Hundreds of fans have been camping outside Céline Dion's Paris hotel to catch a glimpse of the singer as she rehearses for a sold-out run of comeback shows beginning this weekend. It marks a hugely anticipated return for the 58-year-old Canadian star, who announced in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with the rare, incurable autoimmune disorder stiff-person syndrome and has since spoken openly about the severe pain and muscle spasms it causes, including in the 2024 documentary I Am: Céline Dion.

Fans, some of whom travelled long distances and waited up to 36 hours behind barriers, described Dion as an inspiration for her honesty about her illness. She has repaid their patience by regularly appearing outside the hotel to greet, chat with and even dance for the crowd, though she has said she is avoiding going out elsewhere in Paris to conserve energy for rehearsals. Dion, who has a huge French fanbase thanks to her French-language back catalogue as well as global hits such as My Heart Will Go On, also performed at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, and the gathering outside her hotel has developed into an impromptu street party with music and dancing.