October 31 demonstration in Paris: What route will the unions take?

The October 31, 2026 demonstration in Paris is turning into a standoff. The Paris police headquarters has rejected the Bastille–Nation route submitted by the unions and proposed an alternative along the boulevards des Maréchaux, from Porte de Bagnolet (the 20th arrondissement) to Porte de Charenton (the 12th). The Île-de-France inter-union coalition has rejected the proposal and is considering an appeal.

This Halloween Saturday marks the third phase of the protests against the high cost of living. As we write, on Thursday, October 29, the order officially setting out the route has not yet been published. The route could therefore still change before Saturday.

What was said at the meeting at the prefecture?

The inter-union coalition recounts the exchange in a joint statement. Its representatives were received on Wednesday, October 28, at 4 p.m. Their statement repeated exactly the Bastille–Nation route approved for October 24, before it was banned the previous evening.

Across from them, the director of public order and traffic confirmed that demonstrations were banned throughout the city center, adding that he was following instructions from his superiors. The march is therefore once again confined to the Boulevards des Maréchaux, as it was a week earlier.

Why is the prefecture refusing the Bastille–Nation route?

The directive comes from the highest levels of government. On Monday, October 26, in Marseille, Emmanuel Macron announced that march routes would be kept outside city centers to protect property, businesses and public buildings following the looting on October 17.

The head of state took as his model the routes laid out on October 24. The traditional Bastille–Nation route, which runs along Rue de Lyon, Avenue Daumesnil and Boulevard de Reuilly, is therefore no longer permitted, even though it avoids the major shopping districts.

What route will the procession take between Bagnolet and Charenton?

The proposed route runs along the eastern edge of the capital, beside the ring road. On paper, following the Boulevards of the Marshals from Bagnolet to Charenton means taking Boulevards Davout, Soult and Poniatowski, passing Porte de Montreuil, Porte de Vincennes and Porte Dorée. The street-by-street details remain to be confirmed by an order from the Paris Police Prefecture.

The proposed end point has also raised hackles on the other side of the ring road. On Thursday evening, in a statement, Hervé Gicquel, the LR mayor of Charenton-le-Pont (Val-de-Marne), opposed the procession ending at Porte de Charenton, on the edge of his municipality, Le Parisien reports. Talks between the unions and the police prefecture are ongoing, and the route’s final destination could still change.

• To be read
• The best things to do in Paris and Île-de-France, October 26 to November 1, 2026

Is an appeal possible before Saturday?

The unions say they will explore every avenue of appeal against a ban they consider sweeping and disproportionate. The snag is that they still don’t know when the order will be published, and without it there is no judge to petition. The usual route is an urgent application to protect fundamental freedoms before the Paris Administrative Court, a fast-track procedure that leaves little time before Saturday.

Elsewhere in France, this kind of initiative has already succeeded. On October 24 in Toulon, the administrative court approved an alternative route following an emergency appeal filed by Solidaires, reports mesinfos.

Why are unions talking about déjà vu?

On October 24, a Bastille–Nation route had been approved by the police prefecture, before being banned the previous evening in favor of a route between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes. The unions had condemned the reversal, before complying with it. We look back on the day in our article about the October 24 demonstration in Paris.

And what about the Yellow Vests, high school students and university students?

The Yellow Vests coordination group had submitted a route from Bastille to Concorde, via République and Opéra. It was also rejected, as we explain in our article on the route sought by the Yellow Vests. Their lawyer had told France 3 Paris Île-de-France that a complaint or an emergency court application would follow any refusal.

Another tightening of restrictions: according to ICI Paris Île-de-France, the police prefecture has banned all unregistered gatherings from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday in several areas, including the Élysée Palace, the National Assembly and the Champs-Élysées. The planned pot-and-pan protests on Friday evening have been called off in Paris. As for students, Interfac IDF has registered a march for Tuesday, November 3, from the Panthéon to the Medef headquarters in the 7th arrondissement.

Metro, tram: what disruptions are expected on Saturday?

No closures have been announced yet. On October 24, more than 30 metro stations were closed at the request of the police prefecture, and tram line T3 was suspended along part of its route.

With a procession between Bagnolet and Charenton, the Porte de Bagnolet (line 3), Porte de Montreuil (line 9), Porte de Vincennes (line 1), Porte Dorée and Porte de Charenton (line 8) stations could be affected, as could tram lines T3a and T3b, which run along the Maréchaux. Closures are often announced the day before, sometimes on the morning itself, so it’s best to check the RATP traffic updates before setting off.

Tensions remain high. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has announced an extremely robust security operation for this Halloween Saturday. Our coverage of the October 31 demonstration in Paris brings together all the practical information. The next development will come next Thursday with the November 5, 2026 strike, for which the government also wants routes to avoid city centers.