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[title]All good things must come to an end, including the 2024 Summer Olympics. And sad as it will be to bid farewell to that daily dose of excitement, triumph and more than a few new sporting heroes, the good news is that Paris is saying its goodbyes in style. After what was a glittering opening ceremony on July 26, the official closing ceremony will wrap things up this weekend on Sunday August 11, and it promises to be just as impressive (and potenitally as bizarre, but hopefully not as controversial) as the kick-off.
French actor and ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly is weaving his magic again for the closing event, meaning that we’re pretty much guaranteed to witness various incredible artistic performances, providing a suitably epic au revoir to the Paris Summer Olympics (including what has been dubbed a death-defying stunt from Tom Cruise). Here’s all the information you’ll need to get involved, including details on dates, times and tickets for the end of the games.
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Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony: schedule, location and performances
When is the closing ceremony?
The Paris 2024 closing ceremony takes place on August 11, 2024.
What time will the ceremony start?
Just a few hours after the last event of the Olympics – the women’s marathon – the ceremony begins, starting at 8pm. You can read all about the timings and schedule here.
Where is the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony?
While the opening ceremony took place outdoors and not in a stadium (for the first time in the history of the Summer Games), the grand finale opts for a more traditional approach, taking place at the Stade de France. The stadium is also where the athletics, para-athletics, and rugby will be held during the Games.
What will happen at the closing ceremony?
As with the other ceremonies, the artistic direction of the event has been entrusted to stage director Thomas Jolly. The show will be called ‘Records’, and will feature over a hundred performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists. The Paris 2024 official website also promises ‘world-renowned singers’, giant sets, costumes and spectacular lighting. Part of the show will also take place in the air, apparently.
Then there will be the key elements present in every closing ceremony: the closing parade (where athletes will carry their nation’s flag), the medal ceremony (medals for the recently finished women’s marathon will probably be awarded here), speeches and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame.
Medals presented at the closing ceremony
A medal ceremony typically takes place at the closing ceremony for athletes who compete on the same day. There are 13 gold medal events happening on the final day of competition, including basketball, water polo, wrestling, volleyball, the modern pentathlon, cycling and the women’s marathon, so some of these could be presented at the ceremony.
Performers confirmed so far
Hollywood icon Tom Cruise will be performing a stunt at the closing ceremony, US presenter Jimmy Fallon and sports commentator Mike Tirico will host the event, and ‘world-renowned singers’ are promised. It’s tradition for the closing ceremony to hand over the next Olympic city (which is LA), and Cruise is set to perform a stunt that rivals even his most daring from the Mission Impossible movies. According to TMZ, we can expect to see him rappelling down from the top of the Stade de France and landing on the stadium field to pass over the flag.
As for the other big names on the bill, they are yet to be confirmed, but you can read all about the stars rumoured to be making a closing ceremony appearance in our guide here.
Is the closing ceremony free?
It’s not free, but it is (slightly) cheaper than the opening ceremony. Tickets for the closing ceremony are priced between €45 and €1,600, but since this is one of the most popular events for spectators, attending it will be an Olympic-sized challenge.
How to get tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony
If you registered before April 20, 2023 on the official ticketing platform and are lucky enough to be selected in the draw, you’ll have received an email with your designated time slot for purchasing individual tickets. Tickets went back on sale in late 2023 and there are still tickets remaining – but be warned, only the more expensive ones are left, with the cheapest being category D, priced at €250.