After losing some paintings, is the Louvre Museum on the verge of losing its dignity? Starting from January 14, 2026, anyone coming from outside the European Economic Area will need to shell out no less than... 32 euros to explore the 73,000 m² of the Louvre. For those affected, the ticket price will increase by 45%, which is 10 euros more than the current price.
The Americans, the museum's largest foreign audience, and the Chinese visitors, who rank third, will likely appreciate this shift in policy for an establishment where 69% of visitors are from abroad.
Le Louvre augmente son tarif d'entrée de près de 30% en 2024. En cause, une hausse astronomique de ses coûts d'énergie. Avec 8,7 millions de visiteurs attendus cette année, il renoue presque avec son affluence pre-covid. https://t.co/JRJDQNG8ZW
— Olivier Milot (@oliviermilot) December 8, 2023
A Stab at Universalism Signed Dati
This measure, approved at the end of November by the board of directors, follows a recommendation from the Minister of Culture and candidate for the Paris mayoralty, Rachida Dati, who is determined to boost the museum's funds. The Louvre hopes to raise 15 to 20 million euros per year, aimed at addressing structural issues, from the aging of the building to the security gaps highlighted by the dramatic burglary on October 19.
This targeted increase is not sitting well with the unions, which denounce an abandonment of the “ equal access ” to the Louvre's collections. For SUD, the measure “ annihilates two centuries of universalism ”, while the CGT points to a “ bizarre price discrimination .
bsp;» disguising a disengagement of the State.Le prix plein tarif du Louvre est passé de 17€ à 22€. Cette ↗️ est symptomatique de politiques publiques qui tendent vers l'élitisme. 22€ c'est pas loin du "reste à vivre" de quelqu'un au SMIC vivant à Paris. Pour que la culture ne soit pas une variable d'ajustement ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Kk0kNlFzCQ
— Alice Timsit (@aliceTIMSIT) February 7, 2024
Towards a Pricing Revolution in French Museums
Another concern is the control of visitors' nationality. The agents, already facing chronic understaffing, are worried about a surge in workload. The Court of Auditors had even warned: by applying the highest rate by default, it would require checking a massive amount of documentation. This prospect is already causing some grumbles at the entrance of the most visited museum in the world.
The Louvre is just the beginning. According to Rachida Dati, all national cultural operators will adopt differentiated pricing in 2026. At Versailles, a 3 euro increase for non-European residents is being considered, a change that could bring in 9.3 million euros, even though it...
It's not been validated yet. The Musée d'Orsay, on the other hand, states that they have no plans for the moment.See this post on Instagram
In the meantime, the debate is heating up: modernizing museums, yes, but charging more for those who come from afar to admire the Mona Lisa, maybe not. One thing is for sure, in Paris, the issue of cultural tourism and its funding is far from settled!