Céline Dion has officially made her long-awaited return to the concert stage.
The 58-year-old “My Heart Will Go On” singer opened her new residency at the Plenitude Arena outside Paris, France on Saturday night (September 12), marking her first full concert in approximately six years.
Before the show, she was spotted outside of her hotel greeting fans and walking alongside her eldest son René-Charles Angélil.
Céline last performed a complete show in March 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic brought her Courage World Tour to an early stop. She later canceled the remaining dates amid her ongoing battle with stiff-person syndrome.
Céline became emotional while singing her opening song
Approximately 30,000 fans were reportedly in attendance as Céline began Saturday’s concert with the French-language song “On ne change pas.”
The singer appeared emotional during the performance and wiped tears from her face while wearing a floor-length black strapless gown and Boucheron jewelry.
The opening song had been kept under wraps before the show. When asked about it shortly after arriving in France, Céline playfully told reporters that it was “a big secret.”
Early reports from inside the venue indicate that “Destin,” “Because You Loved Me,” and “Encore un soir” were also among the songs performed near the beginning of the concert. The complete opening-night setlist had not yet been confirmed at the time of publication.
See Céline Dion’s complete opening-night setlist
- On ne change pas
- Destin
- Because You Loved Me
- Encore un soir
- Les derniers seront les premiers (first time performed since 2009)
- Tout l’or des hommes
- The Power of Love
- My Heart Will Go On
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Chase (live debut)
- J’irai ou tu iras
- Ne bouge pas (first time performed in full since 2003)
- Dans un autre monde
- I Feel Love / I’m Alive / That’s the Way It Is / Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
- Dansons (live debut)
- Un garcon pas comme les autres
- Courage
- Love Can Move Mountains
- The Prayer
- It’s All Coming Back to Me Now
- Je chanterai
- Ebben? Ne andro lontana
Encore
- All by Myself
- Pour que tu m’aimes encore
- S’il suffisait d’aimer
Songs might be subject to change at subsequent performances, list credit to Setlist.fm.
The concert follows Céline’s 2024 Olympics performance
Although Saturday marked Céline‘s first full-length concert since 2020, it was not her first time back onstage.
She made a surprise appearance during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, performing Édith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower. Later that year, she sang “The Power of Love” and “I’m Alive” at designer Elie Saab‘s anniversary show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Céline publicly revealed her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022. The rare neurological condition can cause muscle stiffness and painful spasms, and it forced her to step away from touring. She has continued to speak candidly about managing the condition and working toward a return to live performance.
Céline will perform 26 concerts in Paris
The hitmaker announced her Paris engagement on her 58th birthday in March. Originally scheduled for 10 performances, the residency expanded due to demand.
Céline will perform 16 concerts at the Plenitude Arena between September 12 and October 17. She is then scheduled to return for another 10 shows in May 2027, bringing the engagement to 26 performances in total.
Learn more about the shows and how to get tickets!
The production features songs from both the English and French language.
Find out what Céline shared about her health and her determination to return to performing.
Posted To:Candid Photos Celine Dion Event Photos Music Rene-Charles Angelil