Paris sees 110,000 marchers as nationwide protests hit 410,000 amid clashes

Paris protest draws 110,000

On Saturday, 24 October 2026, more than 110,000 people marched through Paris to protest school funding and rising living costs. Police estimated the turnout at 110,000, while organisers claimed a higher figure. The march was largely peaceful until the final stage, when demonstrators threw bottles and rocks at police near Porte de Vincennes. In response, officers fired tear gas and used water cannons, leading to an hour‑long clash.

The demonstration was part of a broader national campaign that saw 410,000 people take to the streets across France, according to the Interior Ministry. Organisers of the authorised events reported 800,000 participants nationwide, including 250,000 in Paris.

Clashes were reported in several other cities, including Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux, Nice, Marseille, and Toulouse. In Toulouse, a protester sustained a serious hand injury during a confrontation with law enforcement as the demonstration dispersed.

Background

The protests were organised by a coalition of unions, student groups, environmentalists and other civil society organisations. They were held in the context of President Emmanuel Macron’s final months in office, with voters set to choose his successor in May. The demonstrations focused on school funding, the cost of living and the defence of public services.

Police restrictions confined the Paris march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the centre, and some rallies in Marseille, Lyon, Nice and Montpellier were banned by local authorities. The Interior Ministry announced that nearly 1,000 people were arrested across the country, with 64 arrested in Paris and 40 placed in police custody, including six minors.

Why it matters

The protests test Macron’s authority ahead of the upcoming election, with the far‑right National Rally and other parties closely watching the government’s response. The use of tear gas and water cannons in multiple cities highlights the potential for civil unrest and the strain on law‑enforcement resources. The injuries and arrests underscore the seriousness of the demonstrations and the impact on public safety.

The scale of the protests—410,000 participants nationwide—shows significant public engagement on issues of education and economic hardship, potentially influencing policy decisions and electoral outcomes.

What happens next

The Interior Ministry has indicated that the number of arrests is likely to increase as investigations continue. Police and prosecutors are reviewing the incidents in Paris and other cities, and the government is monitoring the situation closely as the election campaign intensifies. No further dates or specific actions were announced in the sources provided.