Céline Dion returned to the stage in Paris, where her first live performance in more than six years was accompanied by intense emotion and tears. The singer had stayed away from musical activities for an extended period because of health problems.
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In front of a packed venue, the Canadian artist addressed the audience, expressing her joy at reuniting with her fans. “It’s amazing that we are all together,” she told those present.
“I made a promise. I promised that I would come back and be on stage again. Here I am, singing for you and singing for myself. Thank you very much for your support and patience. I am everything I am because you love me,” Dion declared.
Her last appearance at a full concert took place in 2020, during the “Courage” tour. In 2022, she was forced to cancel the North American leg of the tour after being diagnosed with SPS (Stiff Person Syndrome).
SPS is defined as a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness and painful spasms, while the intensity of the symptoms may vary. The condition is linked to an incorrect immune system response that attacks healthy nerve cells. There is currently no known cure for the disease.
After receiving the diagnosis, the singer stepped away from the stage and in the years that followed appeared only at a few special events. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she sang at a virtual charity event for healthcare workers. In 2024, Dion performed at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics with Édith Piaf’s song “Hymne à l’amour”, while that same year she also sang at the end of designer Elie Saab’s fashion show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The concert held in Paris marks the beginning of a program of 26 shows at “Plenitude Arena”. The concert series will run from September 12, 2026, to May 29, 2027.
Initially, only 10 concerts had been planned, but high ticket demand led to the number being increased to 26. According to reports, around 1.17 million tickets were sold within a few hours of sales opening, while more than 9 million fans tried to secure them.
The setlist is expected to include some of Dion’s best-known songs, including the ballad “My Heart Will Go On”, which has won Oscar and Grammy awards. She is also expected to perform songs in English and French, her native language, including “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”, “The Power of Love” and “Pour que tu m’aimes encore”.
For the 58-year-old singer, returning before an audience represents an important milestone. Despite facing a rare illness for years, Dion is continuing her musical career while confronting one of the greatest health challenges of her life.
