Celine Dion captivated audiences during the opening concert of her ‘Celine Dion Paris 2026’ residency at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, Paris, on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The renowned singer stepped back onto the stage nearly four years after revealing her struggle with a rare and painful condition.
Dion, a celebrated Canadian artist, inaugurated her series of performances with the French song “On Ne Change Pas”, meaning “we don’t change” in English. Her emotional delivery moved her to tears as she addressed the audience. “I had promised myself not to cry,” Dion expressed, reported by Variety. She thanked those present, hoping newcomers to Paris would fall for the city as she had. “Finally, it’s amazing we are all together. I made a promise to come back, to be back on stage. So here I am, singing for you and singing for me, singing live!”
Online videos featured Dion in a black dress, her hair styled in a bun, performing beloved hits like “Because You Loved Me” and “Power of Love.” Dion also sang “My Heart Will Go On,” a timeless classic from the Titanic movie soundtrack.
Hours before the concert, Dion shared a photo on her Instagram Story, showing her smiling, hands raised before fans, captioned “En route!”
Originating from Quebec, Canada’s French-speaking province, Dion enjoys immense popularity in France. Her concerts are fully booked, with projections indicating substantial revenue generation for the region.
The Grammy-winning artist disclosed her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome in 2022. This rare neurological condition leads to rigid limbs and severe muscle spasms, impacting her daily life. She shared that it sometimes impaired her walking and hindered her vocal performances.
Dion’s previous tour faced disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. However, she made an appearance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July 2024.