Paris Closes Museums as Police Brace for Fresh Protest Violence

WHO:

NBC News - Trade unions said local authorities’ bans on some protest rallies violated constitutionally protected freedom of expression.

NBC News - Thousands of students and workers marched; trade unions led the Paris procession.

NBC News - Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 officers would be deployed nationwide. He acknowledged that police had lost control in some cities during the previous weekend’s unrest and offered to resign; President Emmanuel Macron refused.

NBC News - President Macron met high school representatives, who said he had promised to overhaul university admissions.

NBC News - Marine Le Pen’s National Rally held a two-day congress in Orléans.

NBC News - Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, boarded up an optician’s shop near Saint-Lazare station. He said the owner had called him the previous night and “seemed desperate,” adding, “He said I was saving his life.”

NBC News - Soumaya Abed, a 58-year-old nurse wearing a red CGT union vest, said she had joined protests for more than 30 years and had never seen a march start at Porte d’Italie. She said, “They are using what happened last week as an excuse to quiet protesters,” and, “It won’t stop the movement. It won’t stop students from demanding better conditions in schools.”

NBC News - Student groups called for 250,000 additional higher-education places, an end to selection through Parcoursup, more teachers, school and university repairs, an additional 200 euros a month in student grants, and a rent freeze in public student housing.

NBC News - Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and art teacher at Saint-Denis University, said, “The money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people.”

Fox News Travel - Tourists were turned away from the Louvre.

WHAT:

NBC News - A major Cézanne exhibit was on display at the Grand Palais when it was shuttered.

NBC News - President Macron’s popularity was at its lowest level since he took office in 2017.

NBC News - Major Paris museums—the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais—were closed. Art Basel opened to the public for one day, then organizers canceled its weekend program because of unrest concerns.

NBC News - Police used tear gas in Lyon and tear gas and stun grenades in Clermont-Ferrand. In Clermont-Ferrand, demonstrators were trying to reach the city center.

NBC News - More than half a million people demonstrated the previous Saturday; about 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted over that weekend.

NBC News - Public middle and high schools lost 15.4 million teaching hours in the 2024-25 school year because absent teachers were not replaced—7.5% of scheduled teaching time, according to Education Ministry figures.

NBC News - Energy prices in France were 21.3% higher in September than a year earlier, contributing to 3.1% overall inflation, according to INSEE.

Fox News Travel - Nationwide demonstrations and heightened security disrupted travel and major cultural attractions across Paris.

WHERE:

NBC News - Demonstrations took place in Paris and other French cities. The Paris march was restricted to the southeastern edge of the city, from Porte d’Italie toward Porte de Vincennes; police told people at Bastille to leave or face a 135-euro ($150) fine.

NBC News - Other named locations included Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Orléans, Marseille, Nice and Montpellier. Thousands also marched peacefully in Orléans against the far right.

WHEN:

NBC News - The protests and museum closures described occurred Saturday; the Paris march began early in the afternoon. Macron met high school representatives Friday.

WHY:

NBC News - President Macron said restrictions were needed to protect city centers, businesses and public buildings.

NBC News - The movement began over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris and expanded to demands for better schools, higher wages, pensions and help with living costs. Authorities restricted marches and closed museums to prevent further looting, burned cars and attacks on public buildings.

HOW:

NBC News - The planned Bastille-to-Nation route was replaced with a Porte d’Italie-to-Porte de Vincennes route. Police deployment was to include helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 18:00 UTC)

Protests over school conditions, wages and living costs spread across France, disrupting travel and closing major Paris museums. Thousands of students and workers marched in Paris, where authorities confined the procession to a southeastern route; police ordered people away from Bastille or risked fines. Trade unions said bans on some rallies violated freedom of expression. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 officers would be deployed nationwide, acknowledging police had lost control in some cities during the previous weekend’s unrest. He offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron refused. Police used tear gas in Lyon and tear gas and stun grenades in Clermont-Ferrand. The Louvre, Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais were shut, halting a major Cézanne exhibition. Macron said restrictions were needed to protect businesses and public buildings. Students are demanding more university places, teachers, repairs and financial support.

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(UPDATED October 24, 2026 14:59 UTC)

Demonstrations over school conditions, wages and living costs spread across France, while heightened security disrupted travel and closed major Paris museums. Thousands of students and workers marched through the capital on a restricted route from Porte d’Italie toward Porte de Vincennes; police ordered people at Bastille to leave or face a fine. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 officers would be deployed nationwide, with helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons. He acknowledged police had lost control in some cities during the previous weekend’s unrest and offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron refused. Police used tear gas in Lyon and tear gas and stun grenades in Clermont-Ferrand. The Louvre, Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais closed, and Art Basel canceled its weekend program. Student groups demanded more university places, teachers and grants, plus an end to admissions selection.