Forthcoming policy developments

Reform of the Culture Pass

In 2026, the French Pass Culture underwent several reforms aimed at refocusing the scheme and improving its territorial accessibility. The individual allowance was reduced to €50 for 17-year-olds and €150 for 18-year-olds, while the allocation for 15–16-year-olds was removed. A €50 bonus is now granted to young people with disabilities or under social criteria. The reform also restricted certain eligible online offers and excluded leisure activities such as escape games unless provided by recognised cultural actors. At the same time, new fields such as design, crafts, and scientific and technical culture were added to the eligible sectors.

Another development concerns the transformation of the application itself. Since January 2026, the pass Culture application has been extended nationwide as a free geolocalised platform designed to facilitate access to local cultural offers for all users, beyond the credit system alone. The reform also simplified account creation for students through EduConnect authentication and expanded the range of cultural actors authorised to publish offers on the platform, including local authorities and public cultural institutions.

Ongoing debates

Protection of minors in digital spaces

Debates surrounding the protection of minors in digital spaces have also intensified. In February 2026, the Ministry of Culture launched a mission examining the potential risks of video games for minors, as part of a broader reflection on digital environments and youth practices online. 

In March 2026, the question of banning social media access for children under the age of 15 has gained increasing prominence in both French and European public debate, with statements by President Macron and discussions in Parliament.