Published on : 24 Oct 2026
TRENDING: FRANCE IS MARKING A SECOND SATURDAY OF NATIONWIDE PROTESTS WITH ABOUT 70,000 POLICE DEPLOYED, BANS ON DEMONSTRATIONS IN SEVERAL CITIES, A PARIS MARCH ROUTE THAT POLICE CHANGED AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND THE LOUVRE, MUSÉE D’ORSAY AND ART BASEL PARIS SHUT. HERE IS WHAT VISITORS NEED TO KNOW CITY BY CITY.
Published: October 24, 2026
One week after the October 17 protests turned into riots and looting, unions, yellow-vest groups and student organisations have called another day of action. The CGT union has asked its roughly 600,000 members to join peacefully. Authorities fear renewed violence and have banned or restricted protests in several cities. Most of France is operating normally, but the centres of Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities are not.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original route | Bastille to Nation, 2pm. Proposed by the CGT, backed by student and workers’ unions, and approved by the Paris Police Prefecture on Thursday October 22 |
| Friday afternoon change | The prefecture banned that route and offered Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes along the boulevards des Maréchaux, authorised 1pm–7pm (Riotimes, citing the prefecture; TASS, citing France Info) |
| Reaction | The Paris CGT said the new route is “impossible to secure.” The student federation Fage called it an “unacceptable last-minute reversal.” The union coalition rejected it and says it will go to Bastille “as planned” |
| Legal challenge | The coalition announced an urgent request to the Paris administrative court on Saturday morning. No ruling was known when we wrote this |
| Banned | A separate Bastille to Opéra march planned by yellow-vest groups and Interfac Île-de-France |
| Status | Disputed. Where marchers actually gather, and whether the 2pm start holds, is not confirmed |
Plan as if Bastille, Nation, the Right Bank and the eastern boulevards are all affected this afternoon and evening.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Louvre | Closed today. Bookings refunded automatically |
| Musée d’Orsay, Picasso Museum, Grand Palais | Closed |
| Art Basel Paris | Shut over the weekend |
| Metro (RATP) | 24 stations closed from 9am (from Argentine to Varenne), plus three interrupted sections: Barbès–Rochechouart–Nation, Kléber–Charles de Gaulle–Étoile and Madeleine–Notre-Dame-des-Champs. Trains pass through without stopping, and reopening needs police authorisation |
| Overnight (from 10pm) | République, Châtelet, Les Halles and Châtelet–Les Halles closed (as announced Oct 23) |
| Shops | Shops along the routes are advised to close. Residents and shopkeepers asked to bring in bins, bikes and terrace furniture from noon |
| Events | Some outdoor Mon Premier Festival events in central Paris cancelled |
The curfew continues around Place de la République and Les Halles, 11pm to 6am, until 6am Monday October 26.
Full detail: Paris curfew extended to October 26 (Oct 22 article; update link to your newer Oct 23 piece when live).
| City | What we know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lyon | The Rhône prefecture banned all demonstrations in the city on Saturday | The Local, franceinfo via Manifs.win |
| Marseille / Bouches-du-Rhône | All protests banned across the department, declared or not. Infostourisme reports the planned general suspension of buses, metros and trams was dropped on Oct 23, so service will be adjusted on the day. Aix-en-Provence reports Aix–Marseille and Aix–Salon links suspended from 5am Oct 24 to 5am Oct 25. Check RTM and the operator | Infostourisme, Manifs.win |
| Nice | Protests banned (Sunday Guardian) | Sunday Guardian |
| Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre, Toulon | Protests banned in city centres. Rouen: 9am–8pm in several central zones. Toulon: 11am–11:59pm in a central perimeter, with limits on unaccompanied minors from 6pm | The Local, Infostourisme |
| Le Mans | A ban in a central area that extends beyond Saturday | Infostourisme |
| Bordeaux | Local transport could be disrupted; temporary tram stops and bus detours expected | Infostourisme |
| Toulouse | A rally is announced at Jean-Jaurès at 2pm. Prefectural decision not verified | Manifs.win |
Local curfews are also in place in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and Lyon (The Local). Bans are being challenged in court, so some could be overturned. Check the local prefecture before you go out.
More than 600 demonstrations are planned across France (Connexion France). Not all will go ahead.
About 550,000 people marched according to the Interior Ministry (organisers said 800,000), but some protests turned into riots and looting. Reports mention looting in 200–300 shops in Lyon and a tourist office set on fire. The Local reports a town hall in Limoges set on fire.
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Sunday Oct 25 | Paris curfew continues (11pm–6am) |
| Monday Oct 26, 6am | Paris curfew ends unless extended |
| Saturday Oct 31 | Another mobilisation announced on social media, details to be confirmed |
| Tuesday Nov 3 | Nationwide student protest day (Paris à la Carte) |
| Thursday Nov 5 | Nationwide cross-sector strike by a union coalition against planned 2027 budget cuts. Yellow-vest leaders say they will join. Includes SNCF per earlier reports |
| Government | Advice |
|---|---|
| Canada | “Exercise a high degree of caution.” Avoid demonstration areas and follow local authorities. Face-covering ban applies, including airport arrival areas |
| Australia | Smartraveller: high degree of caution, avoid demonstrations |
| United States | Issued or updated guidance for France (Skift, Oct 19). Check travel.state.gov and the US Embassy alerts |
| United Kingdom | Check the current FCDO France page. We could not confirm its latest wording |
✓ Avoid Bastille, Nation, République, Les Halles, the Champs-Élysées and Opéra from midday ✓ Do not plan Louvre, Orsay, Picasso Museum or Grand Palais visits today ✓ Check the RATP app before every metro journey ✓ Be back at your hotel before 11pm if you are in or near République or Les Halles ✓ Allow extra time for airport and station transfers. Pre-book a taxi if travelling at night ✓ Do not cover your face in public: France has a ban with fines ✓ Keep passport (or copy) and hotel address on you ✓ Keep valuables out of sight and bags zipped in crowded areas ✓ Check the local prefecture and your embassy alerts before going out ✓ Check your insurance policy wording for civil unrest cover
Posted By : Vinay
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