Five of France’s flagship cultural sites—including the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Château de Versailles, the Centre Pompidou and the Musée du Quai Branly—will increase admission fees for non-European visitors on 14 January 2026. The Louvre ticket will rise from €22 to €32, while EU/EEA residents keep current prices.
Unions representing museum workers have slammed the two-tier pricing as “discriminatory,” arguing it undermines France’s image as a welcoming destination. Management counters that the surcharge will fund restoration projects and mitigate surging energy costs without burdening French taxpayers.
![Louvre to Charge Non-EU Tourists €32 from January, Sparking Equity Debate]()
With foreigners making up nearly 70 % of the Louvre’s 8.7 million visitors in 2024—Americans being the largest group—the policy is expected to generate an extra €70 million annually. Tour operators say families on multi-city European vacations may rethink Paris stop-overs or shorten stays, while luxury retailers fear reduced footfall in the capital’s “golden triangle.”
For corporate mobility teams arranging relocation orientation or client entertainment, budgets may need adjusting. Employers might switch to smaller, less-crowded venues eligible for group discounts. VAT rules allow companies to reclaim some cultural-ticket expenses, but only if invoiced correctly.
The price hike also dovetails with EU plans to roll out the ETIAS travel authorisation in late 2026, meaning long-haul visitors could face higher upfront costs for paperwork and sightseeing alike. Industry bodies have called on the Culture Ministry to publish an impact assessment before implementation.
Unions representing museum workers have slammed the two-tier pricing as “discriminatory,” arguing it undermines France’s image as a welcoming destination. Management counters that the surcharge will fund restoration projects and mitigate surging energy costs without burdening French taxpayers.
With foreigners making up nearly 70 % of the Louvre’s 8.7 million visitors in 2024—Americans being the largest group—the policy is expected to generate an extra €70 million annually. Tour operators say families on multi-city European vacations may rethink Paris stop-overs or shorten stays, while luxury retailers fear reduced footfall in the capital’s “golden triangle.”
For corporate mobility teams arranging relocation orientation or client entertainment, budgets may need adjusting. Employers might switch to smaller, less-crowded venues eligible for group discounts. VAT rules allow companies to reclaim some cultural-ticket expenses, but only if invoiced correctly.
The price hike also dovetails with EU plans to roll out the ETIAS travel authorisation in late 2026, meaning long-haul visitors could face higher upfront costs for paperwork and sightseeing alike. Industry bodies have called on the Culture Ministry to publish an impact assessment before implementation.
