Paris faces the Halloween and All Saints' weekend under a new partial curfew, after the French Prefecture of Police decided to restore nighttime circulation restrictions in several parts of the capital in view of the risk of new disturbances. The measure, announced on Friday, October 30, will especially affect the Place de la République and the Châtelet-Les Halles area, two of the places where episodes of violence and looting were recorded during the mobilizations of recent weeks. In these sectors, the movement of people will be prohibited between 23:00 and 6:00 during the nights from Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, November 1 and from Sunday, November 1 to Monday, November 2, with exceptions for residents, workers and public services.
The restrictions coincide with a new day of demonstrations against the rising cost of living and the problems of the French education system, in a context of protests that have spread over three consecutive weekends. The authorities also fear that Halloween celebrations will encourage nighttime gatherings and new incidents. For this reason, the Prefecture has established a second curfew, which begins at 21:00 and affects minors who circulate without their legal representatives in certain sectors of Paris. However, the measures do not imply the closure of the entire city nor do they generally prohibit nighttime travel outside the established perimeters.
What areas of Paris are affected by the curfew
The prefectural decree number 2026-01485, signed on October 30, establishes two specific areas in which the movement of people will be prohibited during the restricted hours. The first corresponds to the Place de la République (Place de la République), located at the junction of the III, X and XI districts. In this case, the prohibition is concentrated in the central esplanade of the square, around the monument to the Republic, and does not automatically extend to the entirety of the surrounding neighborhoods.
The second affected zone is Châtelet-Les Halles, in district I, especially the area surrounding the Forum des Halles shopping center and the Canopée, one of the busiest commercial and transport areas in the capital. Both spaces appear delimited in the maps attached to the Prefecture order, so the restrictions must be interpreted in accordance with those limits and not as a general ban on moving around the entire historic center.
The measure affects both French residents and foreign visitors, although it contemplates certain exceptions. Outside these two perimeters, adults may move around in general terms, provided they respect other security restrictions that may apply to demonstrations, gatherings, or specific access points.
Curfew hours in Paris: when it starts and when it ends
The schedule approved by the French authorities establishes two consecutive nights of general restrictions, with the same start and end time.
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Saturday October 31 to Sunday November 1: from 23:00 to 6:00 hours.
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Sunday November 1 to Monday November 2: from 23:00 to 6:00 hours.
The time slots correspond to French local time, which coincides with that of peninsular Spain. The general curfew does not affect the night from Friday October 30 to Saturday October 31, although during that period the specific restriction for unaccompanied minors does apply.
The order is temporary and, according to the information published by the Prefecture, will end at 6:00 hours on Monday November 2. Its possible continuation will depend on the decisions adopted by the security authorities depending on the evolution of the protests and the incidents recorded during the weekend.
Which people can go out during the curfew: all the exceptions
Despite the prohibition on moving around between 23:00 and 6:00 hours, the regulations contemplate exceptions for those people who need to access the restricted areas for justified reasons. The aim is to prevent the measure from hindering access to homes, workplaces, or essential services.
Residents may move around as long as they prove that their home is located within the affected perimeter or in its vicinity and that they need to cross it. The authorities allow this circumstance to be demonstrated through supporting documentation, so it is advisable to carry an identity document and proof of address.
Also authorized will be workers who must access these areas or cross them due to professional obligations, including those who carry out activities at night. To avoid incidents during police checks, they must be able to justify their movement with employment documentation or other suitable means.
Finally, employees of public services, especially emergency, health, and rescue teams, will be exempt from the prohibition when they need to travel to perform their duties. The measure seeks to ensure that security restrictions do not hinder the response to urgent situations.
By contrast, tourist status does not in itself constitute an automatic exception. Those who have booked accommodation in the vicinity of République or Les Halles will have to check whether it is within the restricted perimeter and what documentation they need to justify access.
Curfew from 9:00 p.m. for minors: which neighborhoods are included
In addition to the general device, the Prefecture of Police has approved specific restrictions for minors under 18 who are not accompanied by at least one of their legal representatives. This second measure applies from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for three consecutive nights, from Friday, October 30 until the early hours of Monday, November 2.
