Short answer: the 24 October 2026 protest in Paris drew about 110,000 marchers, according to the police, on a route moved at the last minute to the southern edge of the city, from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes. The march was calm for most of the afternoon, but police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse it at the end, near Porte de Vincennes. The Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and many central metro stations were closed for the day, and 65 people were arrested in Paris. Across France, about 410,000 people marched according to the Interior Ministry, and nearly 1,000 people had been arrested by the evening.

Last updated: 6 November 2026. We added the final national figures and what has happened since.

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Key Facts (24 October 2026)

Paris turnout: about 110,000 marchers, according to the police.
France turnout: about 410,000 marchers, according to the Interior Ministry, against 550,000 on 17 October.
Route: Porte d'Italie (13th arrondissement) to Porte de Vincennes (12th and 20th), along the outer boulevards.
End of the march: tear gas and a water cannon used near Porte de Vincennes, according to France 24's live coverage.
Arrests: 65 in Paris, with more than 3,000 people checked, according to the police; 135 across France by early afternoon and nearly 1,000 by the evening, according to the Interior Minister.
Security: about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across France, according to the Interior Minister.
Closed for the day: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and other major museums, and many central metro stations.

Why Was the Route Changed?

The unions had planned the traditional route between Bastille and Nation. At the last minute, the police moved the march to the outer boulevards in the south-east of the city, away from the central shopping streets that were looted on 17 October. Union representative Murielle Guilbert called it "scandalous" that protesters could not march "where we wish to demonstrate," as CBS News and the AP reported.

How the Day Unfolded in Paris

Morning: a city on alert

Many central metro stations were closed at the request of the police. A bank branch near Place de la République was covered with wooden panels, and many shops had boarded up their windows. The Culture Ministry had closed the main museums for the day.

Afternoon: a large and mostly calm march

Marchers gathered at Porte d'Italie in the early afternoon. The police described the atmosphere as calm, and AFP described the march as largely calm and festive, although many protesters were angry about the restrictions, as France 24 reported.

Late afternoon: tear gas at Porte de Vincennes

The front of the march reached Porte de Vincennes, the end point, without incident. Later, as some protesters threw projectiles at the security forces, police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the demonstration near Porte de Vincennes, according to France 24's live coverage. By then, 65 people had been arrested in Paris. Police also said rioters tried to break into a car dealership near the end of the march and were stopped, according to the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA.

What Happened Elsewhere in France?

Outside Paris, the day was tenser. Police fired tear gas in Lyon, where protests had been banned, and in Nantes, where thousands of protesters broke through police lines and officers used a water cannon. Tear gas was also used in Lille and Toulouse, and clashes were reported in Montpellier. In Orléans, between 11,000 and 13,000 people marched peacefully against a congress of the far-right National Rally, according to the authorities (26,000 according to the organisers).

Turnout was clearly lower than the week before: by 1 pm, the Interior Ministry counted about 35,000 marchers across France, against 60,000 at the same time on 17 October, according to The Connexion. The final count was about 410,000 marchers across France, according to the Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said in the afternoon that there had been "no major incident" in the country, and reported nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide that evening.

What It Meant for Visitors

Museums: the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and other major museums were closed for the whole day. Art Basel Paris cancelled its weekend programme.
Getting around: many central metro stations were closed, and buses and trams crossing the route were diverted.
NFL weekend: the NFL closed its NFL House in central Paris for the day, citing "potential accessibility issues," as NBC News reported. The Saints against Steelers game at the Stade de France went ahead on Sunday 25 October, in front of 78,488 fans, and the Steelers won 16-10, as the AP reported.

What Happened After 24 October?

Sunday 25 October: the NFL game took place at the Stade de France, north of Paris, as planned.
Monday 26 October: the curfew applied for a last night, around République only. On 26 October, the government announced measures for schools, including the replacement of the Parcoursup university admissions platform from 2028 and a cap of 28 pupils per class from 2027, as Le Bonbon reported, but student organisations said they did not go far enough.
Saturday 31 October: a third protest Saturday, with about 70,000 marchers in Paris according to the police, from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton. It ended in clashes, and a gendarme was hit by a Molotov cocktail. The curfew around République and Châtelet-Les Halles was reinstated for that weekend.
Thursday 5 November: national strike and protest day, with 575,000 protesters across France according to the Interior Ministry, 25 metro stations closed in Paris and a march from République to Nation. See the November calendar for your trip.
Saturday 7 November: the Police Prefecture has banned the Yellow Vests' gathering at Place de la Concorde at 2 pm, and a union march goes from République to Nation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the 24 October 2026 protest in Paris violent?

Mostly not. Police counted about 110,000 marchers and described the march as calm, but they used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse it at the end, at Porte de Vincennes. 65 people were arrested in Paris.

Where did the 24 October march in Paris go?

The 24 October 2026 march went from Porte d'Italie to Porte de Vincennes, along the outer boulevards in the south-east of Paris, after the police moved it away from the usual Bastille to Nation route.

Was the Louvre open on 24 October 2026?

No. The Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and other major Paris museums were closed on Saturday 24 October 2026 as a precaution.

Did the NFL game in Paris go ahead?

Yes. The New Orleans Saints played the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Stade de France on Sunday 25 October 2026, the day after the protest, and the Steelers won 16-10.

When is the next protest in Paris?

On Saturday 7 November 2026, the authorised union march goes from République to Nation at 2 pm. The Police Prefecture has banned the Yellow Vests' gathering at Place de la Concorde, although the organisers say they will go anyway. See what is closed.

Can I book a private transfer in Paris on a protest day?

Yes. Samantha Travels operates 24/7 in Paris, including on protest days, and adapts the route and pickup point to the closures of the day.

Moving Around Paris on the Next Protest Day

Days like 24 October show the pattern: a city that stays open, but where closed stations, diverted buses and sealed-off streets make every journey longer. Samantha Travels operates 24/7, and on protest days we plan each ride around the authorised route, the closed stations and the curfew zones. If your street is close to the route, we agree with you on a quiet pickup point nearby.

For a match, a dinner or a full day out, hourly hire keeps the same car and chauffeur with you (see also our guide to arriving at a Paris event). For flights, our airport transfers include flight tracking and 60 minutes of free waiting after landing, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Contact us about your transfer or message us on WhatsApp.

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Paris Protest on 24 October 2026: Route, Closures and What Happened