The Louvre increases entrance prices for tourists

The Louvre Museum in Paris has once again been in the news — this time for significantly increasing its entrance fee for visitors from outside Europe. The change came into effect on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Under a newly introduced two-tier ticketing system, people who are not residents or citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein now pay a higher admission price. This includes visitors from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and others outside that group.

Previously, the cost to enter the Louvre for non-European tourists had already risen from €17 to €22 in January 2024. Now, the price has jumped by about 45% — up to €32.

Officials say the higher fee helps fund major renovation plans and improved security at the world’s largest and most-visited museum, which houses around half a million works of art. These upgrades are part of a project described by French President Emmanuel Macron as the “Louvre – Nouvelle Renaissance.”

While the museum still offers free or reduced entry for certain groups (such as young people and EU residents), the new pricing structure has drawn criticism. For example, some unions argue that charging different prices based on nationality turns access to culture into a commercial product rather than a universal right.