France Joins Italy, Japan, Serbia, and Hong Kong in Cancellations of Major New Year’s Eve Events: Is Public Safety Taking Precedence Over Tradition in 2025?

Published on December 15, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

In an unexpected and unprecedented move, Paris, Tokyo, Venice, Belgrade, and Hong Kong have decided to cancel or restrict major public New Year’s Eve events for 2025. These changes come amid increasing concerns over crowd control, public safety, and logistical challenges. Cities that are known for their grand celebrations, such as Paris with its iconic Champs-Élysées concert and Tokyo with the Shibuya Countdown, are opting for alternative formats to ensure safety and minimize the risks of overcrowding.

This year’s events are a sharp contrast to past years when millions gathered to usher in the New Year. Authorities in these cities have acted decisively, citing security concerns, crowd management issues, and the safety of attendees as the key reasons behind these significant changes.

Paris, France — Concert Canceled for Safety but Fireworks and Light Show Go On

What Happened:
In Paris, the live concert on the Champs-Élysées, a central feature of the city’s New Year’s Eve celebration, has been canceled. This decision was confirmed by the Paris Police Prefecture and the Mayor of the 8th Arrondissement, Jeanne d’Hautesserres, who cited crowd control and public safety risks as the primary reasons. The Champs-Élysées can host up to one million people, and the authorities expressed concern over the difficulty of managing such large crowds in an urban area not designed for prolonged, high-density gatherings.

The concert will be replaced with a pre-recorded broadcast on France 2, while the fireworks display and video mapping show on the Arc de Triomphe will continue as planned.

Key Reasons for the Cancellation:

• Security concerns due to high crowd density and risk of uncontrolled movements.
• Difficulty in deploying 6,000 police officers for crowd management over an extended period.
• The street’s layout is not suited for managing such large, unstructured crowds.

Event Cancellation Details for Paris

Tokyo (Shibuya Ward), Japan — The Countdown Event Is Canceled for the Fourth Year in a Row

What Happened:
In Tokyo, the popular Shibuya Countdown event, held at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, has been canceled for the fourth consecutive year. The event, which typically draws large crowds, has faced repeated cancellations since 2020. Authorities in Shibuya Ward, including Mayor Ken Hasebe, cited crowd management issues and the risk of rowdy behavior due to street drinking as the main causes.

Rather than risking overcrowding and potential safety issues in one of the city’s busiest areas, the Shibuya Countdown Executive Committee opted to maintain heightened security measures around Shibuya Station and warned against large gatherings.

Key Reasons for the Cancellation:

• Overcrowding and public safety concerns related to large, uncontrolled gatherings.
• Prevention of disorderly conduct fueled by street drinking.
• Difficulty in managing public space and keeping the event safe in the highly dense Shibuya district.

Event Cancellation Details for Tokyo

Venice, Italy — Restrictions on Public Celebrations Instead of Full Cancellation

What Happened:
In Venice, while the traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations have not been completely canceled, strict restrictions have been imposed. The City of Venice has announced a ban on public alcohol consumption in key areas such as Piazza San Marco to mitigate the risks of disorderly behavior and crowd chaos. Additionally, pepper sprays and other potentially harmful items will be prohibited from being carried during the festivities.

These measures aim to reduce the risks posed by the city’s narrow, high-traffic streets, which are prone to overcrowding, especially on New Year’s Eve.

Key Reasons for the Restrictions:

• To ensure safety in Venice’s narrow, crowded streets.
• To reduce disorder and avoid crowd-related incidents.
• To improve crowd control in the historically congested public squares.

Event Restrictions Details for Venice

Belgrade, Serbia — Public Concert Canceled for Safety, Private Celebrations Allowed

What Happened:
In Belgrade, Serbia, the city has canceled its public New Year’s Eve concert due to concerns about crowd safety and security risks. Mayor Aleksandar Šapić stated that the city would no longer organize public celebrations until measures are in place to ensure the safety of all attendees, particularly children, who often make up a large portion of the crowd.

The cancellation of the public concert was a decision made after previous incidents of confrontations and crowd risks during prior events. However, private celebrations, such as those organized by Belgrade Waterfront, are still allowed to proceed.

Key Reasons for the Cancellation:

• Security concerns following past crowd disturbances.
• The desire to protect children from potential crowd-related incidents.
• A commitment to safer, more controlled environments for future celebrations.

Table: Event Cancellation Details for Belgrade

Hong Kong, China — Fireworks Replaced by Laser Light Show Due to Political Instability

What Happened:
In Hong Kong, the traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks show over Victoria Harbour was replaced with a smaller laser light show. The Hong Kong Tourism Board confirmed that the fireworks were not held due to ongoing public safety concerns stemming from political instability and the potential for unrest in the region. In past years, the fireworks had attracted large crowds, and the authorities feared overcrowding and potential disorder.

The shift to a laser light show is part of the city’s ongoing strategy to minimize crowd gatherings and ensure public safety in politically sensitive times.

Key Reasons for the Change:

• Political instability and concerns over public safety due to previous protests.
• Crowd management concerns and the need to avoid large, dense gatherings.
• A focus on providing an alternative celebration that is safer and more controlled.

Table: Event Change Details for Hong Kong

A Global Shift Toward Public Safety Over Tradition

The 2025 cancellations and restrictions across Paris, Tokyo, Venice, Belgrade, and Hong Kong signal a significant shift in how cities approach mass public events. As the world continues to grapple with crowd management, security issues, and public safety, these decisions highlight that, for many cities, the traditional large-scale celebrations of the past may no longer be feasible.

While this new approach may seem disappointing to some, the priority is clear: to protect citizens and ensure that public celebrations can take place safely, even if that means adapting or curtailing the size and scope of those celebrations. As we move into the future, these changes could mark the beginning of a new era of more controlled and virtual celebrations, with safety at the forefront.