The Louvre, major Paris museums and Art Basel closed ahead of Saturday's planned protest. The shutdowns reflect heightened safety fears after France's worst unrest in years.Image used for representational purposes onlyParis,Oct 23, 2026 15:46 ISTThe Louvre and several other major museums in Paris will remain closed on Saturday amid concerns over possible violence during planned protests, news agency Press Trust of India reported.France's culture ministry said the Orsay and Picasso museums were among the institutions that would close.
The decision follows violent unrest during protests last Saturday, when rioters set fires, smashed shop windows, looted stores and clashed with police.The ministry asked all institutions under its authority to take necessary measures to ensure "visitor safety, staff protection and the preservation of artworks", according to a statement cited by PTI.Art Basel Paris has also cancelled its weekend programme because of the threat of unrest. After two days of admission by invitation only, the fair opened to the public on Friday, but only for the day.
The Grand Palais in Paris is hosting 211 international galleries and their exhibitions for Art Basel, which is considered one of the world's leading contemporary art fairs."It's kind of like the art Olympics," New York-based artist Drake Carr, who is showing his work with Mariposa Gallery, said. The fair is being held at a time of heightened social tension in the French capital.
The clashes and widespread looting over the previous weekend marked France's most violent unrest in years.A protest in Paris on Thursday afternoon remained peaceful. Around the same time, Art Basel's organisers announced that the fair would close for the weekend.
The protest planned for Saturday is expected to be much larger."This decision has not been taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our utmost priority," the organisers said in a statement. A similar announcement was posted on the fair's website, which said weekend ticket holders would be contacted.Saloni Doshi, an art collector who travelled from India to Paris for the fair, said she became worried last Saturday after seeing fires and panicked people.
She also received calls from friends asking whether Paris was safe. Doshi said she agreed with the organisers' decision to close the fair."It's hard that something like this has to happen, but state activities and people's freedom have to continue," she told the news agency. "I cannot imagine that a bunch of elite, privileged people getting inconvenienced because of this should have a voice."Antoine Donzeaud and Elisa Rigoulet, owners of the exo exo gallery, also supported the decision. "We understand this decision, which we consider reasonable and consistent with the urgency of the social demands currently unfolding in France," they said in a text message.The Louvre, other major museums and Art Basel Paris will, therefore, remain closed over the weekend as authorities and organisers prioritise public safety amid concerns about further unrest.With PTI Inputs- Ends