Paris museums shut on 24 October, a central Paris curfew runs to 26 October, and MKG data show the capital's hotel booking lead over 2025 shrinking.
Cover image: The Louvre Pyramid in Paris (file photo) — photo by Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Paris museums including the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée Picasso closed on Saturday 24 October ahead of fresh nationwide protests, and, as of 25 October 2026, an overnight curfew in parts of central Paris runs until Monday 26 October. Between 19 and 20 October, Paris hotels' booking lead over 2025 for stays from 20 to 25 October narrowed from 3.5 to 1.9 percentage points, according to MKG Consulting figures reported by AFP.
The movement began in September with high-school students demanding better conditions, then widened to the cost of living and fuel prices. On 17 October more than half a million people marched across France, according to the authorities, and looting broke out in cities including Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux.
What is closed or restricted in Paris as of 25 October 2026?
The Préfecture de Police imposed an 11pm-to-6am curfew in parts of central Paris, including around Place de la République and Les Halles, on Monday 19 October, Condé Nast Traveller reported. Al Jazeera said on 23 October it had been extended until Monday 26 October, the latest end date reported as of 25 October 2026.
Police put Saturday's Paris march at 110,000, on a route confined to the city's south-eastern edge, NBC News reported.
| Date | Disruption in Paris | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 19 Oct | Students block the Louvre; overnight curfew begins, later extended to Mon 26 Oct | Condé Nast Traveller; Al Jazeera |
| Thu 22 Oct | Several Metro stations, incl. Bastille, closed from 10am; part of Line 10 cut | Condé Nast Traveller |
| Fri 23 Oct | Art Basel Paris ends two days early | Al Jazeera |
| Fri 23 to Sun 25 Oct | Metro and RER trains skip République, Châtelet and Les Halles from 10pm | Sortiraparis, citing RATP |
| Sat 24 Oct | Louvre, Orsay, Picasso Museum, Grand Palais, Fondation Louis Vuitton closed | NBC News; Al Jazeera |
How much have the protests hit Paris hotel bookings?
For stays from 20 to 29 October, MKG said the lead shrank within a day from 1.0 percentage point above 2025 to 0.2 points. "This slowdown is especially notable for near-term and high-end stays," it said, comparing the episode with the Yellow Vest protests of December 2018.
Didier Arino of consultancy Protourisme said one day of rioting in central Paris caused "around a one-percent cancellation rate for the monthly count". Distance amplifies the effect, he told AFP: "the further away the clients are, the more sensitive they are to safety risks".
France usually receives about 100 million visitors a year, spending more than €70 billion, AFP noted.
What do the UK and US travel advisories say?
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) last updated its France advice on 22 October; the page was still marked current on 25 October 2026. It warns of an "increased likelihood of demonstrations... sometimes at short notice" and possible "partial and localised curfews", but does not advise against travel.
The US State Department updated its advisory on 21 October, citing terrorism and unrest. A US Embassy alert on 22 October told Americans in Paris for the NFL game on Sunday 25 October to exercise caution.
Our guide to what travel insurance actually covers explains foreseeable-event exclusions.
What is Accor telling investors about France?
France is Accor's largest market, with 23 per cent of global room revenue and the Paris region about 12 per cent, Skift reported. On the 22 October earnings call, finance chief Martine Gerow said Accor had built "some prudence in France given the events" into its outlook, and said it had seen "a bit of a pick-up in the cancellations" in France but nothing concerning in forward bookings.
Accor expects full-year RevPAR growth at the upper end of 2 to 2.5 per cent, after a 4.9 per cent third-quarter rise. Hilton's earlier 2026 results are in our hotel industry performance round-up for 2026.
What happens next for travel to France?
High-school students have called days of action on 3 and 5 November, Condé Nast Traveller reported. Student groups were awaiting proposals in talks with the prime minister on Monday 26 October, according to Al Jazeera. The unrest also falls in the Toussaint school holidays.
Laurent Abitbol of travel agency group Selectour framed the risk: "If this lasts two weeks, that's not so serious. However, if this continues for several months it will be catastrophic."
Frequently asked questions
Is the Louvre open during the France protests?
Students blocked the Louvre on Monday 19 October, and it closed on Saturday 24 October with the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée Picasso and the Grand Palais ahead of protests. The announced closures covered that Saturday. As of 25 October 2026, check official channels before visiting.
Is there a curfew in Paris?
Yes. An 11pm-to-6am curfew has applied in parts of central Paris, including around Place de la République and Les Halles, since Monday 19 October. As of 25 October 2026, its latest reported end date was Monday 26 October. Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice have used localised curfews.
Do the UK and US advise against travel to France?
No. As of 25 October 2026, the UK FCDO warns of demonstrations at short notice and possible localised curfews but does not advise against travel. The US keeps France at Level 2, "exercise increased caution", citing terrorism and unrest. China and Germany have also issued advisories.
Are more protests planned in France?
Yes. High-school students have called days of action on 3 and 5 November, according to Condé Nast Traveller, and student groups were awaiting proposals from the prime minister in talks on Monday 26 October.
Sources
- AFP via The Korea Times, France's tourism sector worried about impact of riots
- Condé Nast Traveller, Is it safe to travel to Paris right now?
- Al Jazeera, France to deploy 70,000 police for weekend protests
- NBC News, Mass protests challenge Macron in Paris
- GOV.UK (FCDO), France travel advice
- U.S. Embassy Paris, Security Alert, 22 October 2026
- Skift, Accor builds caution into outlook over France unrest
- Sortiraparis, Metro and RER station closures, 23 to 25 October