Its territorial scope is broader than that of the general curfew and covers especially sensitive sectors of the capital. Among them are the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, the surroundings of the Élysée Palace, Madeleine and the Saint-Lazare station, as well as other areas near public institutions, railway stations and commercial zones.
The restrictions also cover delimited areas around the National Assembly, the Senate, the Place de la Bastille, the North and East stations, Lyon station, Montparnasse and certain sectors of Châtelet-Les Halles. They do not necessarily affect all of the districts where these places are located, but rather the perimeters defined by the Prefecture.
Minors who are accompanied by a legal representative are not subject to this specific 21:00 ban. Exceptions are also contemplated for medical emergency situations and travel related to duly justified training obligations.
The new order comes after the Paris Administrative Court suspended on October 28 a previous restriction for minors, considering that the circumstances justifying such an intense limitation on freedom of movement had not been sufficiently substantiated. The Prefecture approved the following day a new device with which it intends to respond to the judicial objections and prevent possible disturbances.
Demonstrations and risk of riots: why Paris is bringing back the restrictions
The decision to impose a new curfew responds to the succession of social protests that France has been registering since mid-October, initially driven by students who denounced problems in the education system and later expanded to demands over wages, the cost of living and the economic situation.
The mobilizations of October 17 and 18 ended with serious disturbances, clashes with the security forces and looting of commercial establishments. The following weekend incidents were also reported, although much of the demonstrations took place peacefully. According to data released by the French authorities, more than 1,300 people were arrested across the country during the mobilizations of the weekend of October 24.
For this Saturday, October 31, the Prefecture estimates attendance of between 100,000 and 150,000 demonstrators in Paris. The main march will take place between Porte de Bagnolet and Porte de Charenton, following a route along the capital’s peripheral boulevards. The authorities have planned a large security operation, while the Ministry of the Interior has announced the deployment of some 70,000 police officers and gendarmes throughout France, a national figure that does not correspond exclusively to Paris.
The French Government has also prohibited unnotified gatherings and demonstrations in certain sectors of the capital from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30 until 6:00 a.m. on Monday, November 2. This restriction is independent of the curfew and specifically affects those who take part in unauthorized meetings or marches in the established perimeters.
Metro and public transport: which stations may be affected this weekend
The extraordinary security measures will also have consequences for the Paris metro and suburban trains, especially in areas near the demonstrations and the sectors subject to the curfew. The municipal authorities have announced access restrictions to different stations during Saturday, while transport operators will have to adapt services according to police instructions.
Among the sensitive points are République, Châtelet, Les Halles, Bastille, Concorde, Charles de Gaulle-Étoile and several stations near the Champs-Élysées. Some of these stops will be temporarily closed or may have access limitations, which will also affect transfers and certain trips to the center.
Nevertheless, the decree establishing the curfew does not automatically imply the closure of all stations located in the affected neighborhoods. Transport restrictions are approved through specific decisions and may change during the day. Therefore, citizens and tourists should consult the updated notices from RATP and Île-de-France Mobilités before beginning their journeys.
What tourists visiting Paris on Halloween should keep in mind
The application of the curfew does not imply the cancellation of all activities scheduled during the Halloween weekend. The general restrictions are concentrated in two perimeters and begin at 23:00 hours, so tourist visits and travel through other areas of the capital are not automatically prohibited.
However, those who plan to go to restaurants, leisure establishments or accommodations located near the Place de la République or Châtelet-Les Halles should plan their travel to avoid finding themselves within the restricted zones after the start of the prohibition. It is also advisable to check public transport schedules and keep the necessary supporting documents if one must access any of the affected sectors for authorized reasons.
This weekend's curfew therefore represents a localized and temporary restriction, not a general closure of Paris. The French authorities seek to prevent new episodes of violence during the third consecutive day of major mobilizations, in a capital that faces Halloween under a strong police presence and with special restrictions that will remain, in principle, until the morning of Monday, November 2.