Eiffel Tower to Be Demolished in 2026? Here’s What’s Really Going On

Paris – Over the past week, social media has been flooded with alarming claims that the Eiffel Tower, the heart of Paris and one of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth, is set to be demolished in 2026. Millions of people across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook shared posts declaring that the "Iron Lady" would soon be torn down.

The posts featured dramatic images of scaffolding and construction machinery, along with videos suggesting the structure had become "too damaged to save." 

Some even claimed that France was preparing to replace the tower with a modern monument to mark a "new era.”

But as is often the case with viral stories that sound too shocking to be true, this one collapses under scrutiny. The Eiffel Tower is not being demolished in 2026. 

In fact, it is undergoing its latest round of preservation and restoration, part of a process that has kept it standing strong since 1889.

How the Rumor Spread

The demolition rumor began with a series of misleading social media posts that took authentic images of the Eiffel Tower under maintenance and gave them false captions. 

One viral TikTok video, for example, showed workers on scaffolding and claimed, “Paris prepares to say goodbye to the Eiffel Tower in 2026.”

Within hours, the video had been viewed over ten million times. The claim quickly jumped to other platforms, where thousands of users reshared it without verifying the information.

The timing helped the rumor spread. The Eiffel Tower has been closed since October 2, 2025, due to a combination of ongoing maintenance work and a nationwide workers’ strike affecting tourism sites across France. 

The closure, coupled with visible restoration equipment around the structure, created the perfect visual cue for misunderstanding.

What’s Actually Happening at the Eiffel Tower

According to the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which manages the monument, the structure is currently undergoing scheduled renovation and repainting, not demolition. The work is part of a multi-year preservation plan designed to maintain the tower’s iconic look and structural safety.

Since its inauguration in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has been repainted around every seven years. The current project, which began before the 2024 Paris Olympics, marks its 20th repainting. 

Engineers are working to remove old paint layers, treat minor rust areas, and apply a new protective coating.

A spokesperson from SETE clarified in a statement to Le Monde:

“There are no plans whatsoever to demolish or replace the Eiffel Tower. What is taking place is standard maintenance that ensures the structure remains safe, beautiful, and durable for generations to come.”

Reports of "severe rust" that circulated online were also exaggerated. Inspections by engineering teams from the French Ministry of Culture found minor corrosion, expected for a 136-year-old iron structure, but no signs of instability or danger.

The Historical Context Behind the Confusion

Interestingly, there is a historical twist to this rumor. When Gustave Eiffel first built the tower for the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World's Fair), it was initially granted a 20-year permit. The agreement stated that it could be dismantled in 1909.

However, Eiffel fought to preserve his creation by proving its scientific and technological usefulness, installing meteorological and radio transmission equipment on the structure. 

That decision helped the tower survive long after its intended lifespan, eventually becoming the enduring symbol of France.

Over the decades, smaller waves of rumors have surfaced about the tower’s “decline” or "closure.” Each time, they were linked to regular renovation work. 

The 2025–2026 maintenance cycle is simply the latest chapter in that ongoing story.

Official Response from the City of Paris

Both Paris City Hall and the Ministry of Tourism have now publicly dismissed the demolition rumors.

In an official statement, City Hall declared:

“There are no plans, nor have there ever been plans,  to demolish the Eiffel Tower. It is a national and cultural treasure, a source of pride for the people of France, and a vital part of our heritage.”

The Ministry of Tourism added that the restoration project aims to make the monument “more sustainable, energy-efficient, and visually striking" by the time it fully reopens in 2026.

When the work concludes, the Eiffel Tower will unveil a new golden-brown color, known historically as “Eiffel Brown," closely matching the hue chosen by Gustave Eiffel himself in the late 19th century.

Why People Believed It

The rumor’s success highlights a larger issue: how easily misinformation spreads online, particularly when it involves emotional or cultural icons.

The Eiffel Tower attracts over seven million visitors annually, and nearly every traveler to Paris has a personal memory tied to it. The thought of it disappearing provokes strong feelings, curiosity, sadness, and even outrage. That emotional connection made people more likely to share the story before verifying it.

Digital media experts note that misleading posts are often amplified by algorithms that favor content with strong engagement. When a post sparks anger or nostalgia, it quickly gains visibility, regardless of its accuracy.

In this case, the claim combined visual evidence (photos of scaffolding) with a dramatic prediction ("demolition in 2026”), creating a believable but false narrative.

Restoration, Not Ruin

Far from being torn down, the Eiffel Tower is receiving one of the most detailed care programs in its history. Engineers are using new, eco-friendly paint formulations to reduce environmental impact while ensuring protection against corrosion.

The tower's lighting systems are also being upgraded, promising a more energy-efficient glow that will continue to illuminate the Paris skyline each night.

Tourism officials say that once the work concludes, visitors will find an experience even better than before, cleaner, brighter, and enhanced by subtle design improvements.

The reopening in 2026 will not mark the end of the Eiffel Tower; it will celebrate its renewal.

Read More

France Launches Exclusive Fellowship for American Students

The Bottom Line

The Eiffel Tower is not being demolished in 2026. There is no credible evidence, no government plan, and no expert concern suggesting otherwise.

What’s really happening is a massive preservation effort, the kind that has kept the Iron Lady standing for more than a century.

The viral claim was born from confusion, fueled by social media, and magnified by the emotional power of a global icon. But the truth is simple: Paris’s most famous landmark isn’t disappearing; it’s preparing for another century of admiration.

So, the next time you see a shocking headline about the Eiffel Tower’s demise, remember, the Iron Lady isn’t falling. She’s just getting a fresh coat of paint.