Céline Dion arrives in Paris ahead of comeback residency

Céline Dion arrives in Paris ahead of comeback residency

Canadian singer Céline Dion has arrived in Paris, two weeks ahead of the start of her sold-out comeback concerts in the French capital. She headed to the Royal Monceau luxury hotel near the Champs-Élysées, where a crowd of admirers gathered behind security barriers, cheering and shouting "Céline, we love you!"

Speaking to BFM TV, Dion said, "I’ve always felt supported from day one and it’s a story that keeps going." Wearing black sunglasses and a beige trench coat, she added to fans, "It’s true that this is my second home. I appreciate that you’re here, thank you very much."

Fans who saw her described her as "in better shape", "relaxed" and "as beautiful as ever", saying they were "very happy" to see her up close. The 58-year-old waved, blew kisses and briefly stopped to greet the crowd. When asked what song she would open the concerts with, she kept the choice secret.

Return to the stage

Dion announced in March that she would give 16 concerts in the French capital starting in September and October, after a lengthy break prompted by health problems. Her last full concerts were in 2020. The announcement prompted a furious scramble for tickets not seen since Taylor Swift's The Eras tour in 2024.

The Paris residency marks her return to a major concert run after she cancelled her Courage World Tour following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder she revealed publicly in 2022. She was also forced to cancel her last tour dates due to the Covid pandemic and ill health.

The concerts will be held at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, formerly known as Paris La Défense Arena, which can accommodate up to 40,000 spectators. The 2026-2027 residency will feature 16 shows in September and October, followed by a further 10 concerts in May 2027.

Dion last performed in the French capital in 2024, when she sang "Hymne à l’amour" at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Her performance later became the subject of speculation about whether she had sung or lip-synched.