Celine Dion is in Paris. The 58-year-old Quebec singer arrived in the capital on Friday, August 28, exactly two weeks before her highly anticipated return to the stage. After more than six years without a major concert, the star is preparing to reconnect with her fans for an exceptional 16-date residency at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre. This comeback is particularly eagerly awaited after the serious health problems that forced her to put her career on hold.
A highly anticipated arrival at Le Bourget
Celine Dion landed at Le Bourget Airport at midday, aboard a long-haul private jet from Las Vegas, where she has lived for over twenty years. She was accompanied by her three sons, René-Charles, 25, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 15, as well as several members of her professional entourage. The singer then went to the Royal Monceau hotel in Paris's 8th arrondissement, where she is staying during her French residency. Many fans were waiting for her outside the hotel, some having been there since early morning. Upon her arrival around 14 p.m., Celine Dion, dressed in a beige trench coat, black sunglasses, and heels, took a few moments to greet the crowd, blow kisses, and make a heart shape with her hands.
"This is my second home."
Interviewed shortly after her arrival, Céline Dion didn't hide her emotion at the prospect of returning to France and her fans. "I've always felt supported since day one, and it's a story that continues. It truly is my second home. I appreciate you being here, thank you so much ," the singer declared. Just days before her return to the stage, she also admitted to feeling a certain tension. "I'm ready, and I'm a little nervous, of course, because it's been a long time," she confided. One question remains carefully guarded: the song with which she will open her first concert. When asked about it, Céline Dion simply replied, "I can't say, it's a big secret!"
16 concerts between September and October
The first show is scheduled for Saturday, September 12. Céline Dion will perform a total of 16 concerts between September 12 and October 17 at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre. The singer is expected to perform up to three shows per week in front of more than 30,000 spectators per night. Initially, 10 concerts were announced in the spring. The overwhelming demand when tickets went on sale led to the addition of more performances. And the Parisian adventure won't end in October: 10 more concerts are already scheduled for May 2027. The show's production has been entrusted to artistic director Willo Perron. The show is expected to cover Céline Dion's vast French and English repertoire, from " Pour que tu m'aimes encore" to "My Heart Will Go On ," although the final setlist has not yet been released.
His first real return to the stage since 2020
These concerts will have a special significance. Céline Dion hasn't performed a full concert since March 2020. Her Courage World Tour , initially interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, was ultimately never able to resume normally due to her health. In December 2022, the singer revealed she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness and violent spasms. Her struggles led to the cancellation of numerous concerts and her prolonged absence from the stage. Céline Dion later recounted her battle with the disease in the documentary I Am: Celine Dion , released in 2024, which notably showed the extremely serious impact of the illness on her daily life and her ability to sing.
Paris, where Céline Dion had already made her spectacular comeback
Before this new residency, Céline Dion had already given the public an appearance that became one of the defining images of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On July 26, 2024, during the opening ceremony, she performed Édith Piaf's "Hymne à l'amour" from the Eiffel Tower. This performance marked her first major musical comeback after several years away, but it was just one song. Starting September 12, the challenge will be of a completely different magnitude: performing sold-out concerts and repeating the exercise for several weeks.
"I am ready"
When she announced her return to Paris last March, on her 58th birthday, Céline Dion had already demonstrated her determination. "I feel good, I feel strong, I sing a lot, I even do a little dancing ," she explained at the time. She especially summed up the importance of this reunion with one sentence: "This year, I'm going to receive the best gift of my life; I'm going to have the chance to come see you and to be able to sing for you again in Paris." Five months later, Céline Dion is now in France. Rehearsals are entering their final stretch. On September 12, after more than six years without a sold-out concert, she will finally return to the stage.
