The Arc de Triomphe is the focal point of Paris’s New Year’s Eve light show and midnight celebration.
Paris traditionally gathers spectators along the Champs-Élysées and around the Arc de Triomphe for projections, illumination, and a midnight countdown. In recent celebrations, the monument has been used as a giant screen for animated or symbolic images before fireworks or pyrotechnic effects mark the new year.
The Arc de Triomphe stands at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle. Napoleon commissioned it after the Battle of Austerlitz, and it was completed in 1836, long before its modern role in New Year festivities.
The Eiffel Tower is also strongly associated with Paris at night, which makes it a common mix-up. However, the official New Year’s Eve projection and countdown focus on the Arc de Triomphe.