Every October, Paris pauses for its four-legged residents. On Sunday, October 4, 2026 — World Animal Day, marked around the world since 1931 — hundreds of dog owners, cat owners, and plenty of curious onlookers gathered beneath the Arc de Triomphe at Place de l’Étoile for the second Paris edition of La Marche des Animaux, a free walking parade celebrating the role animals play in city life. Leashes tangled, tails wagged, and more than a few dogs showed up in costume, turning one of the city’s grandest avenues into an impromptu catwalk for its smallest residents. What began as a modest gathering in Nice in 2022 has quickly become one of the most talked-about dates on Paris’s animal-lovers calendar, and this year’s turnout made clear the tradition is only growing.
Plan Your Paris Trip in 60 Seconds!
Get a personalized itinerary created by locals in 60 seconds. We’ll tell you the best time to visit, hidden viewpoints, and how to avoid crowds.
What started as a small gathering in Nice in 2022 has grown into an annual Paris tradition. This year’s route carried the crowd 2.4 kilometers down Avenue Foch to the Royal Pavilion in the Bois de Boulogne — and judging by the costumes on display, plenty of dogs took the “parade” part seriously.
Dogs Take Over Paris! La Marche des Animaux 2026
🐾 From Nice to Paris: The Story Behind the March
La Marche des Animaux was born in Nice in 2022, the idea of journalist Henry-Jean Servat, and quickly became one of the city’s most-loved animal gatherings. Paris held its first edition in October 2025 on the Champs-Élysées, drawing over 600 participants. The 2026 edition marks the event’s second year in the capital, and organizers moved the route to the quieter, greener stretch between Place de l’Étoile and the Bois de Boulogne — giving dogs (and their owners) more room to actually enjoy the walk.
🎀 A Parade Full of Character
Half the fun of La Marche des Animaux is the costumes. This year’s march saw everything from a dachshund-sized taco to a very convincing “wig and overalls” look, plus a small dog in a full pink tutu with a satin bow who stole the show on Avenue Foch. One fluffy Pomeranian showed up in a Santa hat and heart-shaped sunglasses months ahead of schedule — proof that in Paris, a dog doesn’t need a reason to dress up.
📍 The Route: From the Arc de Triomphe to the Bois de Boulogne
The march assembled at Place de l’Étoile at 3:00 PM and set off down Avenue Foch — one of the widest, most elegant avenues in Paris — before finishing around 5:00 PM at the Royal Pavilion inside the Bois de Boulogne. The full walk covers roughly 2.4 kilometers, flat and shaded, making it manageable for dogs, cats in carriers, and families with young children alike. Water stations were set up along the way, and trained animal-mediation volunteers walked alongside participants in case any pets needed a calm moment. The route and schedule are listed each year on the City of Paris’s official events calendar.
🐕 Who Can Join
La Marche des Animaux is open to dogs, cats, and other companion animals, as well as people without a pet who just want to watch. There’s no registration and no fee — organizers simply ask participants to show up at Place de l’Étoile before the 3:00 PM start. This year’s turnout brought together everything from tiny Chihuahuas and Pomeranians to full-grown White Swiss Shepherds, all mingling on the grass before the walk began.
💛 Why It Matters: Animal Welfare in the City
Beyond the costumes, La Marche des Animaux has a serious side. The event is designed to raise awareness about animal well-being in an urban environment — from access to green space to responsible pet ownership — and brings together families, animal-welfare associations, and city residents around a shared cause. It’s part of the global World Animal Day movement, observed every October 4 since 1931.
📅 Will There Be a Third Edition?
With two successful Paris editions now behind it — and a track record in Nice that draws nearly 2,000 participants at its biggest gatherings — La Marche des Animaux looks likely to return in October 2027. If you missed this year’s march, keep an eye on the City of Paris’s events calendar as the next World Animal Day approaches.
