Celine Dion Begins First Full Concerts in Six Years in Paris

Céline Dion has begun her first full concerts in six years, performing to a sold-out crowd at the Plénitude Arena in Paris on Saturday evening. The Canadian singer's return to the stage marks a major milestone in her comeback from stiff person syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder she revealed in 2022. Thousands of fans gathered outside the 33,000-capacity venue in La Défense for the opening night of a 16-show residency scheduled for September and October 2026. An additional 10 shows are planned for May 2027. The residency is completely sold out, following a presale lottery in April that attracted over nine million registrations. Dion, 58, had not performed a full concert since cancelling her world tour in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her 2022 diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, which causes severe muscle spasms and can make walking difficult, prevented her from returning to performing for several years. She made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, singing "Hymne à l'amour" from the Eiffel Tower, but these Paris dates represent her first extended run of shows since her recovery.