A yearly Disneyland Paris tradition returned this year in a slightly different way than usual.
Because of the current fireworks ban in the area where Disneyland Paris is located, this year’s Bastille Day nighttime show was presented as a drone display above Sleeping Beauty Castle, exceptionally without fireworks.
The show was brand-new for 2026. In previous years, the Bastille Day show used the theme “Celebrate France the Disney Way”, with Lumière from Beauty and the Beast opening the show. This year, the show started with a French-inspired scene before Tinker Bell took guests on a journey to different places around the world, inspired by Disney films including Aladdin, Mulan, Disney and Pixar’s Brave, and Frozen.
The finale used music from Disney Dreams!. However, because of the fireworks ban, there was no big fireworks finale this year. Instead, an Eiffel Tower appeared in drones next to the castle.
In total, Disneyland Paris used 1,600 drones during the show. There were a few moments where the absence of fireworks was quite noticeable, but considering the circumstances, the teams behind the Bastille Day show clearly did their best to still offer guests a special nighttime experience.
At the time of writing, the fireworks ban in the Seine-et-Marne region, where Disneyland Paris is located, is in effect until July 15, 2026. Because of this, the regular nighttime shows Disney Tales of Magic and Disney Cascade of Lights are also being presented in modified versions.
The fireworks ban could still be extended, especially as there was a forest fire in the region.
Due to the situation, Disney Tales of Magic is also temporarily being performed again with drones, as long as weather conditions allow it.
While this year’s Bastille Day show was different from what guests are used to, it was still impressive to see so many drones light up the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle for this special French celebration.
