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Events at the Trocadéro

Barriers on the square, a stage, runners on the Pont d'Iéna? The Trocadéro hosts several big events every year. Here are the ones that come back, with their date when it has been announced, and how to plan on those days. We never make up a date: when a programme is not published yet, we say so.

Bastille Day at the Eiffel Tower Where to eat at the Trocadéro
Visitors gathered on the Trocadéro esplanade facing the Eiffel Tower, under a cloudy sky
◉ The Trocadéro esplanade on a busy day Photo: Howard Walsh / Unsplash
In short

The yearly events at the Trocadéro: the Bastille Day fireworks in July (the square is one of the best viewpoints), the start of the 20km de Paris race at the Pont d'Iéna in October (11 October 2026), the European Heritage Days in September, and ceremonies or gatherings on the Parvis des Droits de l'Homme. On 5 September 2026, the French Navy celebrated its 400th anniversary here with a sound and light show.

Fireworks →Métro & access →Where to eat →
Next big event20km de Paris, 11 Oct 2026
JulyBastille Day fireworks
SeptemberHeritage Days
AccessFree square, checks possible

Coming up within 1 km (14 days)

Tueuntil 7:00 pm13 min walk

Premières Nations. Arts et cultures du Nord-Ouest de l’Amérique

Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac

IndoorsBooking required
Wed10:00 am9 min walk

Le savoir en trompe-l’œil. Corée, 18e-20e siècle

Musée Guimet

IndoorsBooking required
Wed11:00 amon the square

François Morellet, traits d'esprit

Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine

IndoorsBooking required
Wed12:00 pm12 min walk

Toi et ta bande. Exposition collective

Palais de Tokyo

IndoorsBooking required
Wed12:00 pm12 min walk

La Source de la Loire et autres films. Rose Lowder

Palais de Tokyo

IndoorsBooking required
Wed12:00 pm12 min walk
Wed12:00 pm12 min walk
Wed12:00 pm12 min walk

Cœur sauvage. Sonia Gomes

Palais de Tokyo

IndoorsBooking required
Thu11:00 am14 min walk
Thu6:30 pm16 min walk

Conférence « NEW TALENTS - Regards d’une nouvelle génération »

Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris

FreeIndoors

City of Paris, « Que faire à Paris » (event titles in French) · ODbL

The calendar of yearly events

The dates below are those announced by the organisers as of 25 September 2026. Later editions will be added as soon as they are published.

WhenWhatAt the Trocadéro
July (Bastille Day)Eiffel Tower concert and fireworksThe esplanade is a major viewpoint. In 2026 the fireworks were moved to 13 July. 2027 programme not yet published.
SeptemberEuropean Heritage DaysVisits in museums and monuments. In 2026: 19 and 20 September.
October20km de Paris (running race)Starts at the Pont d'Iéna, below the Trocadéro. In 2026: Sunday 11 October, 9am start (48th edition).
All yearCeremonies and gatheringsThe Parvis des Droits de l'Homme regularly hosts gatherings. No calendar: follow the Paris police announcements.
31 DecemberNew Year's EveCrowds gather at the Trocadéro to see the Tower at midnight. No fireworks were fired from the Tower last New Year's Eve. 2026-2027 programme not yet published.

Sources: organisers and official pages listed at the bottom of the page. Details for Bastille Day and New Year's Eve on our Eiffel Tower fireworks page.

5 September 2026: the French Navy's 400th anniversary

On Saturday 5 September 2026, the French Navy celebrated its 400th anniversary at the Trocadéro. The programme: a military ceremony commemorating the Battle of the Chesapeake, then a 45-minute sound and light show projected onto the façades of the Palais de Chaillot, open to the public. That day, according to our own site statistics, the Trocadéro was searched on Google about three times more than on a normal day.

The venue was no coincidence: the Palais de Chaillot houses the Musée national de la Marine. A show of this size is exceptional, it does not happen every year.

Why so many events here?

The square has everything big events need: a huge open esplanade, the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, and a long history of ceremonies. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in the Palais de Chaillot in 1948. Since 1985 the esplanade has been called the Parvis des Libertés et des Droits de l'Homme, and it has become a gathering place. The full story is on our History of the Trocadéro page.

On an event day: how to plan

The métro may close
For the July 2026 fireworks, Trocadéro station closed from 6pm at the request of the police. Plan to walk from a station further away: see métro and access.
Security checks
Big events take place behind screening points, with bag searches. Travel light, and arrive early for the best spots.
Book your table
Cafés and restaurants around the square fill up before and after. Book ahead: see Trocadéro restaurants.
To avoid the crowds: a Seine cruise or a table with an Eiffel Tower view is still the most comfortable way to enjoy a big night.

Things to do nearby

This weekend in Paris

What's on this weekend, with travel time from the square.

Discover →

Eiffel Tower fireworks

Bastille Day and New Year's Eve: where to stand, closed stations.

Discover →

Trocadéro restaurants

Where to eat before or after the event.

Discover →

Seine river cruises

See the Tower from the water, away from the crowds.

Discover →

Champ de Mars

The other big party venue, at the foot of the Tower.

Discover →

Getting there

Address
Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116 Paris The Parvis des Droits de l'Homme lies between the two wings of the Palais de Chaillot. View on Google Maps ↗
Getting there
69
Métro Trocadéro (lines 6 and 9), unless closed on big event nights. Fallback: a station outside the area announced by the RATP (on 13 July 2026, Passy, Boissière and Bir-Hakeim were closed too).
Directions
Access
Free square. On event days, access through screening points.

Sources (checked on 25/09/2026): defense.gouv.fr, French Navy 400th (FR), defense.gouv.fr, 20km de Paris 2026 (FR), European Heritage Days (FR), Wikipedia (FR), Parvis des Droits-de-l'Homme. Some links to ticket sites are affiliate links (see Transparency).

Frequently asked questions

What is happening at the Trocadéro today?

We list the yearly events and announced dates here. For an unplanned event on the day (ceremony, gathering), check the Paris police and RATP announcements.

When is the 20km de Paris?

The 48th edition takes place on Sunday 11 October 2026, starting at 9am from the Pont d'Iéna, below the Trocadéro.

What happened at the Trocadéro on 5 September 2026?

The French Navy celebrated its 400th anniversary: a military ceremony, then a 45-minute sound and light show projected onto the façades of the Palais de Chaillot, open to the public.

Can you watch the Bastille Day fireworks from the Trocadéro?

Yes, the esplanade is one of the best viewpoints, facing the Eiffel Tower. Access is free but screened, and Trocadéro station may be closed. In 2026 the fireworks were moved to 13 July.

Are there concerts at the Trocadéro?

There is no outdoor concert season. The big July concert takes place on the Champ de Mars, across the Seine. The Chaillot theatre, inside the palace, stages dance during its season.

A big night at the Trocadéro?

Book a table before the event, or enjoy it from the Seine. Seats with a view go fast.

Bastille Day at the Eiffel Tower Where to eat at the Trocadéro