Louvre tickets 2026: prices, hours & how to book

Want the full picture? Our Louvre tickets pillar covers timed entry, prices, and what to do when tickets sell out.

How the 2026 ticket system works

The Louvre uses timed-entry tickets: every ticket is tied to a specific date and entry time slot. Booking a slot doesn't just get you in, it controls the flow of visitors through the museum, which is why peak-day slots sell out.

Price change to know about: since January 14, 2026, visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) pay a higher rate, €32 (≈$36) instead of €22 (≈$25). The increase funds the museum's "Louvre New Renaissance" renovation program. EEA residents and citizens still pay €22 (≈$25).

Ticket prices 2026

Visitor	Price
EEA resident / citizen (adult)	€22 (≈$25)
Non-EEA visitor (adult)	€32 (≈$36)
Under 18	Free
EEA resident under 26	Free (with ID)
First Friday of the month, 6–9 PM (except July & August)	Free for everyone

A few things worth knowing:

• Free doesn't mean walk-in. Even free categories generally need a timed reservation booked in advance.
• Bring proof. Discounted and free categories require valid ID or documentation at the entrance.
• Prices below are widely reported for 2026 across multiple travel outlets, but always confirm the current rate on louvre.fr before you book, since museum pricing can change.

Opening hours

Day	Hours
Monday	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday	9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Closed: every Tuesday, plus January 1, May 1, and December 25.
• Last entry is typically one hour before closing, and rooms begin clearing about 30 minutes before the doors shut.
• Evening openings (Wednesday and Friday) are noticeably quieter than daytime, one of the best-kept open secrets of visiting the Louvre.

How to book: the official channel

Book through the official ticketing portal linked from louvre.fr (third-party guides reference it as ticket.louvre.fr). Book there and nowhere else, reseller sites charge markups for the exact same timed slot.

Practical notes:

• Book ahead in peak season. Timed slots sell out days ahead in summer; the booking calendar typically runs a few months out.
• Summer 2026 rule: reservations were reported as mandatory for most visitors from July 1 through August 31, 2026, with limited exemptions. If you're visiting in that window, don't chance a walk-up.
• Save your ticket offline. You'll need it at the entrance, and connectivity around the Pyramid isn't something to rely on.

The standard ticket doesn't include an audio guide; the Louvre rents its official audio guide separately at the museum.

Entrances: which door to use

• The Pyramid (Cour Napoléon) is the main entrance, iconic, and the longest line.
• Carrousel du Louvre (99 Rue de Rivoli) is the underground shopping-mall entrance; often faster, and it connects directly to the museum.
• Porte des Lions is a smaller entrance that may open at peak times.

Use whichever entrance your ticket or the staff direct you to on the day, secondary entrances aren't guaranteed.

Getting there

• Métro: lines 1 and 7 to Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre, the station sits directly beneath the museum complex.
• On foot: from Place de la Concorde, it's about a 15-minute walk through the Tuileries Garden.

Before you go: quick checklist

• Timed ticket booked for the right date (double-check it's not a Tuesday)
• ID for any free/discounted category
• Ticket saved offline on your phone
• Plan for 2–3 hours minimum, the museum holds 35,000+ works across 8 departments, and "seeing it all" in one visit isn't realistic
• Arrive a little early for security screening

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Sources checked September 2026: louvre.fr (official); ticket prices reported by Travel And Tour World, NBC Palm Springs, and ArtVisitGuide; hours cross-checked across TheBetterVacation, Audiala, and Tickets-Paris. Museum rules change, verify critical details on louvre.fr before your visit.