Agitators Shut Down The Louvre As Riots Rock Paris

Violent riots have rocked Paris — and now would-be museum patrons are paying the price, as protesters have forced the Louvre to close its doors.

The official account for the famous art museum shared the news in both French and English via X, citing a “student social movement.” No date was given for the museum’s return to normal business operations.

“Dear visitors, due to student strikes the museum is currently closed. We apologise for the inconvenience,” the museum posted.

🇫🇷 Chers visiteurs, en raison d’un mouvement social étudiant, le musée est fermé pour le moment. Nous vous prions de nous excuser de la gêne occasionnée.

🌍Dear visitors, due to student strikes the museum is currently closed. We apologise for the inconvenience. https://t.co/tNKFk3B9aj

— Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) October 19, 2026

Tourists who had hoped to visit the Louvre on Monday were captured on video shouting “you sons of b*tches” and waving their middle fingers at the protesters who were blocking the entrance to the museum.

Des touristes venus visiter le musée du Louvre insultent et font des doigts d’honneur aux étudiants qui bloquent le musée depuis ce matin.

#Louvre #Paris #17octobre #24octobre https://t.co/YoH0cGgbie

— Luc Auffret (@LucAuffret) October 19, 2026

By Monday morning, students from the École du Louvre had barricaded the museum’s entrances — the iconic glass pyramid, the Carrousel du Louvre and the Passage Richelieu — forcing management to turn away visitors, Fox News reported, citing AFP.

The blockade was organized in solidarity with nationwide protests over the rising cost of living and recent police actions, according to the outlet.

On a busy day, the renowned art museum — which plays host to masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” Johannes Vermeer’s “The Lacemaker,” the Venus de Milo, Michelangelo’s “Dying Slave,” and the Great Sphinx of Tanis — can draw as many as 20,000 visitors.

Rioters have also looted and damaged businesses, including major shopping districts in Paris, Fox News reported. Dozens of radical groups, including communist organizations and a Muslim student association, have backed the protests, where Palestinian flags are a common sight, The Daily Wire reported.