Louvre and its unions sign deal, ending months of strike threat
The Louvre in Paris and its unions signed an agreement on Thursday 29 October 2026, ending a dispute that had kept the threat of closures hanging over the museum for months.
The trouble started in December 2025. Staff complained about poor working conditions, too few people on the floor, and the way the museum was handling its renovations. In mid-December, the Louvre was shut on a Monday after staff began strike action, according to Reuters. Later that month, staff voted to call off that strike for now.
The protests did not stop there. According to ArtNews, the strikes forced the Louvre to close completely for four days and partially for another four. Until the signing, the unions kept an official notice in place that allowed them to resume protests whenever needed. A trade publication, Beaux Arts, put the length of the action at eleven months.
So what did the deal change? The Louvre has pledged to hire 50 new security staff in 2027. That would bring the total to about 100 new hires by 2028. Security staff will also get a monthly raise of 50 euros ($56), ArtNews reported.
The agreement comes after a change at the top. Laurence des Cars stepped down as president of the Louvre following the theft of the crown jewels, ArtNews reported. Christophe Leribault has now been appointed to lead the museum.
For visitors, the immediate effect is a lower risk of sudden closures, at least for now. For the staff who guard the galleries and keep the building running, the deal sets out extra numbers on the roster and a bigger pay packet. Whether the new hires arrive on schedule will be the thing to watch over the next two years.
