No cars on the Champs-Élysées this Sunday. The most beautiful avenue in the world will be transformed into a track for runners and pedestrians, during the 4th edition of the Champs-Élysées 10 km, organized by the district town hall.
A prefectural decree published this Monday, January 26 provides for significant traffic restrictions in the 8th arrondissement. At the same time, the City of Paris is organizing a “pedestrianization of the Champs-Élysées” day — like every first Sunday of each month.
First closings from 4 a.m.
The first traffic bans will come into force from 4 a.m. Place de la Concorde, avenue des Champs-Élysées between la Concorde and place Clémenceau, as well as avenue Winston Churchill will be completely closed to traffic until 4 p.m. A perimeter intended to secure the area before the arrival of the runners.
The race itself will start at 10:30 a.m. from Avenue des Champs-Élysées, near the Pavillon Le Doyen. The route will allow participants to walk down the famous avenue before branching off towards Place de la Concorde, Rue Royale, Boulevard Malesherbes and Parc Monceau. In total, around twenty streets and avenues will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to allow the passage of runners.
A giant pedestrian area
But it is also the creation of a temporary pedestrian area which risks disrupting traffic in the neighborhood. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a vast area delimited by rue Arsène-Houssaye, Lord-Byron, Chateaubriand, Washington, d’Artois, de Berri, de Ponthieu, Franklin D. Roosevelt, avenue Montaigne, rue François-Ier, avenue George-V, rue Vernet, avenue Marceau and rue de Presbourg will be completely closed to motor vehicles.
Only the lanes delimiting this perimeter will remain circulating, with the exception of portions of Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt and Avenue Montaigne, closed between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. during the race.
Parking prohibited on Velasquez Avenue
Motorists should also anticipate the parking ban on Avenue Vélasquez, effective from 1 a.m. until 1 p.m. Vehicles in violation may be impounded.
This car-free day is part of the City of Paris’ strategy to regularly pedestrianize the Champs-Élysées. These monthly operations allow Parisians and tourists to enjoy the legendary avenue without the usual flow of traffic. The 2025 edition of the 10 km brought together more than 18,000 runners.
Only priority vehicles of general interest, such as firefighters, ambulance or police, will be able to drive in prohibited areas.
