Dachshunds steal the spotlight on Champs-Élysées during Paris Fashion Week

Hundreds of dachshunds strutted their tiny legs down the iconic Champs-Elysees on Sunday (October 4), delighting onlookers as the "Sausage Walk" celebrated its 2026 edition with colourful costumes, wagging tails, and French flair.

With pooches dressed as everything from Parisians in striped shirts and berets to pint-sized cowboys, the event turned heads on the famed avenue near the Arc de Triomphe.

"It's Paris Fashion Week. So we're all dressed up, perfectly coordinated, and I'm having a blast," said Sophie Delaporte, a 66-year-old retiree.

Inspired by a similar event in London and held in Paris annually since 2018, the Sausage Walk draws hundreds of dachshund owners and fans from across Europe. For some, like German veterinarian Janna Plum, it has become a yearly tradition.

"We came here last year and we enjoyed it so much, so we came back for this year's Sausage Walk," said Plum. Her favorite part? The shared "enthusiasm for the teckels."

Participants started gathering at the top of the iconic avenue at 10 a.m., where dachshunds of every shape, size, and coat colour, even some in wheelchairs, mingled with their owners.

The 1.4-kilometre (0.6 mile) saunter, ended around 1 p.m.

The Sausage Walk coincided with World Animal Day, and the organizers used the occasion to raise funds for Teckels Sans Doux Foyer, a charity dedicated to rescuing and caring for abandoned or mistreated dachshunds.

Camera & production: Manuel Ausloos/Reuters