When is the Louvre free?
Updated October 28, 2026
Quick answer
The Louvre is always free for under-18s and for EEA residents under 26, with ID. For everyone else, it is free on the first Friday of each month from 6:00 p.m., except in July and August, and on July 14. Even if you do not pay, it is worth booking a time slot on the official website.
Free entry is common: according to the museum's annual report, in 2025 30 % of visitors got in free and 44 % were under 26. Free entry does not let you skip the security check or the time slot: a free ticket is booked and used just like a paid one. An adult EEA resident with no right to free entry pays 22 €; visitors from outside the EEA pay 32 €.
Who gets in free
The official list distinguishes two groups. General free admission, the most used, covers under-18s of any nationality and EEA residents under 26. Then there are other cases, always with valid proof; photocopies are not accepted:
- People with disabilities — Free for the person and one companion.
- Unemployed EEA residents — Proof less than six months old and photo ID.
- Recipients of minimum income benefits in the EEA — Official proof.
- Art teachers resident in the EEA — Stamped certificate from their school.
- ICOM members and journalists — Valid card; for journalists, a national or international press card.
EEA residents under 26
If you are between 18 and 25 and a national or resident of an EEA country, you get in free on any opening day. You need photo ID and proof of residence: an EEA national identity card, such as a Spanish DNI, covers both. Anyone with a residence permit or a visa of more than 3 months counts as a resident. Being a student does not by itself entitle you to free entry: what counts is age and residence. A student aged 26 or over pays the full rate: 22 € for EEA residents, 32 € for everyone else.
First Friday evening of the month
On the first Friday of each month, from 6:00 p.m., admission is free for everyone, except in July and August. That day the museum is open until 9:00 p.m., with last admission at 8:00 p.m., so you have at most two hours to get in. The next dates are November 6 and December 4, 2026; on Friday, January 1, 2027 the museum is closed, and the following date is February 5, 2027. The first Sunday of the month is no longer free: the museum ended that free day in 2019 and replaced it with a free evening opening.
You need to book even if it is free
Yes. The museum recommends booking a time slot online for free visitors too: at the online ticket office you choose the free option that applies to you and show your proof at the check. Booking is the only way to guarantee entry. From October 17 to November 1, 2026, booking is mandatory for everyone. Like any ticket, a free one is valid for one date and time slot, and if you leave the museum you cannot go back in.
When a paid tour is worth it
Free entry does not include a guide or an audioguide. Museum-run guided visits cost 12 € (9 € for under-18s and EEA residents aged 18 to 25) and the official audioguide 6 €. If you want to see the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace with commentary and in little time, the guided tours with admission included that we sell start at $66 per person, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. If you are entitled to free entry, a museum-run guided visit works out cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Louvre free for under-26s?
Only if you are a national or resident of an EEA country. Under-18s get in free whatever their nationality.
Is the Louvre free for students?
Not for being a student. You get in free if you are under 26 and live in the EEA, or if you are under 18.
Is the Louvre free on the first Sunday of the month?
No. Since 2019 the free day is no longer Sunday; today it is the first Friday of each month from 6:00 p.m., except July and August.
How do I book a free Louvre ticket?
At the official online ticket office, choosing the free rate that applies to you. On the day of your visit, bring the document that proves it.
Do people with disabilities get in free?
Yes, the person with a disability and one companion, with proof. They also have a priority line with no wait at the Pyramid.
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