A fresh youth-led protest by high school students and students is taking place in Paris this Thursday, October 8, 2026, with a start from Place de la Bastille, at the junction of the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements. Two days after a rally that drew between 50,000 and 100,000 people in the capital, youth organizations are back on the streets. Gatherings are also planned in Hauts-de-Seine (92), Seine-Saint-Denis (93) and Val-de-Marne (94).
Tuesday, October 6, the streets of Paris had already set the tone. The Paris demonstration of October 6 showcased a generation that feels it isn’t being taken seriously. This Thursday, the high school and university unions plan to keep that momentum going, as if two halves of the same match were being played back-to-back.
The Paris gathering is set for 3:00 p.m. at Place de la Bastille. Earlier in the day, between noon and 2 p.m., rallies are planned in front of the departmental prefectures: in Nanterre for the Hauts-de-Seine, in Bobigny for Seine-Saint-Denis, and in Créteil for Val-de-Marne.
The route of the Parisian march depends on the declaration approved by the police prefecture. In the days leading up to the event, the prefecture has at times banned gatherings near certain high schools: it’s best to check its announcements before you head out.
The official route hasn’t been publicly detailed, but the station closures ordered by the RATP at the request of the police prefecture give a sense of the procession’s direction. Starting at noon, trains will no longer stop at Jacques Bonsergent (line 5), Barbès - Rochechouart (lines 2 and 4), and La Chapelle (line 2).
These three stations outline a north‑eastward sweep across Paris. The procession would depart from Bastille and reach République via the grand boulevards (Beaumarchais Boulevard, then Boulevard du Temple), before turning onto the Boulevard de Magenta in the 10th arrondissement, where Jacques Bonsergent station is located. It would then run along Gare de l'Est and Gare du Nord, ending its route near Barbès and La Chapelle, at the border between the 10th and 18th arrondissements.
This route remains a best-guess based on announced closures: only the Paris police prefecture can confirm the exact course and final destination. Note that access to the Charles de Gaulle–Étoile station is closed all day as well, but for security reasons not directly tied to this parade.
For now, only calls to take the Bastille are circulating, issued by both students and the unions. It is possible that the protest will remain static.
This fresh appeal arrived soon after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s announcements. In a letter to his ministers dated October 4, he outlined five priority areas: teaching conditions, school hours, school buildings, Parcoursup, and high-school democracy. A first assessment is due on October 16, but for the students taking part in the protests, there’s still no concrete answer on the table.
Their demands have remained unchanged since the movement began, which started at Saint-Exupéry High School in Créteil: more resources for education, substitutes for absent teachers, smaller class sizes, and buildings that are finally kept in good repair.
The Student Union is already talking about an “Act IV” and warns: “We won’t stop until we’ve won our demands.” On Franceinfo, Ryad Rani, president of the High School Students’ Union, has meanwhile urged protesters to keep the blockades going and to join Thursday’s marches.
Teachers are not sitting on the sidelines. In a statement released on Wednesday, October 7, the Snes-FSU, the Snep-FSU and the Snuep-FSU are calling to ramp up the movement with strikes and demonstrations, alongside high school students.
The CGT also says it will be out this Thursday with high school students and university students. The union plans to step up actions ahead of the big interprofessional day of strikes and demonstrations scheduled for November 5, 2026. The same message comes from Solidaires, which is calling for a national day of mobilization and urging its members to join and protect the marches.
High school students aren’t the only ones taking to the streets this Thursday. Ahead of their march, the early-childhood strike brings together professionals and parents at 10 a.m., at Place des Droits-de-l'Enfant, at the corner of rue de la Tombe-Issoire and rue d'Alésia, in the 14th arrondissement. The location, just a stone’s throw from Montsouris Park and the Alésia metro station (line 4), is no accident.
The Fédération CGT des Services publics has filed a strike notice covering municipal nurseries, in conjunction with the collective Pas de bébés à la consigne. The strikers are demanding, among other things, one qualified professional for every five children, higher wages, and recognition of occupational wear. If your child attends a nursery, it’s wise to check with the management that the facility will indeed open this Thursday.
The day isn’t limited to the parade. Daycare centers, school cafeterias, fuel supplies and high schools — we’ve got the latest on the strike and demonstrations planned for October 8 to help you map out your day. the latest on the strike and protests for October 8 to help you plan your day.
On the transport front, the RATP is closing three stations from noon, with reopening depending on the police prefecture. Transfers aren’t guaranteed at Barbès - Rochechouart, which complicates trips on lines 2 and 4. Before you head to the metro, check the list of closed metro stations this Thursday, the update on accesses closed to Charles de Gaulle - Étoile and Argentine, as well as real-time traffic information on the RATP site.
Protest in Paris on October 8: the list of metro stations closed this Thursday
Due to a new high school and university protest planned for October 8, 2026 in Paris, the RATP warns of disruptions to public transport. Here is the list of metro stations closed this Thursday. [Read more]
New disruptions announced in Paris's public transport system. On Thursday, October 8, 2026, access to the Charles de Gaulle–Étoile and Argentine stations is closed until further notice, "due to security measures requested by the Police Prefecture," the RATP says. More on the story to come. [Read more]
If you’re not taking part in the march, it’s best to avoid driving along the Bastille–République–Gare de l’Est–Barbès corridor from early afternoon. The days leading up to today have sometimes seen tensions on the fringes of the demonstrations, so take extra care if you’re passing through the area with children.
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Protest in Paris on October 8: the list of metro stations closed this Thursday
Paris transport: access to the Charles de Gaulle–Étoile and Argentine stations closed this Thursday.
