Ok ,this was another best part of the year for many including us. It has diminished with time and losses of dear ones but we try harder for especially my boys, I like to condense several posts into this one with new info for 2026 in this post. And of course, the post will be in my black and white series,no pictures. Therefore, here is my take on New Year’s in France !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
This is 2026, Happy New Year to all my readers and friends. Just want to write about this celebration in my post as a thank you to all for following my humble blog and wishing you the best for 2026 to you and yours. Mine for the last 22 years have been held in the Paris/Versailles region, and now Pluvigner in the Morbihan breton.
The theme for the 2025-2026 pastoral year will be Light. On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate the most important event in history: the 250th anniversary of American independence, and thanks in grand part by France,
The City of Paris invites Parisians and visitors to celebrate the arrival of 2026 on the Champs-Élysées starting at 19h on December 31, 2025. The evening promises magical moments with technical and artistic feats, including a spectacular 3D video mapping projected at 23h50. onto the Arc de Triomphe. This ten-minute show celebrates the many facets of Paris: city, light, romance, and creativity. At midnight, a magnificent fireworks display will light up the Parisian sky to usher in the new year. Giant screens along the avenue guarantee a comfortable experience for everyone. From La Machine du Moulin Rouge to Le Gibus, via Le Duplex, Le Rex Club, and Phantom Paris: everyone’s got the dance bug. Karaoke with friends in a convivial atmosphere until the early hours is also an option! A party with champagne is a must, followed by a coffee, and you’ll easily reach January 1st, 2026, the perfect time to smile and enjoy your first croissant of the year. Your New Year’s resolution about pastries will have to wait…
Another iconic spot for midnight viewing is the Eiffel Tower–Trocadéro area. While there are no fireworks displays launched from the Eiffel Tower itself (reserved for July 14th), the Iron Lady will sparkle brilliantly from midnight onwards, as it does every hour. Many Parisians and visitors enjoy gathering there to admire the spectacle of the illuminations on the metal structure, a glass of champagne in hand.
The Crazy Horse is bringing back its grand New Year’s Eve celebration to ring in 2026 with an evening steeped in Parisian glamour and cabaret. On December 31, 2025, the famous venue in the Champs-Élysées quartier offers several packages for a festive cultural outing centered around its iconic show, Totally Crazy!
The Paradis Latin invites you to a high-end New Year’s Eve 2026 celebration blending cabaret art and haute cuisine. In this historic cabaret founded by Napoleon and rebuilt by Gustave Eiffel, the evening of December 31st will begin at 20h with a gala dinner specially designed by Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy, followed at 22h15 by the modern revue L’Oiseau Paradis, directed by Kamel Ouali. Dancers, singers, acrobats, and shimmering feathers will perform a series of elegant acts and humorous sketches for over an hour. At the stroke of midnight, a grand finale will bring the entire troupe together to celebrate 2026 in style. The party will then continue until 03h00, with a dance floor open to all and unlimited Champagne for guests.
The Rooftop Montmartre Le Coeur Sacré ,5 Rue Saint-Éleuthère 18éme arrondissement ; this event space at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica offers a panoramic New Year’s Eve celebration with breathtaking views of all of Paris. From this historic loft, built during the 1900 Exposition, you can dance under an Art Nouveau glass roof while sipping unlimited champagne (open bar from midnight to 01h00) and enjoying party favors on the outdoor terrace.
On Wednesday, December 31, 2025 from 22h to 05h00 ; come to the biggest Latin New Year’s Eve Party in France in the exceptional and majestic setting of Chalet du Lac,,, An ultra-festive, and muy calienteeeee (very hot) New Year’s Eve party with over 2,000 people expected for an extraordinary evening..You will see/hear.the heat of Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Spain, and Italy for this unique and unforgettable night of pure madness! Chalet du Lac 12éme arrondissement on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes , Avenue de Bel air , Metro line 1 Saint-Mandé station about 5 min walk. The Chalet de Lac on the event : https://chaletdulac-paris.com/fr/actualite-reveillon-de-la-saint-sylvestre
At Wanderlust,32 quai d’Austerlitz, 13éme get there on Gare d’Austerlitz RER C or metro line 6 Quai de la GareOn wednesday December 31 2025 from 22h to 06h00 with Dj’s Vace & Friends (Reggaeton / Latino / Hiphop) RAM PAM PAM, put on your most daring style, get your best twerk ready, and come shake the dance floors of WANDERLUST this New Year’s Eve with the city’s best Latin DJs: DJ Vace & Friends ; Daddy Yankee – J Balvin – Karol G – Bad Bunny – Don Omar – Rosalía – MC Kevinho – Ozuna – Maluma – Nicky Jam – Becky G – Shakira – Wisin y Yandel – CNCO… With a few touches of Hip-Hop & Latin hits! Info directions : https://www.citemodedesign.fr/en/place/wanderlust
And in my new neck of the woods, Vannes we have at the Le Port an unforgettable fireworks show. The harbor provides a stunning backdrop for the display. You’ll see vibrant colors lighting up the night sky, reflecting on the water. It’s a romantic and magical atmosphere. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the ambience with your friends or family. At the Place des Lices square is transforms into a dance floor as local DJs spin the hottest tracks.The sound of music fills the air, making it impossible not to join in. Enjoy the bright lights and colorful decorations surrounding you as the countdown begins. This is the perfect spot to mingle and meet new friends. Don’t forget to grab a glass of bubbly as the clock strikes midnight! The New Year’s Market at Place de la République, a charming market filled with local crafts and unique gifts. You can explore stalls selling handmade items and festive decorations. Plus, enjoy the live music that creates a warm and welcoming vibe. This market truly captures the spirit of Vannes and makes for a delightful stop as you celebrate the new year. Join in the Candlelight Concert at the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre. This beautiful church hosts a unique musical performance lit by candlelight. It’s a perfect way to reflect on the past year before the celebrations kick off. If you want a moment of peace amidst the festivities, this is the place to be. It brings a whole new meaning to celebrating the new year. More info official site in Vannes : https://nouvelan.info/vannes/
