November 28, 2025, 08:25November 28, 2025, 08:25
The Louvre in Paris will increase its admission prices for non-Europeans by 45 percent next year. From January 14, 2026, citizens of countries outside the European Economic Area – which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, but not Switzerland – will have to pay 32 euros for a ticket, the museum announced on Thursday.
US citizens are likely to be particularly affected by the price increase. Image: keystone
The money earned from the price increase will be used to address “structural problems” in the museum. The theft of the crown jewels in the Louvre in October revealed “inadequate security systems,” according to a recently published report by the Court of Auditors. By increasing ticket prices, the museum says it hopes to generate additional income of 15 to 20 million euros per year.
US citizens are likely to be particularly affected by the price increase: they make up the largest group of foreign visitors to the Louvre. Chinese citizens, in third place among foreign visitors, will also have to pay more admission in the future. According to an official Louvre tally, around 8.7 million people visited the museum last year, 69 percent of whom were foreigners.
In the break-in on October 19, four thieves stole crown jewels with a material value of around 88 million euros and inestimable historical value. The perpetrators entered the world-famous museum through a window in broad daylight using a freight elevator. They escaped with their prey along the same route and fled on scooters.
After the theft, the museum management came under criticism for a lack of security precautions. Museum director Laurence des Cars has now announced the establishment of a mobile police station in the Louvre. In addition, 100 new surveillance cameras are to be installed in the museum by the end of the year. (sda/afp)