One of France’s most famous tourist attractions is set to introduce a higher entry fee for millions of visitors from outside the European Union. The Louvre Museum in Paris will raise ticket prices for these tourists early next year, meaning people travelling from countries including the UK, US and China will soon have to pay €32 (£28) to get inside.

The Louvre welcomes around nine million people every year, with the majority arriving from overseas. More than one in 10 visitors comes from the US, while travellers from China make up around 6% of total attendance. The decision to raise prices was confirmed by the museum’s board, and the money generated will help fund large-scale improvements to the building.

The Louvre has announced several renovation projects due to ageing infrastructure, congestion inside the galleries and concerns about the museum’s ability to cope with such high visitor numbers.

Recent events have also increased pressure to invest more in security. In October, a four-person gang carried out a heist inside the museum, stealing jewellery worth $102m (£76m) and escaping within minutes. 

An audit published shortly afterwards highlighted weaknesses in security systems as well as outdated facilities.

The new price will apply from January 14, 2026, to visitors from countries outside the European Economic Area. Those travelling from within the EEA will continue to pay the current rate (€22). 

Crowding has long been one of the Louvre’s biggest problems. On a typical day, around 30,000 people move through its galleries, and many of them rush straight to see the Mona Lisa. 

The painting, displayed in the Salle des États, attracts such large crowds that visitors often only get a few seconds to view it before being moved along.

French President Emmanuel Macron has previously acknowledged these issues. 

At the beginning of the year, he and the museum announced plans to improve the visitor experience and indicated that higher ticket prices for non-EU residents could come into force in 2026.

He also said the Mona Lisa would be moved to a new space to reduce overcrowding.

Alongside adjusting ticket prices, the Louvre is planning a series of upgrades worth several hundred million euros. 

These include renovating parts of the museum, improving facilities and adding new amenities such as restaurants and toilets.

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