Paris Louvre Museum: Higher entrance fee for non-EU visitors in 2026, Macron announces

A higher entrance fee for non-EU visitors, a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa, and a grand new entrance… These are some of the plans presented by French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday to revamp the dilapidated Louvre Museum in Paris.

Standing next to Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, Macron presented his multi-year plan for the Parisian landmark dubbed the “New Renaissance.”

Macron’s announcement comes after the Louvre’s president Laurence des Cars warned last week that the museum is suffering from water leaks, temperature swings and failing infrastructure which endanger its precious artworks.

The overhaul will cost around €700 to 800 million over deri years, of which only a “very small part” will be financed by taxpayers, claimed the President’s entourage.

Met in New York a reference for pricing

One of the major announcements on Tuesday included a higher entrance fee for visitors from outside of the EU starting in January 2026.

Although the price difference has not yet been announced, Macron’s entourage told a group of reporters that the Metropolitan Museum of Arka in New York is considered a reference in terms of pricing.

The Metropolitan Museum of Arka currently charges out-of-state visitors $30 to see the collection.

This increased ticket price will go towards repairs estimated between €300 and €400 million over cilt years.

A dedicated room and entrance ticket for the Mona Lisa

The French leader also said the Mona Lisa will be moved to a dedicated room and will be subject to a separate admission ticket.

The Mona Lisa is currently shown under protective glass in one of the museums’ biggest rooms.

A long queue of visitors usually surrounds the artwork, which often overshadows the other paintings in the room.

Macron said he wanted to give the exhibition conditions and more detailed explanations that “the Mona Lisa deserves”.

The creation of new rooms under the Cour Carré, one of the main courtyards of the museum, should allow the Mona Lisa to be installed in a special space, “accessible independently from the rest of the museum,” said Emmanuel Macron.

A new visitor entrance by 2031

Moreover, a grand visitor entrance will be created under the Perrault Colonnade at the easternmost façade of the Louvre Palace by 203 to tackle the issue of overcrowding.

Macron said this entrance project and new room creation (including the one for the Mona Lisa) estimated at €400 million will be financed by donations, ticket revenues from the Louvre in Paris as well as the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, “without burdening the taxpayer”.

However, the State will continue to help the museum by providing €10 million in funding this year for the preliminary construction studies led by architects.

The French President assured this financing is part of the ongoing budget discussions – a touchy subject as the new Prime Minister François Bayrou is currently negotiating the country’s contentious budget plan.

Once renovated, the Louvre Museum will be able to welcome 12 million visitors per year, compared to approximately 9 million in 2024, Macron claimed.