Which Paris landmark is the focus of the Champs-Élysées New Year's Eve light show?

The Arc de Triomphe is the focus of the Champs-Élysées New Year's Eve light show in Paris.

Paris's public New Year's Eve celebration centers on the Champs-Élysées avenue and the monumental Arc de Triomphe at its western end. Projected images and a countdown are displayed on or around the monument, followed by celebratory effects at midnight. The gathering gives the avenue a major civic role during the transition into the new year.

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, where twelve avenues meet. Napoleon commissioned it in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz, and it was completed in 1836, long after his reign. The monument honors French military history and contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath its arch.

Paris's Eiffel Tower is the city's most recognizable structure, so it is often incorrectly named as the New Year's Eve projection site. The Eiffel Tower may be visible in celebrations and media coverage, but the Champs-Élysées countdown is centered on the Arc de Triomphe.