After weeks of historic wins, emotional celebrations, and celebrity cameos, the 2024 Summer Olympics have finally come to an end. But just as athletes were welcomed to Paris with a standout opening ceremony, they were sent off with a bang. This year’s closing ceremony included performances by over 100 acrobats, dancers, and circus artists, as well as by musicians Billie Eilish, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Snoop Dogg, among others.
Ahead, catch the biggest moments from the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony.
Yseult closes out the ceremony by singing “My Way.”
The broadcast shifted back to the Stade de France for the closing ceremony’s final segment: an enchanting version of “My Way” belted out by Yseult. Dressed in Dior, the French singer wore a black belted jacket with a matching column skirt. She accessorized with a chic hat, black leather gloves, and sparkling heart-shaped earrings.
As the final notes rang out, fireworks exploded over the stadium, ensuring that the Paris Olympics went out with a bang.
Snoop Dogg brings out Dr. Dre.
Snoop Dogg—a fixture at this year’s Games—brought his Long Beach style to the stage as he rapped “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Performing next to a couple of sand sculptures, he brought out longtime collaborator Dr. Dre for their 1999 anthem “The Next Episode.”
Billie Eilish performs “Birds of a Feather.”
Keeping her performance short and sweet, Eilish appeared on another beachy stage to sing her recent single “Birds of a Feather.” She wore her usual baggy uniform, although this time, she was outfitted by Ralph Lauren—just like Team USA.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers kick off the Los Angeles performances.
After the Olympic flag was delivered to Los Angeles, the Red Hot Chili Peppers represented their hometown with a rendition of their hit “Can’t Stop.”
Tom Cruise pulls off some Mission: Impossible–style stunts.
Tom Cruise delivered the Olympic flag to Los Angeles in a very Tom Cruise way. After rappelling off the roof of the Stade de France, the actor hopped on a motorcycle and drove the flag out of the stadium.
A pretaped segment then showed Cruise on a Mission: Impossible–style journey. He parachuted into Los Angeles, grabbing a tool kit to affix colorful fabrics to the Hollywood sign. After he finished, the final two O’s in the iconic landmark (plus three extras) replicated the Olympic rings.
H.E.R. performs the U.S. national anthem.
After the Olympic flag was passed from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass—signifying the handoff of the Games from the French to the American city—Grammy-winning R&B singer H.E.R. took the stage to sing the U.S. national anthem.
She wore a strapless all-white look, matching her custom guitar. After belting out the final notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” she paused and began strumming the Mission: Impossible theme song as Cruise descended from the roof of the stadium.
Phoenix performs alongside surprise guests.
After the dancers had been cleared off the futuristic stage, French indie band Phoenix performed its hit “Lisztomania” surrounded by athletes. DJ Kavinsky and Belgian singer Angèle then joined the band to play “Nightcall,” before launching into “If I Ever Feel Better,” featuring a verse from Cambodian rapper VannDa.
Fellow French rockers Air then showed up to play “Playground Love.” The surprise guests continued with Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig hopping onstage to sing “Tonight,” his duet with the Phoenix. Phoenix closed out its set with “1901,” which saw frontman Thomas Mars jump into the crowd of moshing Olympians.
Hundreds of acrobats take the stage.
Hundreds of acrobats and dancers flooded the stage in France, joining the Golden Voyager’s interpretive dance. Some descended upon the stadium from the sky, while others climbed onto the stage.
They then began climbing on five rings situated around the stage, inching them closer and closer together while they danced. As they performed flips and elaborate dance moves, the rings were raised into the air to symbolize the rebirth of the Games.
A piano then emerged from underneath the set, dangling vertically as Alain Roche played the instrument suspended in midair. French singer Benjamin Bernheim joined the acrobats on the rings for a powerful rendition of “Hymn to Apollo.”
The Golden Voyager rappels into the stadium.
An acrobatic performance showcased the Golden Voyager, a character dressed in a stunning golden costume with alienlike antennas. He rappelled from the top of the stadium before doing an interpretive dance while surrounded by smoke.
Shortly after, he was joined by some of the characters from the opening ceremony, including one bringing up the Greek flag. The national anthem of Greece—where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896—played as the performers honored the Games.
A light-and-smoke show transported the audience to another universe in which the Olympics did not exist—until the Golden Voyager brought them back with his performance. A statue depicting Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, joined him onstage.
Marathon runners receive their medals.
For the first time, the women’s marathon event concluded the Olympics. Marathon runners Sifan Hassan (of the Netherlands), Tigst Assefa (Ethiopa), and Hellen Obiri (Kenya) took center stage to get their medals. Hassan took home the gold while wearing a hijab—despite the fact that France does not allow the athletes to wear the headscarf—as Assefa won silver and Obiri took bronze.
Athletes dance along to “We Are the Champions.”
As the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” played, pairs of athletes began to file into the Olympic stadium while carrying their respective countries’ flags. Swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead carried the flag for the United States.
Other competing athletes followed—decked out with all their medals—singing and dancing along to Queen’s “We Are the Champions.” Team USA looked especially excited.
French singer Zaho de Sagazan begins the closing ceremony.
The closing ceremony kicked off with French singer Zaho de Sagazan performing the famous French song “Sous le Ciel de Paris” in the Jardin des Tuileries, next to the Olympic cauldron.
As she sang, French swimmer Léon Marchand walked around the Olympic cauldron and picked up the Olympic flame, which was set to be put out after the closing ceremony.
Maya Ernest
Weekend news editor
Maya Ernest is an editor who covers everything from the latest fashion news to features that investigate personal style, social media trends, and thoughtful consumption.
