The big event is 14th of July Military parade and flyover
For the National Day celebrations, the July 14, 2026 parade is themed around « Europe’s Strategic Awakening. » This major event highlights the commitment of the armed forces and internal security forces, illustrating their synergy in protecting the nation and its allies in Europe with a special focus on Eastern Europe. There will be lots of folks lining the Champs-Elysées for the 2 hours event that starts at 10am, so get ready for serious crowds or better yet for a safer, better view, with commentary watch on TV.
As usual Secrets of Paris has the best comprehensive listing of July 14 events.
Did you know? The French call the national holiday, the 14th of July, NOT Bastille Day.
Where to watch the fireworks
In 2026 the fireworks sponsored by the city of Paris centered on the Eiffel Tower will be held on July 13th. You’ll find slightly smaller crowds and a panoramic view at these spots
- Paris west: Pont du Garigliano (as well as many of the other bridges)
- Paris east: The intersection de la rue Piat and de la rue des Envierges or the Parc de Belleville
- Paris north: Montmartre
- Suresnes: Mont Valérien, Terrasse du Fécheray
- Meudon : Terrasse de l’observatoire
- Saint-Cloud: Parc de Saint-Cloud, rond-point de la Balustrade also known as La Lanterne
- Reserve a table at the Pavillion Henri IV in St Germain-en-Laye and see the fireworks all around Paris
The fireworks start at 23h and will be shot near the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro Gardens. It lasts 35 minutes. There will also be a free concert by the National Orchestra on the Champs de Mars starting at 21h15, but again you can expect heavy crowds. This year’s theme for the Bastille Day concert is “Dedicated to National Unity”. The fireworks show theme features celebrates the 70th anniversary of the pairing of sister cities Paris and Rome, the 400th anniversary of the French Navy, and the Seine River… Or, again, watch it on TV. There will there will also be fireworks in many other towns on the 13th and a few on the 14th, see the selection below and check for more displays on : Sortir à Paris
- Coulommiers, Meaux (77)
- St Germain-en-Laye (78)
- Massy, Marcoussis (91)
- Boulogne-Billancourt, Suresnes, Gennevilliers (92)
- La Courneuve (93)
- Alfortville, Orly, Villiers-sur-Marne (94)
- Garges-lès-Gonesse (95)
Versailles is holding a special « Grandes Eaux Noctures » on the 14th. You can amble through the gardens, the fountains are on and lit, there’s baroque music and topping it all off a drone show. Reserve.
Did you know? The key to the Bastille was sent to George Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette with his compliments « as a Missionary of Liberty to its patriarch. » The key is still on display at Mount Vernon.
BAL DES POMPIERS
Firemen’s Balls happen all over Paris and in many other towns. They can be on the 13th or the 14th and run nearly all night long.
Did you know? The first celebration was in 1790 to mark the one-year anniversary of the July 14th storming of the Bastille prison that kicked off the French Revolution, it was originally called the Fête de la Fédération. At that time France was a Constitutional Monarchy and King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette attended the event (albiet under heavy guard) as the “King and Queen of the French” .
La Marseillaise
The French national anthem sung on the 14th of July and many other occasions is La Marseillaise. Following France’s declaration of war on Austria and Prussia, the mayor of Strasbourg, Baron de Dietrich, asked army engineer Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle to write a marching song. On the night of April 25th 1792, Rouget de Lisle penned the Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin – War song for the Rhine Army, named in honour of the garrison to which he belonged. The song was meant to inspire the army to be strong in the face of the invader’s tyranny. The song was republished under the name of Chant de guerre aux armées des frontières – by François Mireur, who was in Marseilles to organise a march of revolutionary volunteers on King Louis XVI’s Tuileries palace. The revolutionaries adopted the song and sang it with fervor as they entered Paris, on July 30th 1792. The Parisians thus named it La Marseillaise. It was declared the national song on July 14th 1795 but then banned during the Empire. The July revolution of 1830 reinstated it, and it was rearranged by Hector Berlioz. It was finally adopted as the national anthem under the Third Republic in 1879. The Marseillaise has seven verses of which we usually sing just the first. Here are verses 1 and 4-7. To better understand the lyrics try your language skills on the Speak Easy game based on La Marseillaise below. For a complete translation to English see www.marseillaise.org.
Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L’étendard sanglant est levé Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras. Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!
Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu’un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides L’opprobre de tous les partis Tremblez! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! Tout est soldat pour vous combattre S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros La France en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre.
Français, en guerriers magnanimes Portez ou retenez vos coups! Épargnez ces tristes victimes À regret s’armant contre nous Mais ces despotes sanguinaires Mais ces complices de Bouillé Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié Déchirent le sein de leur mère!
Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n’y seront plus Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre!
Amour sacré de la Patrie Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Liberté, Liberté chérie Combats avec tes défenseurs! Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Get the book of Speak Easy puzzles at Bill & Rosa’s Book Room or by email: BRbookroom@gmail.com.
Did you know? Of all the town, cities and counties named for figures of the American Revolution, Lafayette ranks fourth, right after Washington, Jefferson and Franklin. There are more than one hundred place names for him, plus countless street, avenue and parks. Lafayette Park faces the White House.