World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Louvre chief warns museum could close without major renovations
Louvre director Christophe Leribault says the museum needs major renovations to address security and aging infrastructure.
The museum in Paris welcomed around nine million visitors in 2025, making it the world’s most-visited museum.
A daylight theft of crown jewels in October 2025 exposed security weaknesses; the jewels were valued at about US$100 million, and some have not been recovered.
The theft prompted the previous director, Laurence des Cars, to resign, and Leribault took over in February.
The museum is upgrading cameras and security at entrances, as part of an €83 million security plan that Leribault says is moving ahead.
He says lasting improvements also require work on the historic building, where old infrastructure and crowded public areas add to the challenges.
Leribault warns the Louvre may eventually close without a major overhaul, which he says would need public funding approved after France’s 2027 national elections, alongside private funding.
Louvre director Christophe Leribault says the museum needs a major renovation and transformation.
He warned that without repairs and upgrades, the museum could eventually have to close to the public.
The call comes nearly a year after thieves stole crown jewels estimated at more than US$100 million.
The museum is rolling out an €83 million security plan, including new cameras and stronger security at access points.
Leribault said major public funding would need approval after France’s 2027 national elections.
- Who
- Christophe Leribault, head of the Louvre.
- What
- He called for a major renovation and transformation, warning that the museum could eventually close without repairs.
- When
- He made the remarks on October 14, 2026, nearly a year after the theft.
- Where
- The Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
- Why
- The building and infrastructure need work to improve security and address the museum’s wider problems.
Trade unions
Emmanuel Macron and Christophe Leribault
Renovation approach
Trade unions
Trade unions criticised plans for a large architectural overhaul and favoured more modest changes to improve the visitor experience.
Emmanuel Macron and Christophe Leribault
Macron has championed a €600 million overhaul, including a new entrance; Leribault says a major transformation is needed.
A group of thieves stole crown jewels from the Louvre in a heist that lasted eight minutes.
Christophe Leribault was appointed head of the Louvre.
The museum has introduced security works, including cameras at critical points and stronger security at access points.
Leribault called for a major renovation and warned that the museum could eventually have to close without it.
- Estimated value of stolen crown jewels
- More than US$100 million
- Security plan
- €83 million
- Louvre visitors in 2025
- Around nine million
- Proposed overhaul championed by Emmanuel Macron
- €600 million, including a new entrance
- Public funding approval
- Would need to be approved after France’s 2027 national elections
3 sources
What people are saying
Whoever forms the next government must keep in mind that if the Louvre is not repaired, updated and transformed, it will very quickly fall behind and will eventually have to close its doors to the public. That would be a disaster.
There is no easy, miracle ‘surface’ solution. Everything is interconnected, everything is linked.
We need a major plan for the Louvre. The operations essential to secure the museum require work on the historic building and infrastructure. There is no easy, miraculous ‘surface’ solution.