Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 are the most famous and anticipated holiday illuminations in the world. As of November 16, these legendary lights are now shining brightly for the 2025 holiday season. For any visitor to Paris, seeing the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 is an essential and magical experience.

But what is the story behind this iconic display? Is it as old as the city itself? What is the best way to see them?

Here is your complete, in-depth guide to the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025, with practical tips, dates, and the unique history you won’t find anywhere else.

What to Know About the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 Celebration

The Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 are a massive event. Over 400 trees are decorated with shimmering garlands, creating a breathtaking spectacle that stretches 2.2 kilometers from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

Dates: The Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 will run from November 16, 2025, until early January 2026.

Times: The lights are turned on each evening from 5:00 PM until 2:00 AM.

Special Nights: On December 24th and December 31st, the lights will be left on all night long.

The launch of the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 was kicked off by a celebrity Léa Seydoux and Canadian singer Charlotte Cardin and the lights will now run every evening until early January 2026.

The “Hidden History” of the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights

While you are enjoying the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025, you are walking through history. Here are the facts other guides miss:

A New Tradition: This tradition is younger than you’d think. The first modern Champs Elysees Christmas Lights only began in 1959.
The “Blue Light” Secret: The original 1959 illuminations were not white or gold. A little-known fact is that the lights were a striking, experimental blue!
From Swamp to Splendor: Before it was the world’s most beautiful avenue, the Champs-Élysées was a swampy, undesirable field. It took centuries to transform it into the grand avenue you see today, making the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 a celebration of that massive transformation.

From Swamp to Splendor Before it was the world’s most beautiful avenue, the Champs-Élysées was a swampy, undesirable field outside the city walls. In the 17th century, it was a muddy path known as the “Grand Cours.” It took centuries of planning, first by royalty and later by Baron Haussmann, to transform it into the grand, tree-lined avenue you see today. The Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 are a celebration of that massive, 300-year transformation.

A Surprisingly New Tradition This tradition is much younger than you’d think. While Paris has had holiday lights for over a century, the first modern Champs Elysees Christmas Lights only began in 1959.

The “Blue Light” Secret The original 1959 illuminations were not the warm white or gold you see today. A little-known fact is that the lights were a striking, experimental blue! It was a bold, futuristic look for its time. The Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 follow a long line of different artistic designs, from classic white to the fiery red “flame” design used in previous years.

How to Get the Best Experience

Seeing the Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 is easy, but getting the best experience requires a small plan.

Best Time to Go: To get the best photos, go on a weekday evening, right after the lights turn on at 5:00 PM. The crowds are much smaller than on weekends.
Best Photo Spot: Do not try to take a photo from the sidewalk. Walk to the top of the avenue, near the Arc de Triomphe. Stand on the wide, central pedestrian median and look down the avenue toward the Place de la Concorde. This is the “money shot.”
Pro Tip: For a truly magical view, consider buying a ticket to climb the Arc de Triomphe. From the top, you have a stunning, god-like view looking down on the entire illuminated avenue.
Make it a Full Evening: Don’t just walk the avenue. The Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 are part of a larger holiday market. Explore the “Marché de Noël” (Christmas Market) in the Tuileries Garden, which starts at the bottom of the avenue at Place de la Concorde.

The Champs Elysees Christmas Lights 2025 are just one part of the city’s holiday magic. For a complete schedule of all the illuminations, including Place Vendôme and Boulevard Haussmann, see our 2025 Paris Christmas Lights Calendar & Guide.