France cost-of-living protests drew crowds across the country on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with police using tear gas in several cities and some businesses taking precautions after violence and looting during demonstrations the previous weekend.

Key Takeaways

  • Police used tear gas in Paris and several other cities; some protesters threw projectiles at officers.
  • Several thousand people marched in Bordeaux, while the authorized Paris march drew thousands.
  • Some Paris retailers boarded up windows or removed merchandise before the demonstrations.

France cost-of-living protests reach multiple cities

The authorized Paris march began at Porte d’Italie and ended at Porte de Vincennes, where police used tear gas and baton-charged protesters. A student named David said an officer threw a baton that struck him in the face.

Police also fired tear gas in Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes and Toulouse. In Nantes, officers used a water cannon while blocking access to a bridge over the Loire River, and some demonstrators threw small projectiles toward them.

Protesters voice concern over rising costs

In Marseille, a 22-year-old protester named Aliyah said rising costs were people’s primary concern. In Bordeaux, Lucie, a 42-year-old designer, described the previous weekend’s violence as unfortunate but said financial hardship could generate anger.

In Paris, a protester named Aurore said people had come to demonstrate peacefully but wanted others to understand their anger. Another participant, Ynyane, said taxes were too high and that he wanted to support people who were struggling.

Businesses take precautions

Near Paris’s Bastille square, a clothing store removed its merchandise ahead of the demonstrations, while a nearby restaurant was boarded up despite signs saying it remained open. Many retailers in the capital covered their windows with wooden boards.

In Grenoble, shops and restaurants were open in the morning, although a curfew was in place in parts of the city and several shopping centers from 6 p.m.

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