“The July 14 parade will be the biggest we’ve ever seen,” President Emmanuel Macron announced back in May. More military personnel, more aircraft, more vehicles, and an unprecedented aerial display… In total, 6,686 men and women will take part in the military parade, alongside representatives from 35 countries of the Coalition of the Willing. They will be accompanied by 315 vehicles, 98 aircraft, 33 helicopters, and 193 horses. A spectacle that promises to be exceptional…
Behind the scenes of meticulous preparations
Every year since 1880, the French have celebrated their National Day on July 14, a date that symbolizes the values embodied by the tricolor flag. And behind this display of precision lie weeks of preparation. On Thursday, July 9, several aircraft from the Air and Space Museum were already flying over the capital to rehearse the aerial choreography for July 14. It was a preview of the official ceremony that we were able to witness, this time from the ground.
At 5 a.m., while Paris was still fast asleep, we followed Jean-Baptiste, a cavalryman with the Republican Guard, as he rehearsed for the military parade. A training session on horseback along the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées, with the Arc de Triomphe bathed in the first light of day as a backdrop. A special moment that perfectly illustrates the rigor and precision required for this event.
The largest July 14 parade ever organized
As you can see, an extraordinary July 14 parade is in the works. More troops, more equipment, more aircraft… A military parade on an unprecedented scale will take place this Tuesday, the day after the traditional fireworks display—which, exceptionally, will be held on Monday, July 13.
Just like the parade, the fireworks display also promises to be exceptional: 12 scenes, a 35-minute show, and more than 1,600 drones will light up the Paris sky this Monday evening…
On the Champs-Élysées, the National Day celebration promises to draw huge crowds
This Tuesday, ground, air, and mounted parades will come together in perfect harmony to present the largest July 14th parade ever held in the capital. Airplanes, marching troops, military helicopters, and cavalry from the Republican Guard will march down the Champs-Élysées in front of thousands of spectators expected to attend the event.
And pssst: To get a front-row view of the ceremony, advance registration is required. Spectators must reserve their spot via this link and present a personalized QR code on the day of the event.