New Year’s Eve 2026 at Pavillon Henri IV on Wednesday December 31st in Saint Germain enn Laye. A five-course gourmet dinner, live piano music, and a DJ party starting at 23h30 to ring in the new year. Views of Paris. Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2026 in an exceptional setting at Pavillon Henri IV!, Welcome the new year with elegance and panache! Pavillon Henri IV invites you to a sensational New Year’s Eve celebration experience an unforgettable celebration in this historic establishment, renowned for its chic yet welcoming atmosphere. From 20h30 to 02h00, enjoy breathtaking views of Paris while savoring a truly timeless moment. Your evening will begin at 20h30 with a unique five-course gourmet dinner, accompanied by the soothing ambiance of a live piano. The official Pavillon Henri IV on the event : https://www.pavillonhenri4.fr/fr/actuality/celebrez-le-nouvel-an-2026-au-pavillon-henri-iv.6965.html#backlink:actu-6965
New Year’s Eve 2026 promises to be monumental at Warehouse Nantes on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Get ready for the biggest party in town to celebrate the arrival of 2026. Starting at 23h, Warehouse will transform into a gigantic party venue with XXL decorations, confetti showers, CO2 jets, and an atmosphere that will build until the early hours. Three rooms, three atmospheres, three ways to celebrate the new year: club energy, festive vibes and sonic whirlwinds to satisfy all styles and all audiences. The official Warehouse Nantes on the event : https://www.warehouse-nantes.fr/event/nouvel-an-2026-la-plus-grosse-soiree-a-nantes
A bit of history I like tell us that in the Gregorian calendar , New Year’s Eve (also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day in many countries), the last day of the year, is on 31 December. In many countries, New Year’s Eve is celebrated at evening social gatherings, where many people dance, eat, drink, and watch or light fireworks. Some Christians attend a watchnight service. The celebrations generally go on past midnight into New Year’s Day January 1 New Year is the time or day at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar’s year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner and the 1st day of January is often marked as a National Holiday. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today, New Year occurs on January 1 as New Year’s Day. This was also the first day of the year in the original Julian calendar and of the Roman calendar after 153 BC. During the Middle Ages in western Europe, while the Julian calendar was still in use, authorities moved New Year’s Day, depending upon locale, to one of several other days, including March 1, March 25, Easter, September 1, and December 25. Beginning in 1582, the adoption of the Gregorian calendar has meant that many national or local dates in the Western World and beyond have changed to using one fixed date for New Year’s Day, January 1. During the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire years beginning on the date on which each consul first entered the office. This was probably May 1 before 222 BC, March 15 from 222 BC to 154 BC, and January 1 from 153 BC.
Other cultures observe their traditional or religious New Year’s Day according to their own customs, sometimes in addition to a (Gregorian) civil calendar. The official dates in some countries were Holy Roman Empire (Germany) 1544 .Spain, Portugal, Poland 1556. France (edit of Roussillon) 1564. Great Britain (Ireland, British empire) 1752, Scotland 1600. In my current adopted country of France, New Year’s Eve (la Saint-Sylvestre) is usually celebrated with a feast, le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. This feast customarily includes special dishes including foie gras, seafood such as oysters, and Champagne (plenty of it!). The celebration can be a simple, intimate dinner with friends and family or, une soirée dansante, (dancing night away) a much fancier ball. On New Year’s Day friends and family exchange New Year’s resolutions, kisses, and wishes. We are all alone out west so will have my 3 sons and our dog borador Rex. Some people eat ice cream, actually we do eat logs or Bûches of different flavors. The holiday period ends on 6 January with the celebration of Epiphany (the 3 wise kings brings gift to the child Jesus and we get our gifts on this day in Spain). A traditional type of flat pastry cake, la galette des rois, made of two sheets of puff pastry, filled with frangipane (almond paste) is eaten; nowdays we have in chocolate, raspberries flavors too . The cake contains a fève, a small china doll (can be of different characters) ; whomever finds it becomes king or queen and gets to wear a gold paper crown and choose his or her partner. This tradition starts nowdays practically right after Christmas on December 25 and go on to January 6.
The Paris tourist office on the New Year festivities : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/new-year-in-paris-let-s-bring-in-the-new-year-a1007
The Réveillon or New Year Paris site on more events :https://www.newyearseve.paris/en-new-year-2026-in-paris,13.html
There you go folks, a sampler,looking forward to 2026, and hope things will be better for all of us. The period is special and hope it continues to be this year. Best wishes and Happy New Year, Bonne année, Féliz Año Nuevo ,and Feliz Ano Novo for all. Again, hope you have enjoy this post on New Year’s in France !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 