Hundreds of thousands march across France over rising living costs as evening clashes lead to arrests

Summary

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living and a lack of government resources for essential services such as schools. Demonstrations in Paris started peacefully but ended with a heavy security response. After largely peaceful marches, clashes broke out in the evening in several cities, where police fired tear gas and water cannon, while a large police presence and rerouted protest routes kept wholesale vandalism in check. About 70,000 law enforcement officers were mobilised ahead of the protests after authorities bolstered security following the previous weekend's riots. Reported arrest figures differ: France 24 and The New York Times cite nearly 1,000, Africanews cites over 1,000, and the BBC and Euronews headlines cite more than 1,300. Protests also took place in other European countries. France 24 reports that the government said the marches "went well", a week after looting and violence.

Timeline

1. France 24

   24 Oct 2026, 21:01 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that the government said the marches "went well" despite nearly 1,000 arrests, after hundreds of thousands marched on Saturday over rising living costs and a lack of resources for schools and other essential services.

2. The New York Times

   24 Oct 2026, 21:23 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that clashes broke out in the evening after largely peaceful Saturday marches, and that a large police presence, about 1,000 arrests and rerouted protest routes kept wholesale vandalism in check.

3. Euronews

   25 Oct 2026, 08:35 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports more than 1,300 arrests across France as protesters clashed with police, after some 70,000 law enforcement officers were mobilised ahead of Saturday's protests following last weekend's riots.

4. France 24

   25 Oct 2026, 09:35 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that there were some clashes on Saturday, mainly in major cities as demonstrations came to an end, and that authorities say police made nearly 1,000 arrests nationwide.

5. BBC

   25 Oct 2026, 10:38 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that more than 1,300 people were arrested as clashes followed another day of mass protests across France, which drew hundreds of thousands, with protests also taking place in other European countries.

6. Africanews

   25 Oct 2026, 12:48 UTCSource ↗

   Africanews reports that over 1,000 people were arrested in France after a day of mostly peaceful protests, and that police fired tear gas and water cannon after nightfall to disperse protesters in a number of cities.