The Louvre Museum Reveals to Afaq News an Increase in Entrance Fees for Non-European Visitors.. What is the Percentage?

- The cost of visiting the Louvre Museum in the French capital, Paris, is expected to rise significantly for travelers from outside Europe, as officials announced plans to increase ticket prices by 45%. Starting from January 14, 2026, the cost of a single ticket for visitors from outside the European Economic Area - a group of countries that includes EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway - will be 32 euros (37 USD), according to a spokesperson for the Louvre Museum to Afaaq News on Friday.

Visitors in a group accompanied by a tour guide will be required to pay 28 euros (32.40 USD) per person. These price increases are expected to generate an additional 15 to 20 million euros (approximately 17 to 23 million USD) annually, which will be invested in "updating and developing the Louvre Museum to address the structural issues it faces," according to the spokesperson.

The Louvre Palace was built since the late 12th century and served as the official residence of the Kings of France for centuries. The decision by Louis XIV to move his court to Versailles, on the outskirts of the French capital, led to the establishment of the Louvre Museum in 1793.

Since then, the museum has become the most visited in the world and a prominent cultural destination for any stay in Paris. In 2025, the Louvre Museum welcomed 8.7 million visitors, with American tourists making up 13% of the total visitors, ranking second after the French.

However, the large crowds visiting the museum daily have put pressure on this historic building and its staff. Among other issues, security measures have been found to be inadequate, which was dramatically revealed on October 19 when a bold daytime robbery occurred in which four men stole priceless historical jewelry.

These flaws were described in a report issued by a French court on November 6, which strongly criticized the Louvre's management for focusing on high-profile purchases and renovation projects at the expense of maintaining the security of one of the largest museums in the world. The theft of jewelry from the Louvre is the latest problem facing France's most famous museum, and Pierre Moscovici, the head of the Court of Auditors who prepared the report, told reporters that the theft was a "loud alarm signal" for the museum.

However, the plan to raise ticket prices for visitors from outside the European Economic Area predates the theft, as announced by Culture Minister Rachida Dati earlier this year. The spokesperson added that similar measures will also be applied to other tourist attractions, such as the Palace of Versailles, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, and the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley.