Louvre to Raise Ticket Prices by 45% for Non-EU Tourists to Fund Renovations

Visitors take pictures of the painting "Mona Lisa" (La Joconde) by Leonardo da Vinci at the Louvre Museum on the day it reopened to the public for the first time since last Sunday's heist, while the Galerie d'Apollon where eight pieces of Napoleon and the Empress's jewelry collection displayed in the gallery were stolen by thieves, remains closed, in Paris, France, October 22, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

PARIS, November 29, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Louvre Museum will raise ticket prices by 45% for most non-European Union visitors starting January 14, as part of efforts to finance major renovation and security improvements following the theft of crown jewels last month, a museum spokesperson said on Friday.

Under the new pricing system, visitors from outside the EU or the European Economic Area—including Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway—will pay €32 ($37) per ticket. British visitors will also be subject to the higher rate.

The decision follows a daylight burglary on October 19, during which four thieves stole jewels valued at $102 million, exposing significant security deficiencies at the world’s most visited museum. In November, structural vulnerabilities led to the partial closure of one of its wings.

France’s state auditor has urged the Louvre to prioritize security enhancements over new acquisitions. The museum announced plans to install 100 additional external security cameras by the end of 2026 as part of a six-year renovation strategy.

Nearly 9 million visitors entered the Louvre last year, with foreign tourists accounting for almost three-quarters of attendance. The revised pricing is expected to generate an additional €15–20 million annually.

Other major French cultural institutions—including the Palace of Versailles, Sainte-Chapelle, the Paris Opera House, and Château de Chambord—are also expected to raise ticket prices next year.

Police have arrested the four suspected burglars, as well as several alleged accomplices. The stolen jewels have not yet been recovered.