Cost of living protests spread across Europe on Saturday, October 24, 2026. France’s government counted about 410,000 marchers, while crowds also gathered in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania. Most marches stayed calm. However, police reported clashes in several cities and close to 1,000 arrests in France alone, CBS News reported.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- France’s Interior Ministry counted about 410,000 people at nearly 300 protests on October 24, while the CGT union put turnout near 800,000 (CBS News).
- French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said nearly 1,000 people were arrested across the country that day (CBS News, Euronews).
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent 500 extra soldiers to Milan after violent marches there a week earlier (AP).
What happened at Saturday’s cost of living protests in Europe?
France saw the biggest turnout. Police counted 110,000 people in Paris, while unions said 250,000 joined, according to CBS News. Riot police used tear gas in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and several other cities after some marches turned violent, Euronews reported.
Italy had a tense but smaller day. AP reported that thousands of young people marched in Milan, Rome and Turin. The Milan march stayed peaceful, but there were brief clashes in Rome and Turin. Italian police reported nine arrests and 371 short detentions, 110 of them minors, according to Euronews.
Elsewhere, the issues were different. In Tirana, police used water cannons on students and opposition supporters, AP said. Thousands of retirees marched in Madrid to defend public pensions. In Lisbon, the focus was rent and housing.
Why do the cost of living protests in Europe matter to readers abroad?
They land just before big elections. France votes for a new president in about six months, and Euronews noted that the unrest now hangs over that race. Spain also holds a snap election next month, and pensions have become a campaign issue there, AP reported.
There is a practical side too. Shops in central Paris and Milan were boarded up on Saturday, and some events in Paris were called off, CBS said. So travelers heading to France or Italy may want to check local news and official travel notices before a trip.
What led to the cost of living protests in Europe?
In France, the movement began in September. High school students in Paris first protested for more teachers, more funding and better buildings. Then the anger widened to prices and fuel costs, Euronews and CBS reported.
The week before had been rougher. Euronews said about 2,700 people were arrested in France on the previous Saturday, after looting and damage to public buildings. In Milan, police said around 2,000 very young people took part in violent marches, and 45 people were arrested over two days, AP reported.
Each country has its own grievances, though. Italian marchers targeted energy bills and rearmament. Albanian students want lower tuition and less corruption in education. Portuguese renters object to new rules that ease rent caps.
How have governments reacted?
Officials stress security, while organizers stress the right to march. Nuñez described “an extremely elevated level of violence” from small ultra-left groups, CBS reported. He also said looting was far lower than a week earlier. Meanwhile, unions criticized a late police decision to move the main Paris route, according to Euronews.
In Italy, Meloni also called for tougher penalties for minors involved in violence, AP said. In Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama invited students to talks but warned that violent protesters would be punished. In Portugal, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro says his rental changes will add homes to the market, while protesters argue they leave tenants exposed.
What happens next?
More dates are already set. The Yellow Vests movement plans protests on October 31, including a sit-in outside parliament, according to CBS News. Albania’s government says it is preparing a response to student demands, and Spain’s election campaign will keep pensions in the headlines.
How to follow live coverage
For live reporting from the streets of Paris, Milan and Madrid, these official channels are the best places to start:
- France 24 English covers French politics in depth, with reporters across the country.
- Euronews tracks protests in several EU capitals at once.
- DW News adds a German and wider EU view.
- BBC News carries regular Europe updates for UK and US viewers.
For more options, see our guide to European news channels in English and the rest of our Hot Topics explainers.
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Frequently asked questions
Why are people protesting across Europe?
The causes differ by country. In France, it started with school funding and grew into anger over prices and fuel. Spain’s marches focus on pensions, Portugal’s on housing, and Albania’s on tuition and corruption.
How many people joined the protests in France?
France’s Interior Ministry counted about 410,000 on October 24. The CGT union said around 800,000 took part. The two sides often give very different numbers for the same marches.
Are the cost of living protests in Europe over?
No. A new round is planned in France for October 31, according to CBS News. In addition, protests in Albania have gone on for more than a week.
