The French Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday (November 27) that starting from January 14, 2026, the ticket prices for non-European Economic Area (EEA) visitors to the Louvre Museum will increase by 45%. This decision comes as the Louvre seeks additional funding for extensive modernization renovations. Visitors from China and the United States will be affected by this price hike.
From January 14 next year, visitors from outside Europe will see an increase in ticket prices for the Louvre Museum from 22 euros to 32 euros (about $37). The ticket prices for French residents and citizens of other EEA countries will remain unchanged.
The EEA includes EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Last year, this most renowned museum in France welcomed 8.7 million visitors, with American visitors accounting for 13%, Chinese visitors 6%, and British visitors 5%. Following the implementation of the new regulations, visitors from these three countries will all have to pay higher ticket prices.
A spokesperson for the Louvre told CNN that the ticket price increase is expected to generate an additional 15 to 20 million euros ($17 to 23 million) in revenue annually, which will be used for the “modernization and upgrade renovations of the Louvre to address the structural issues facing the museum.”
On October 19, the Louvre was involved in a theft incident where four thieves stole jewelry worth $102 million. Earlier this week, the police arrested a suspected accomplice, but the whereabouts of the jewelry remain unknown, raising concerns about the Louvre’s security measures.
On Friday, visitors outside the Louvre had mixed reactions to the news of the price hike.
According to Reuters, British visitor Simon Telfer believes the price hike policy is unfair. He said, “I think price hikes should be on a level playing field for everyone. I don’t quite understand the logic behind raising prices for non-Europeans. I mean, I support increasing fees to help protect these buildings, but clearly, the price hike should be fair.”
Visitor Harold Townson from Guatemala said, “I think the current price of 22 euros is reasonable. If it increases to 30 or 32 euros to cover maintenance costs, I think that would also be reasonable.”
Some other iconic landmarks in France, such as the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House, are also planning similar price hikes for their visitors.