DEF LEPPARD Live 2026 Summer Tour In Paris (Show Report/Setlist)
Def Leppard played a Live 2026 tour show in Paris, France last night with 19 songs performed.
The show took place at the 20,500 capacity Accor Arena.
The band's first visit to this city since October 1996.
The second time at this arena.
Return To Paris
October 1996 on the Slang world tour, almost 30 years ago.
That was the last time the band had visited Paris for a show.
A long wait for the band to even return to France as they did in 2013 but they had not been to the capital city since the 1996 tour.
They had played the Accord Arena in March 1988 on the Hyteria tour, four years after it had opened, under its original name of Bercy Arena (or Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy).
The arena had all red seats at that point and a lower capacity.
It was revamped in 2015 and given the name AccorHotels Arena (now shortened to Accor Arena).
A venue set to be played very soon by the Scorpions who Def Leppard supported in October 1980 on their very first French tour.
And this visit coming just a few days after a two night run by Guns N' Roses.
A hot rock venue in Paris right now.
And like all of UK/Europe a hot day as the band are now playing within the heatwave they had managed to (sort of) avoid up to this week.
Actually not quite as dangerously hot as it was recently in Paris, but it was even hotter in the UK than there as show time approached.
People following the show online (and now writing this) literally melting in the heat.
Slang Special Guest
Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt guested again during 'Slang' after his opening set with Extreme.
Live 2026 Summer Tour End
It only seems like a few days since it began but the Live 2026 Summer tour run would come to a close in Paris.
The show here starting at the slightly later time of 9:30pm after Extreme had opened from 8pm to 9pm.
With a larger capacity now at this venue, this looked set to be the biggest indoor audience ever played to in France.
The 1988 show being the largest arena played on the UK/European 'Hysteria' tour when it held around 17,000 people.
The venue looks more like a modern military bunker from the outside but inside looks like a regular sports arena.
The show started as ever with 'Rejoice' with fans rejoicing in the fact that the band were playing an arena in Paris again.
Something many of them probably never thought would ever happen.
The set also (obviously) included 'Animal' with the original lead vocal famously recorded by Joe in June/July 1985 at Studio Des Dames not far from here.
Joe greeted the crowd in French briefly before 'Let's Get Rocked' with - "Bon soir Paris!." before declaring that's about as good as his French gets.
He also acknowledged and apologised for the 30 year gap between shows in Paris.
Joe also spoke later about it being the last night of the European tour and asked if the crowd could make as much noise as possible.
Judging from the 80 plus Fan Videos posted so far the crowd responded with a LOT of noise and sang along throughout this show.
Joe was pleased enough to say at the end of the show that - "You guys have been f***ing amazing tonight!.".
So a great return to Paris after all this time and and great end to the UK/European leg of the Live 2026 tour.
Now almost the rest of the month off before another show.
And next up sees a quick return to Germany for an outdoor festival show ahead of another anniversary for their biggest album and a very significant one for Rick.
19 Song Setlist
'Rejoice', 'Personal Jesus', 'Just Like '73', 'Rock On', 'Promises' and 'When Love & Hate Collide' were all played here for the first time.
Paris History
The first visit to Paris took place in June 1981 on the High 'n' Dry tour at Patinoire De Boulogne-Billancourt.
Well known photos of Joe holding the yet-to-be-released 'High 'n' Dry' vinyl album sleeve were taken outside the venue at this show.
They had played 15 shows in France in September/October 1980 supporting the Scorpions but without playing in Paris.
In keeping with the huge amount of French shows played from 1980 to 1983 the Pyromania tour saw three shows here.
Two at Le Bataclan in March and one at Espace Balard in November.
In March 1988 on the Hysteria tour the band headlined the Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy arena for the first time.
The 1992/1993 Adrenalize tour saw two shows with a club show at Élysée Montmartre in May 1992.
The band moved to the Le Zenith Paris venue in May 1993 where special guest Bryan Adams got up to play with them.
The last visit took place in October 1996 on the Slang tour with a second visit to Le Zenith Paris.
France was only played three times after this from 2013 to 2023 at Hellfest in Clisson.
Last nights show was the 9th performance in Paris (not including the 1995 acoustic radio appearance).
The next Def Leppard show takes place on 30th July in Wacken, Germany.
Paris, France 2026 Photos
Screenshots by dltourhistory.
Watch some Fan Videos from the show here.
Def Leppard - Paris, France 8th July 2026 Setlist
- 01 - Rejoice
Played for the first time in Paris.
- 02 - Animal
- 03 - Let's Get Rocked
- 04 - Personal Jesus
Played for the first time in Paris.
- 05 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak
- 06 - Switch 625 (Instrumental)
- 07 - Just Like '73
Played for the first time in Paris.
- 08 - Rocket (Single Version)
- 09 - Rock On/Rick Savage Bass Intro
Played for the first time in Paris.
- 10 - White Lightning/Phil Collen/Vivian Campbell Guitar Intro
- 11 - Slang/Get Up Offa That Thing (By James Brown/Fame by David Bowie)
Played with special guest Nuno Bettencourt on guest guitar.
- 12 - Promises (With A cappella Vocal Intro)
Played for the first time in Paris.
- 13 - Armageddon It
- 14 - Love Bites
- 15 - Rock of Ages
- 16 - Photograph
- 17 - When Love & Hate Collide
Played for the first time in Paris electrically and at a full show. It had been played acoustically here at a Vault tour radio concert in 1995.
- 18 - Hysteria/Bass Intro/Extended Outro
- 19 - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Show Intro Voice
"Ladies and gentleman."
"Would you please welcome Universal recording artists Def Leppard!."
Joe Elliott - Let's Get Rocked Intro
"Bon soir Paris!."
"Comment ca va?."
"Comment ca va?."
"How how ya ding, that's about as good as it gets."
"How ya doing, everybody okay out there?."
"You ready for this?."
"Are you ready for this?."
"Do ya wanna get rocked?."
Joe Elliott - BOTH Intro
"Merci beacoup!."
"Thank you very much."
"Well it's good to see you all again."
"It's been a long time, 30 years!."
"It's good to make your aquaintence once again."
"How ya doing out there tonight, happy?."
"This is the last night of our European tour."
"So we'd really appreciate it if everybody made a lot of noise tonight."
"So we can take it with us."
Joe Elliott - Rock On Intro
"Merci beacoup Paris!."
"It's been a while."
"As I said it's been like 30 years since we last played here, my apologies."
"But we're here, we're actually here once again."
"And we can't thank you enough for sticking with us and coming to see us after all these years."
"And it has been a long time."
"This thing started off many many years ago."
"But 49 years ago..."
Joe Elliott - End Of Show Speech
"Merci beacoup Paris!."
"It's the last night tonight make some noise for Extreme."
"Make soem noise for our crew."
"And make some noise for yourselves 'cause you guys have been f***ing amazing tonight!."
"Thanks so much, let's do this again one day okay."
"We won't leave it for 30 years ever again we promise."
"Until next time!."
"And there will be a next time!."
"Au Revoir."
"We love ya."
"Thank you, merci beacoup."
Various Photos/Videos
- Def Leppard - Paris 2026 Show Page
- Def Leppard - Def Leppard Tour 2026
- Related News - 7th July 2026 - Manchester Show Report
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