Ongoing Strike at the Louvre Museum Continues Amid Calls for Better Working Conditions and Financial Losses

The strike at the Louvre Museum in Paris, which started in mid-December 2025, has been renewed by a significant portion of the staff seeking improved working conditions and salary adjustments. Over 300 agents voted unanimously on February 2, 2026, to extend the labor action. The museum remains partially open, focusing on allowing visitors access to iconic works such as the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo while some areas remain closed due to the strike.

Union representative Christian Galani highlighted an “absence of firm commitment” from management regarding pay parity for employees compared to other cultural ministry workers. The strike mirrors ongoing challenges including understaffing and internal distrust, exacerbated by a high-profile robbery in October 2025 when jewels valued at 88 million euros were stolen from the museum.

Since the strike’s inception, the Louvre has faced four full closures and three partial openings, creating significant disruptions to tourism. The museum estimates losses of at least one million euros in revenue as a direct consequence of the industrial action. Museum management continues to engage with the Ministry of Culture in negotiations to resolve the dispute.

This labor dispute is considered one of the longest in the museum’s history, adding pressure to France’s premier cultural institution, which is globally renowned and attracts millions of visitors annually. The ongoing unrest highlights broader issues within the cultural sector workforce regarding conditions and fair compensation.