The longest-running labour dispute in the recent history of the Louvre is over. On Thursday, 29 October 2026, the museum’s management and the union coalition CGT-CFDT-SUD signed a protocol to end the crisis. The unions had filed a standing strike notice in December 2025, demanding better working conditions, more staff and a commitment to preservation work on the building.
Eight days of disruption
Since December, the conflict had led to eight days of disruption at the world’s most visited museum, four full closures and four partial openings. The notice also hung over the Louvre as a constant threat: staff could have blocked the museum at short notice at any point. Management called the signature “a positive step for the Louvre”.
What the staff won
According to the CFDT Culture union, the agreement brings 50 additional reception and security posts in 2027. For 2028 there is a commitment to direct recruitment; the exact number depends on the state budget, but the unions hope to reach around 100 extra staff in total. Part of the reception and security staff will get a raise of €50 a month. The unions say they wanted improvements for all employees but obtained them only for this group.
Union representatives also point to a striking figure: they say about a third of the galleries are closed because there are not enough people to watch them. A CGT spokesperson linked the hiring directly to the spectacular theft of eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels in October 2025, arguing that more guards on the floor will deter criminals.
Fewer visitors on peak days
Perhaps the most interesting concession concerns visitors. Management has committed to lowering the maximum number of daily visitors when the museum is overcrowded or under construction, partly through mandatory booking at busy times and guaranteed priority for school groups. The protocol also gives priority to budgets for safeguarding the historic building.
A new chapter under new leadership
The deal comes eight months after Christophe Leribault, previously head of the Château de Versailles, replaced Laurence des Cars at the top of the museum in February. The unions say social dialogue has improved considerably since then. Bigger debates remain, especially over the “Louvre – Nouvelle Renaissance” project, the modernisation plan of at least €1 billion that includes a new entrance and a new room for the Mona Lisa, which some unions fear will push visitor numbers even higher. For now, though, Paris can count on its most famous museum staying open.