moved its 2026 national day fireworks from Tuesday, July 14, to Monday, July 13, changing both the celebration schedule and access to the Eiffel Tower. The monument will close to visitors all day on July 13 for concert, drone and pyrotechnic preparations, then reopen on July 14, when the traditional military parade remains scheduled on the Champs Elysees.
The change creates two separate traveler decisions. Anyone holding a July 13 tower ticket should expect an automatic cancellation and refund, while anyone planning to attend the evening celebration needs to prepare for a 21:00 concert, 23:00 fireworks, security closures around Champ de Mars and Trocadero, and nearby Metro and RER stations that stop serving passengers from 18:00.
- Fireworks date: Paris will hold the national day fireworks on Monday, July 13, 2026, not July 14.
- Tower closure: The Eiffel Tower will close to visitors all day on July 13 and reopen on July 14.
- Ticket action: Existing July 13 tower tickets are being canceled and refunded automatically.
- Evening schedule: The Concert de Paris begins at 21:00 and the fireworks begin at 23:00.
- Security perimeter: Private access points to Champ de Mars close from 14:00 July 13 until 07:00 July 14.
- Transit impact: Multiple nearby Metro and RER stations will not serve passengers from 18:00 on July 13.
What changed for July 13 and July 14
The City of Paris confirmed the calendar change in an update dated July 10. The concert and fireworks moved one day earlier so July 14 can center on the national commemoration marking ten years since the attack in Nice, while the military parade still takes place on its normal date.
This is not simply a new start time for the same evening. Travelers who built a July 14 itinerary around the Eiffel Tower fireworks now need to separate the celebration into two days: the public concert and fireworks on July 13, followed by the parade and the reopened Eiffel Tower on July 14.
The official Eiffel Tower notice says the monument closes on July 13 because crews need the site for the pyrotechnic and drone production. The tower had originally expected to close on July 14, so its reopening that day creates a replacement visit opportunity for travelers who can adjust their schedule.
People who already booked tower admission for July 13 do not need to file a separate refund request under the published plan. The Eiffel Tower says its customer service team is contacting those visitors by email, canceling their tickets and issuing refunds automatically, so the most important first step is checking the booking inbox and payment method.
Tickets for July 14 are a separate matter rather than an automatic exchange. The tower says those tickets will be released later, which means a refunded July 13 visitor should not assume a replacement reservation has been created and should monitor the official ticket channel if visiting on the reopened day is essential.
How the evening schedule works
The Concert de Paris begins at 21:00 at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, followed by the fireworks at 23:00. The official Paris tourism office says the fireworks last about 20 minutes, so a traveler attending both elements should treat the plan as a long evening within a controlled public area rather than a quick monument stop.
The 2026 production includes 1,600 drones, more than 120 firing stations and a series of themed scenes, according to the tourism office. That scale explains why the tower must remain closed during the day and why views, crowd movement and transit access are being managed well beyond the exact 20 minute fireworks window.
Champ de Mars and Trocadero are the official free viewing areas named by Paris, but free access does not mean ordinary access. The city says private entrances to Champ de Mars close from 14:00 on July 13 until 07:00 on July 14, and part of the Trocadero gardens is inaccessible from the morning of July 11 through 18:00 on July 14.
Those closures matter before the event as well as after it. A daytime traveler cannot use the Eiffel Tower as a normal sightseeing anchor on July 13, and someone walking through the area may encounter barriers or redirected routes hours before the concert begins, even if the intended activity has nothing to do with the fireworks.
Transit restrictions around the Eiffel Tower
RATP lists special service changes for the July 13 celebration, including stations that will not be served from 18:00 because of police security measures. The affected area reaches beyond the closest stop, so travelers should check the entire route and choose an exit that remains open rather than relying on a familiar station name.
The published closure list includes Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel, Pont de l’Alma, Bir Hakeim, Passy, Trocadero, Ecole Militaire and Alma Marceau, along with several other stations on nearby lines. A train may continue through an affected station without allowing passengers to enter or leave, which is different from the entire line being suspended.
That distinction can create a last mile problem for anyone who arrives after 18:00. A route planner may show trains operating across Paris, but the chosen station can still be closed to passengers, requiring a longer walk from outside the security perimeter and more time to pass through crowd controls.
