Sensational claims have recently swept across social media suggesting that the Eiffel Tower is set for demolition in 2026. These rumours gained traction after the 330-metre Parisian landmark, which draws millions of visitors annually and generated a substantial €117.87 million in revenue in 2023, experienced a temporary closure earlier this month. The closure on October 2nd was a direct result of national strikes and protests across France against government spending cuts, which led to the Tower suspending access for safety reasons. This closure, though temporary and due to an external event, provided a catalyst for the unfounded rumours to spread.
The basis of the demolition claim appears to be a conflation of the strike-related closure and a satirical news article published weeks prior. This humorous piece had jokingly suggested that the Eiffel Tower would be “bulldozed” and replaced with a giant slide or concert hall. Unfortunately, this satirical content was stripped of its context on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Accounts with large followings began sharing misleading posts, falsely claiming the iconic structure was nearing the “end of an era” because its operating lease was expiring in 2026, citing “structural fatigue” and “costly maintenance” as reasons for a “shocking decision” to demolish it.
Despite the alarm caused among some social media users, many others quickly recognized the claims as fabricated. The reality is that the Eiffel Tower, one of the few French monuments that operates without state subsidies and employs over 300 people, remains operational. The company that runs the monument, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), has made no public statement supporting the viral demolition claims, and tourists can still easily book tickets to visit the landmark on its official website. The reports of its impending doom are nothing more than a case of a satirical joke being mistakenly treated as fact and amplified online.
Is the Eiffel Tower Facing Demolition? Here’s the Truth Behind the Viral Rumours
