Paris, January 7, 2026 – The highly anticipated monthly car-free day in Central Paris, part of the ‘Paris Respire’ initiative, has been canceled for January 2026. This means the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements will not be free of motorized vehicles this month. The next car-free event is scheduled for February 2026, offering residents and tourists an opportunity to enjoy a quieter, less polluted city center.
The ‘Paris Respire’ Initiative: A Brief Overview
Launched on October 7, 2018, the ‘Paris Respire’ program aims to reduce noise and air pollution by restricting vehicular traffic in designated areas of the capital on the first Sunday of each month. This initiative, which also includes the iconic Champs-Élysées, has been widely praised by Parisians for creating a more serene urban environment.
Christophe Najdovski, Deputy Mayor of Paris, responsible for the greening of public spaces, parks, biodiversity, and animal welfare, previously stated that while most streets in the affected arrondissements are included, major thoroughfares such as Boulevard Sébastopol and the high quays remain open to traffic. This approach ensures a balance between pedestrian enjoyment and essential urban mobility.
Affected Areas and Restrictions
When in effect, motorized vehicle traffic is prohibited from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM within a defined perimeter. This perimeter includes, but is not limited to, the following streets and squares:
- Place du Châtelet (1st arrondissement)
- Quai de la Mégisserie (1st arrondissement)
- Quai du Louvre (1st arrondissement)
- Quai des Tuileries (1st arrondissement)
- Quai François Mitterrand (1st arrondissement)
- Place du Carrousel (1st arrondissement)
- Rue de Rohan (1st arrondissement)
- Avenue de l’Opéra (1st and 2nd arrondissements)
- Place de l’Opéra (2nd and 9th arrondissements)
- Boulevard des Capucines (2nd and 9th arrondissements), specifically between Place de l’Opéra and Boulevard des Italiens
- Boulevard des Italiens (2nd and 9th arrondissements)
- Boulevard Montmartre (2nd and 9th arrondissements)
- Boulevard Poissonnière (2nd and 9th arrondissements)
- Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle (2nd and 10th arrondissements)
- Boulevard Saint-Denis (2nd, 3rd, and 10th arrondissements)
- Boulevard Saint-Martin (3rd and 10th arrondissements)
- Place de la République (3rd, 10th, and 11th arrondissements)
- Boulevard du Temple (3rd and 11th arrondissements)
- Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire (3rd and 11th arrondissements)
- Boulevard Beaumarchais (3rd, 4th, and 11th arrondissements)
- Place de la Bastille (4th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements)
- Boulevard Henri IV (4th arrondissement)
- Pont de Sully (4th and 5th arrondissements)
- Quai de la Tournelle (5th arrondissement)
- Quai de Montebello (5th arrondissement)
- Petit Pont (Cardinal Lustiger) (4th and 5th arrondissements)
- Rue de la Cité (4th arrondissement)
- Pont Notre-Dame (4th arrondissement)
- Rue Saint-Martin (4th arrondissement), specifically between Quai de Gesvres and Avenue Victoria
- Avenue Victoria (4th arrondissement), specifically between Rue Saint-Martin and Boulevard de Sébastopol
- Boulevard de Sébastopol (1st and 4th arrondissements), specifically between Avenue Victoria and Rue de Rivoli
The streets forming the boundaries of this perimeter are generally excluded from the restrictions. Additionally, Boulevard de Sébastopol (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements), Place de l’Hôtel de Ville (4th arrondissement), Quai de Gesvres (4th arrondissement) between Pont Notre-Dame and Pont d’Arcole, Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville (4th arrondissement), Quai des Célestins (4th arrondissement), Rue de la Tacherie (4th arrondissement) between Quai de Gesvres and Avenue Victoria, Avenue Victoria (4th arrondissement) between Place de l’Hôtel de Ville and Rue Saint-Martin, Quai Henri IV (4th arrondissement) between Quai des Célestins and Boulevard Henri IV, Port de la Tournelle (5th arrondissement), and Port de Montebello (5th arrondissement) are also typically excluded.
Looking Ahead to February
Parisians and visitors eager to experience the car-free city center can look forward to the next scheduled event in February 2026. The ‘Paris Respire’ initiative continues to be a vital part of the city’s efforts to promote sustainable mobility and improve the quality of life for its inhabitants.
Source: [sortiraparis.com](https://www.sortiraparis.com/actualites/a-paris/articles/175623-paris-centre-pieton-pas-de-journee-sans-voiture-sur-les-4-premiers-arrondissements-en-janvier-2026), [paris.fr](https://www.paris.fr/pages/le-centre-de-paris-sera-pieton-un-dimanche-par-mois-6098), [paris.fr](https://www.paris.fr/pages/un-dimanche-par-mois-les-champs-elysees-et-le-centre-de-paris-reserves-aux-pietons-7110), [paris.fr](https://www.paris.fr/pages/paris-respire-2122), [mairiepariscentre.paris.fr](https://mairiepariscentre.paris.fr/pages/paris-respire-a-paris-centre-18007)
