Fête du Printemps lights up the Champs-Élysées

On February 2, 2025, the Champs-Élysées avenue will be transformed into a veritable tableau vivant in the colors of China, celebrating the Spring Festival with a grand and festive parade.

A colorful cultural show

From 3pm onwards, Hanfu, those sumptuous traditional Chinese costumes, will invade the most beautiful avenue in the world for a magical stroll from Fouquet’s Paris to the top of the avenue, near the Arc de Triomphe. This event, supported for the third year running by Groupe Barrière, is part of a drive to open up Paris to the cultures of the world, in a festive and convivial atmosphere.

The choice of this date is not insignificant: after the Réveillon du 31 décembre, which attracted over a million visitors, and the impressive 1,2,3… Soleil, an event that captured international attention, this new celebration promises to fill Parisians and tourists with wonder once again.

Breathtaking traditional performance

The event will feature two flagship events:

• The “Ying Ge” dance, a 300-year-old Chinese tradition from the cities of Puning and Chaoyang. Symbolizing good fortune and peace, this dance will feature 28 professional dancers, dressed in warrior costumes and sporting unique facial masks. Movements will be set to the rhythm of traditional drums and horns, illustrating symbolic formations such as the “Double Dragon Emerging from the Sea” or the “Tiger Descending from the Mountain”.
• The Dance of the Lions, where more than 15 brightly-decorated lions come to life under the precise gestures of expert martial artists. To the sound of gongs, cymbals and drums, these mythical felines will perform spectacular acrobatics designed to ward off evil spirits and attract prosperity.

In all, more than 300 artists will entertain the public on this exceptional day, immersing them in a magical atmosphere.

A celebration of sharing and cultural exchange

As Marc-Antoine Jamet, President of the Comité Champs-Élysées, points out:

“Celebrating Spring Festival on the Champs-Élysées illustrates both its international dimension and its openness to the world (…) It’s a privileged moment to forge bonds of friendship between peoples and discover the richness of a thousand-year-old tradition.”

For her part, Jeanne d’Hauteserre, Mayor of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, insists on the magic of the moment:

“We welcome the Chinese New Year festivities with wonder. (…) May this avenue, a symbol of Parisian elegance, shine under the signs of the dragon and the tiger, guiding us towards a year full of promise and dreams fulfilled.”

The parade is part of a wider program of Chinese New Year festivities in Paris. A week later, on Sunday February 9, the traditional 13th arrondissement parade completes the celebration, offering Parisians a second weekend of festivities.

A New Year under the sign of the Wood Snake

The year 2025 will be under the influence of the Wood Snake, a powerful symbol ofelegance, wisdom and transformation. To mark this new milestone, the parade of dragons and lions will resound to the sounds of percussion, perpetuating an age-old tradition aimed at attracting good fortune and warding off evil spirits.

Groupe Barrière, the main organizer of the event, stresses the importance of this meeting between Chinese and French cultures. Julien Huel, Managing Director of Hotels and Restaurants for the group, emphasizes:

“This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity for sharing and exchange. We’re thrilled to be able to offer a unique event that combines French tradition and international openness.”

In the same spirit, Ms Zhang Haomiao, Director of theChina Tourism Office in Paris, reminds us that :

“The organization of this celebration on the Champs-Élysées marks a key moment for bringing the Chinese New Year to an international audience and strengthening cultural exchanges and friendly ties between China and France.”

Practical information

📅 Date: Sunday, February 2, 2025
🕒 Time: Parade starts at 3 p.m.
📍 Departure point: Fouquet’s Paris, 99 avenue des Champs-Élysées
🚇 Access: Metro George V or Charles de Gaulle-Étoile
🎟️ Event free and open to all

Also read: Chinese New Year at the Shangri-La Paris: the snake is elegant