Louvre Hours: Opening Days, Closing Day and Late Openings
Updated October 28, 2026
Quick answer
Louvre hours: the museum opens Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. It closes every Tuesday, as well as on January 1, May 1 and December 25. Last admission is one hour before closing and the galleries start clearing 30 minutes before.
| Day | Hours | Last admission | Galleries clear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 am–6:00 pm | 5:00 pm | 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | Closed | — | — |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am–9:00 pm | 8:00 pm | 8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 9:00 am–6:00 pm | 5:00 pm | 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 9:00 am–9:00 pm | 8:00 pm | 8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9:00 am–6:00 pm | 5:00 pm | 5:30 pm |
| Sunday | 9:00 am–6:00 pm | 5:00 pm | 5:30 pm |
| January 1, May 1 and December 25 | Closed | — | — |
| Other public holidays | That day's hours | One hour before closing | 30 min before closing |
Opening hours by day
The museum opens at 9:00 am on the six days of the week it operates. On four days it closes at 6:00 pm (Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) and on two days, Wednesday and Friday, it stays open until 9:00 pm. Your ticket carries a time slot: arrive at the time you booked, because the ticket is only valid for that date and slot and cannot be changed once bought. Outside the building, the Cour Napoléon, the Pyramid courtyard, closes at 9:00 pm and the Cour Carrée at 7:45 pm.
Closing day
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, every week of the year. If your trip falls on a Tuesday, move the visit to Monday or Wednesday. It also closes on three fixed holidays: January 1, May 1 and December 25. Other French public holidays open with normal hours, unless they fall on a Tuesday. In the coming months, that means it is open on Sunday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and closed on Friday, December 25, 2026 and Friday, January 1, 2027.
Late openings
On Wednesdays and Fridays the museum is open until 9:00 pm, with last admission at 8:00 pm. These are the only two evenings you can get in after 5:00 pm. On the first Friday of each month, from 6:00 pm, entry is free for everyone, except in July and August. The next ones are November 6 and December 4, 2026; on Friday, January 1, 2027 the museum is closed.
Last entry and clearing the galleries
Last admission is one hour before closing: at 5:00 pm on days the museum closes at 6:00 pm and at 8:00 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. The galleries start clearing 30 minutes before closing, at 5:30 pm or 8:30 pm. If you go in on the last slot, you have half an hour at most to see the galleries at an easy pace. The Porte des Lions entrance, for ticket holders only, admits visitors until 5:00 pm and closes at 6:00 pm even on late-opening days.
Exceptional closures and strikes
On top of the fixed closures, the museum may close because of a staff strike. It happened on December 15, 2025 and again on January 12 and 19, 2026, when staff were protesting a lack of personnel; according to the museum, visitors with tickets for those days were refunded automatically. Some rooms also close for maintenance: the museum publishes a calendar of open rooms on its website. If your visit centers on one particular work, check it before you go.
Opening hours and your ticket's time slot
From October 17 to November 1, 2026 booking a time slot is mandatory for everyone, including those who get in free. The rest of the year the museum recommends it, and it is the only way to guarantee entry. With a booked ticket you use the priority line at the Pyramid or go in through the Carrousel gallery. The ticket is good for a single entry: if you leave the museum, you can't get back in.
Frequently asked questions
What day is the Louvre closed?
Tuesdays. It is also closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Is the Louvre open on Mondays?
Yes, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with last admission at 5:00 pm.
What time does the Louvre close?
At 6:00 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and at 9:00 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, with last admission at 8:00 pm on those late-opening days.
Is the Louvre open on Sundays and public holidays?
Yes. On Sundays it opens from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on public holidays it keeps that day's hours, except on January 1, May 1, December 25 and holidays that fall on a Tuesday.
What happens if the Louvre closes for a strike?
For the strike closures of December 2025 and January 2026, the museum automatically refunded tickets for those days. Tours bought from a booking partner are handled with the partner.
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