Canada’s “queen of power ballads”, Céline Dion, is set to bring more than just music to Paris’ La Defense Arena – her upcoming shows will also deliver a huge economic boost to the city’s tourism industry.
With 16 concerts scheduled for September and October, Dion’s return to the stage is projected to boost the Parisian economy by between €300 million and €500 million, according to the president of Choose Paris Region, Alexandra Dublanche.
Speaking to AFP, Dublanche said that this includes ticket sales, hotel and restaurant bookings and shopping sprees, with international visitors more likely to dig into their pockets than Parisian natives.
Hotel brand Adagio, whose portfolio includes 10 hotels in Paris’ La Defense district, has seen a 400% increase in bookings, as Booking.com observes a 49% spike in “Paris” searches as the concert tour dates edge closer.
“This will be good for Paris because the capital is currently experiencing a drop in hotel occupancy rates,” due to the unstable international situation, Didier Arino, chief executive at Protourisme, told AFP.
In March, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer confirmed the Celine Dion Paris 2026 tour.
“This year, I’m getting the best birthday gift of my life. I’m getting the chance to see you, to perform for you once again in Paris, beginning in September,” she said in a video posted on social media on her birthday.
“I’m feeling good, I’m strong, I’m feeling excited, obviously a little nervous, but most of all, I’m grateful to all of you.”
Dion, 58, stepped away from the spotlight and took a six-year hiatus after being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome. The rare autoimmune condition causes painful muscle spasms, and in some cases, can progressively become more severe with time.
Initially slated for 10 shows, her camp later announced an additional six dates to her comeback tour, which will run from 12 September to 17 October – featuring her French and English hits.
When stars take the stage, Paris cashes in
Other observers, including MKG analyst Vanguelis Panayotis, say “the Dion effect” could surpass the billion-euro mark.
“The economic benefits could reach €1.2 billion if taking into account transportation, and all the associated expenses and logistics of Dion’s support team as well as fans,” Panayotis said to AFP.
The Grammy-winning singer’s comeback tour comes two years after her live performance at the Olympic Games in the French capital. Dion’s rendition of Hymne à l’amour by French icon Edith Piaf was performed from the balcony of the Eiffel Tower to close the opening ceremony.
Famed as the city of love, Paris has long attracted global stars to its stages, from Michael Jackson’s Bad Tour in the late 1980s and more recently, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
The 2024 Eras Tour, the first to gross $2 billion (€1.7 billion), started its European leg with four dates at the La Defense Arena. Swiftie’s pulling power injected as much as €150 million to €180 million into the Parisian economy, Dublanche told AFP.
This year, big names including Bad Bunny, Raye and hip-hop’s Wu-Tang Clan, are set to perform across the capital’s La Défense and Accord arenas. When Korean sensations BTS announced an upcoming two-date tour in Paris’ Stade de France in July, searches for Parisian hotels spiked by 590%, according to the Hotels.com website.
“This phenomenon is part of a broader trend called ‘gig-tripping’, where the concert becomes the starting point but not the sole reason for booking a trip,” said Vanessa Heydorff, managing director for France at Booking.com.
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