- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 11 Oct 2025 03:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Eiffel Tower demolition 2026: Recent social media posts have created widespread panic and disbelief, stating that France's most iconic monument, the Eiffel Tower, will be demolished by 2026. The mass spread of this rumor on social media sites like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook claims the monument's "operating lease" is due to end and that it is too expensive and unsafe to keep. These assertions, however, are completely untrue.
A Satirical Article Gone Viral
The demolition tale begins with an article dated September 18, 2025, from a site named Tapioca Times, which is famous for its humorous and fictional articles. The satirical piece, filled with fabricated quotes from an imaginary “spokesman,” joked that the Eiffel Tower had “served its time” and would be replaced by something “modern and fun” such as a giant water slide or a Las Vegas-style concert venue.
The article even stated that "demolition would start in early 2026," a line which was widely shared by many users of social media, unaware that it was satirical. Screenshots of the article went viral fast, taking away from context, and many took the statement for truth.
Why the Eiffel Tower Is Currently Closed?
The confusion surrounding the demolition claims coincides with the temporary closure of the tower, starting on October 2, 2025. But this shutdown is not related to safety or demolition. It is one of a series of nationwide walkouts by French trade unions in protest against government cutbacks and a demand for increased taxes on the rich.
These workers' actions have impacted various tourist sites and public amenities in France. Prior similar strikes had resulted in temporary shutdowns of the Eiffel Tower in 2023 and 2019. SETE has promised visitors that the tower will be reopened after talks between unions and the government are finalized.
But authorities have categorically dismissed the demolition reports. The Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which operates the tower, has not made any statement in favor of the rumor. Neither the City of Paris nor the French heritage authorities have made any announcement to demolish the 135-year-old structure.
Officials called the social media buzz "completely baseless" and asked the public to fact-check information before posting. The Eiffel Tower, finished in 1889, is still one of the most guarded and well-maintained monuments worldwide, receiving regular inspections and being repainted every seven years to avoid corrosion.