The French government has approved a 45% ticket price increase for non-European tourists visiting the historic Louvre Museum in Paris, effective from January 14, 2026.
According to museum management, visitors from outside the European Economic Area (including the U.S., China, and the UK) will pay an additional €32 ($34.24) — €10 ($10.70) more than the current entry fee. The price adjustment, approved by the Louvre’s board of directors, will mainly impact American and Chinese tourists, who rank as the museum’s largest and third-largest foreign visitor groups respectively, as outlined in its 2024 activity report.
Last year, over 8.7 million people visited the Louvre — 77% of them from abroad.
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The increased revenue, expected to reach €20 million ($21.4 million) annually, is intended to address “structural problems” and support renovation efforts. The museum is currently under scrutiny after a major theft last month exposed significant security lapses.
On October 19, 2025, a four-member gang executed one of France’s largest heists, stealing royal Napoleonic jewels valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million) within minutes before fleeing on scooters. Investigators later revealed that the Louvre had prioritised acquiring new artworks over essential maintenance and restoration, leading to vulnerabilities in its security system.