Across Europe, September and October 2026 have seen a surge in student protests, with demonstrations spreading from France to Belgium, Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, and beyond. The movements vary in focus but share common themes, including education funding, opposition to the far right, housing costs, and political accountability. In France, protests began on 17 September at Lycée Saint-Exupéry in Créteil, driven by issues like overcrowded classrooms and outdated facilities. By 1 October, over 1,000 schools were involved, and by 13 October, more than 160,000 students and trade unionists had demonstrated nationwide.
The French protests inspired similar actions in other countries. In Belgium, students demonstrated against rising education costs and reforms. In Berlin, students blocked school entrances to oppose education cuts and compulsory military service. In Italy, protests targeted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, with demands for increased public funding for schools and opposition to military spending. In Ireland, students marched for lower fees and better funding, while in Austria, demonstrators blocked Vienna's Ring Road to protest university funding cuts.
In Greece, students set up tents in Syntagma Square to highlight living costs and education funding. Spain saw heavy student participation in protests against the housing crisis. The Serbian student movement, which began after a tragic railway accident in 2024, has entered the electoral arena with a formal initiative ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for 25 October. These protests reflect a new political consciousness shaped by successive crises, including the pandemic, inflation, climate anxiety, war, and the rise of the far right.