Christophe Leribault, who became Louvre director on 2026-10-14, warned that without major renovations and fresh funding the museum risks having to close its doors to the public. He said the institution is creaking under strain and over‑use, and that lawmakers must approve a major overhaul to avoid a shutdown.
The Louvre has been hit by a high‑profile theft, and Leribault noted the museum faces structural problems that need attention. He stressed that securing the museum requires work on the historic building and its infrastructure, adding that there is no easy, miraculous, "surface‑level" solution.
Leribault advocates tapping private sources for the transformation, but he insists a major injection of public money will be necessary. He said that public funding would need to be approved after the upcoming French elections, and that whoever forms the next government must keep in mind that if the Louvre is not repaired, updated and transformed, it will quickly fall behind and eventually have to close—a disaster.
Dubbed the ‘Louvre New Renaissance’, the overhaul involves renovating the building, creating an additional entrance and constructing a new gallery for the Mona Lisa.
Following a major jewellery heist, the Louvre faces significant security challenges. The new director discussed a complex plan to renovate the museum’s security systems and infrastructure while also addressing the ongoing issues related to the stolen jewels. Security measures such as perimeter cameras have been installed, but the complexity of renovating while keeping the museum open remains a challenge.
Dubbed the ‘Louvre New Renaissance’, the overhaul involves renovating the building, creating an additional entrance and constructing a new gallery for the Mona Lisa. Leribault described the plan as "extremely complex" and said everything is interconnected. The project is expected to cost around €1 billion.
The Louvre’s annual budget is €330 million, and it recorded 9 million visitors last year. The stolen crown jewels are valued at €88 million, and the museum’s security master plan itself carries a cost of €83 million.
On 2026-10-14 several key events occurred: Christophe Leribault was appointed Louvre director; an October 19th heist at the Louvre was noted; a daring jewellery heist took place; the security masterplan rollout began; emergency measures were introduced; former Louvre president Laurence des Cars resigned; Leribault took over as director; and the ‘Louvre New Renaissance’ restoration project was announced.
The French government is currently neutral on the issue, while Leribault has expressed neutral, supportive and critical stances in different remarks. He has repeated his warning twice: "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." He also said, "We need a major Louvre plan. The operations essential to securing the museum require work on the historic building and its infrastructure," and "It is a challenge, and we are working to provide the best possible solution."
The Louvre remains open but faces a pressing need for renovation, security upgrades and new funding. Whether lawmakers will approve the required public investment after the next French elections will determine if the museum can avoid closure and carry out the ambitious ‘Louvre New Renaissance’ vision.