Celine Dion Returns to the Stage in Paris After Four-Year Break
Celine Dion opened her Paris concert series at Plenitude Arena, her first performances since 2022, drawing fans from around the world.
Tens of thousands of fans converged on the Plenitude Arena in Paris on Saturday for the opening night of Celine Dion's long-awaited return to live performance, her first concerts since 2022.
The 58-year-old singer is scheduled to play 16 shows across September and October, with another 10 dates lined up for next May under the banner "Celine Dion Paris 2026-2027." The setlist draws on her catalogue of English and French hits.
The residency marks a significant milestone for Dion, who stepped back from touring after revealing her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome. She had cancelled her Courage World Tour as the condition progressed.
Her only major appearance in recent years came at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, when she performed "Hymne à l'amour" from the Eiffel Tower in the rain. The Plenitude Arena, which seats 40,000, was among the venues used during those Games.
Outside the arena, crowds sang her songs while waiting to enter. Tatu Mansano, who travelled from Brazil for the concert, said she and fellow fans had followed Dion since the 1990s and had feared she might retire. "We thought she was going to retire because she was so ill for a few months a few years ago, but now she's here and we are here to see her," Mansano said.
Leonie Costa, a fan from Paris, described the difficulty of securing tickets through the draws. "First, we were stressed. We signed up for the draws and then, with difficulty, we managed to get tickets. And I will go three times to see her so I am very lucky," she said.
Nissrine Kassase said she admired Dion's resilience. "I think it's great that Céline was able to recover, feel better and really find herself in this situation," she said. "She's giving us a few more days of happiness."
Others pointed to the enduring appeal of her voice. "I feel like just the voice is the voice of a generation. No one else comes close," said Brandon Shaw, while fellow fan Zirone Mackenzie called the concert "a once in a lifetime opportunity."
With nearly 260 million albums sold worldwide, Dion remains one of the bestselling and most decorated artists in pop music history, known for hits including "My Heart Will Go On" and "Because You Loved Me."