Why People Are Protesting Across Europe: Schools, Housing, Costs 2026

Protests are erupting across Europe as young people and activists take to the streets over the state of schools and the wider cost of living crisis. From France to Spain and Portugal, demonstrators are demanding better conditions and economic relief.

France: High School Students Lead the Charge

In France, high school pupils have clashed with police in often violent protests. They are angry about long hours, missing teachers, dilapidated classrooms, and an opaque university admissions system.

Pupils routinely miss months of teaching due to unfilled staff absences. This disruption has fueled frustration and a sense of abandonment among students.

The General Confederation of Labour (CGT), one of France's largest unions, has backed the protests. They are calling for lower prices, higher pensions, and boosted wages.

Spain: Housing Crisis Sparks Outrage

Over the Pyrenees in Spain, activists took to the streets in September over housing prices. The protests were triggered by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home after an investment fund hiked her rent by 230%.

Maricarmen Abascal died a fortnight later after being admitted to hospital. Her case became a rallying cry for protesters demanding lower rents, an end to evictions, and a ban on investment funds buying property.

Portugal: Similar Pleas Across the Border

Similar pleas were made across the Iberian border in Portugal. Citizens are also struggling with rising housing costs and stagnant wages.

The protests in Portugal reflect a growing sentiment that the economic system is failing ordinary people.

Economic Pressures Fueling the Protests

Rising living costs, including fuel prices after US bombing caused the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have added to the discontent. This has pushed more demonstrators to join student marches.

Inflation and housing shortages are creating a perfect storm. Young people feel their futures are being compromised by policies that favor the wealthy.

Political Context: Macron's Final Stretch

French President Emmanuel Macron is nearing the end of his time in the Élysée Palace after serving two terms. His government faces mounting pressure to address the grievances.

The protests could reshape the political landscape as parties prepare for upcoming elections.

What's Next for Europe's Protest Movement?

The protests show no signs of abating. With demands for systemic change, governments across Europe must respond or face further unrest.

As the cost of living crisis deepens, the voices of the streets are growing louder. The background to this story is set out in China Deploys Thousands of Delivery Robots Across Europe. A related thread runs through What Share of Your Salary Goes to Rent in Europe: Three Maps That Put Spain.

• Youth-led protests in France, Spain, and Portugal target education and housing.
• In France, students demand better school conditions and university admissions reform.
• Spain's protests were ignited by a tragic eviction case involving an elderly woman.
• Rising fuel prices and inflation are exacerbating public anger.
• Unions and activists call for lower prices, higher wages, and housing protections.

The unrest in France and Spain echoes broader tensions over the rise of the right across Europe, as economic grievances fuel political shifts. Meanwhile, environmental pressures like the Danube drought devastating crops and energy supply are compounding the cost of living crisis.

As climate crisis drought and heat suck soils dry across Europe, food prices could rise further, adding to public discontent. The protests also come as Europe fire weather records shatter, highlighting the interconnectedness of economic and environmental crises.

In response to rising energy costs, heat pump sales soar across Europe after electricity tax cuts, offering a glimpse of how policy can address some grievances. However, Latin American organised crime expands across 16 European countries, adding another layer of instability that protesters say government must tackle.

With Europe fire weather records broken as blazes spread across the region, the pressure on governments to act on multiple fronts is mounting. The protests are a clear signal that citizens demand urgent action.