RER B also has planned late evening work on July 13 affecting the airport corridor after 22:45. Travelers connecting through Charles de Gaulle after the fireworks should check the live RATP plan again, because the event station closures and the separate works can combine into a more complicated trip than either notice suggests alone.
Visitors arriving from the airport earlier in the day can use Deep Arrival’s CDG Airport to Eiffel Tower guide to compare transfer choices, but the live event controls decide the final approach on July 13. A normal transfer route should be adjusted around the tower closure, the 18:00 station restrictions and any luggage storage needs.
What ticket holders should do now
Start with the email address used for the Eiffel Tower booking and look for a cancellation notice, refund confirmation or request for additional action. Keep the original order number until the refund appears, and avoid purchasing a replacement from an unofficial seller while the tower is still controlling the July 14 ticket release.
If July 14 works, build the replacement visit around the parade and crowd conditions rather than treating it as an ordinary Tuesday. The tower is scheduled to open, but central Paris will still be operating under a national holiday plan, and the continued closure of part of the Trocadero gardens through 18:00 may affect the most direct pedestrian approach.
If July 14 does not work, the automatic refund protects the admission cost but does not automatically cover a hotel, restaurant, tour or transport booked around the original tower slot. Travelers should contact each supplier directly, state that the monument closed for event preparation, and ask which change or cancellation terms apply to that separate reservation.
Anyone attending the fireworks should decide in advance whether the main goal is the concert, the official viewing area or a more distant skyline view. Moving between those options late in the evening may be difficult once the controlled perimeter fills and nearby stations stop serving passengers.
How to plan the return journey
The fireworks are scheduled to end around 23:20, placing a large crowd into the transport network at once. Travelers should choose a return station outside the published closure area, save an offline map, and identify a second route that does not depend on crossing Champ de Mars or Trocadero after the show.
Families, travelers with limited mobility and anyone carrying luggage should be especially conservative about walking distance. A station that looks close on a map may be unavailable, crowded or reachable only through a controlled approach, so assistance needs and accessible entrances should be checked before joining the evening crowd.
Rideshare and taxi pickup points can also shift when roads near a major security event are restricted. A confirmed car does not guarantee access to the desired curb, so arrange a pickup outside the core perimeter, share the exact meeting point with the driver and leave enough battery power for late evening communication.
Travelers who prefer to avoid the center can watch the live broadcast on France 2 or the France.tv platform, according to the official tourism office. That option preserves the July 13 schedule without requiring a late return through the security zone, and it is the lowest risk choice for anyone with an early airport or rail departure on July 14.
| If this describes you | Best next move | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You hold a July 13 tower ticket | Check email and confirm the automatic refund | The tower is closed all day and is canceling those bookings |
| You can visit on July 14 | Monitor the official ticket release | The tower reopens, but replacement admission is not automatic |
| You want the concert and fireworks | Arrive before station restrictions and plan an outside return stop | Nearby stations stop serving passengers from 18:00 |
| You have an early July 14 departure | Watch the official broadcast instead | The show ends late and crowd dispersal can complicate airport or rail timing |
- Move the tower visit: Treat July 13 as unavailable and seek official July 14 admission only when released.
- Verify the refund: Keep the order number until the automatic repayment reaches the original payment method.
- Separate the dates: Attend the concert and fireworks on July 13, while the military parade remains July 14.
- Check live transit: Choose stations outside the security closure list and recheck RATP before departure.
- Plan the walk: Expect barriers around Champ de Mars and part of the Trocadero gardens before and after the show.
- Protect onward travel: Use the broadcast option when a late crowd exit threatens a July 14 flight or train.
Is the Eiffel Tower closed on July 13, 2026?
Yes. The official tower notice says the monument is closed to visitors all day on July 13 for fireworks and drone show preparations.
What happens to an existing July 13 Eiffel Tower ticket?
The tower says those tickets are being canceled and refunded automatically, with affected visitors contacted by email.
When do the Paris fireworks begin in 2026?
The fireworks begin at 23:00 on Monday, July 13, following the Concert de Paris at 21:00.
Is the July 14 military parade also moving?
No. Paris says the military parade remains scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, July 14, on the Champs Elysees.
