Culture · Louvre blockadeLouvre Paris closure: Student blockade shuts museum entrancesAired October 20, 2026 at 8:19 AM UTCWritten October 20, 2026 at 8:23 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyExplore with HeyDexFollow via RSSTranscript · LOADING0:08Students blocked the Louvre's entrances and forced the museum to turn visitors away.0:12On October 8th, we reported French school protests spreading, with violence in0:16several places.0:17Monday's blockade disrupted visits to collections, including the Mona Lisa.0:21When could those visitors enter, and what would happen to their bookings?0:25Students reportedly barricaded three entrances, the Glass Pyramid, Carousel du0:31Louvre, and Passage Richelieu.0:33The pyramid blockade began around the usual 9 a.m.0:36opening on Monday, October 19th.0:38People arriving for a museum visit were turned away.0:41The earlier violence figures concerned a different day.0:44On October 8th, we reported that the Interior Minister had recorded 4400:48apprehensions and 48 police officers injured on September 29th.0:52Those figures described that day's unrest across France.0:55Several dozen École du Louvre students launched the action.0:59Students from the National School of Fine Arts were also among those leading it.1:03École du Louvre students had already blocked their own school on October 9th before1:07Monday's action at the museum.1:09The students acted in solidarity with the high school protest movement and against1:13what they called police repression.1:15Their concerns included public funding cuts, inadequate resources, and access to1:19culture.1:20Education and cultural resources were central to the action, alongside broader anger1:25about living costs and police actions.1:27Museum managers first described a delayed opening.1:30Their public message then said student strikes had closed the museum for the moment.1:34By Monday afternoon, they hadn't announced when admission would resume.1:38The blockade stopped visitors reaching the collections.1:41Violence during the wider French protests doesn't tell us what happened at these1:44entrances.1:45No injuries or damage to the museum or its collections have been confirmed in1:49Monday's action.1:50The Louvre also faced an entrance blockade on March 27th, 2023, during protests over1:56pension reform.1:57Monday's student action came more than three years later, with education funding and2:01solidarity with high school protesters at its center.2:04The Louvre introduced a daily admission cap of 30,000 in spring 2022.2:09That gives a sense of the museum's scale.2:11It doesn't tell us how many people arrived during Monday's blockade or how many were2:14turned away.2:15The Louvre welcomed 7.8 million visitors over the whole of 2022.2:20Monday's affected visitor count is unknown.2:22The estimate of up to 20,000 visitors on busy days hasn't been confirmed, so it2:26can't measure the disruption either.2:28Reservations were required from October 17th through November 1st, with some2:32exceptions.2:33People booking during that period still depended on the museum being able to admit2:37them.2:37For anyone whose visit was canceled, the ticket terms allow refund exceptions to the2:41usual restrictions.2:42Tickets ordinarily can't be refunded or resold, but the museum's terms allow2:46exceptions.2:47General refund claims must reach the museum within one month of the booked visit or2:51activity.2:52Visitors can use the refund form or submit a claim by post.2:55The museum also has a student strike notice promising automatic reimbursement for2:59the day it covers.3:00It's undated, so it doesn't confirm automatic refunds for October 19th.3:04The day's reopening time and final arrangements for those bookings are still3:08unclear.The shortRelated coverageSame eventOct 8 00:32 UTCA Lens Pupil Lost His Hand. France’s Grenade Pause Leaves the Crucial Questions Open
