Louvre chief warns Paris museum risks closure without major renovation

The Louvre in Paris could have to close its doors without major renovations, director Christophe Leribault has warned.

He used one word: disaster.

Leribault gave the warning in comments reported on 14 October 2026, the current date for this story. Without large-scale work, he said, the museum risks reaching a point where it cannot keep welcoming the public safely France 24. ARTnews reported his warning as a risk of “disaster” if renovations do not go ahead.

Money is the snag. Leribault said major public funding may only come after France’s 2027 elections. He also said he wants private funding to help pay for the repairs The Straits Times.

The Louvre is no stranger to building work. The museum says it is currently undertaking extensive development projects aimed at reinventing how visitors engage with the building The Louvre. That matters in a palace-turned-museum where crowds, old infrastructure and precious holdings share the same tight spaces.

Past projects show how disruptive the work can be. The Mona Lisa was temporarily displayed in the Galerie Médicis while work was carried out in the Salle des États, the large gallery that normally houses Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait. An earlier overhaul of that room began in January with the removal of all artworks on display except The Wedding Feast at Cana, Paolo Veronese’s huge banquet scene.

Security has added urgency. The Louvre’s chief admitted lapses after a daylight jewellery heist, pointing to deficient infrastructure and a lack of cameras. He later blamed gaps in CCTV coverage for the theft Reuters. The Apollo Gallery, where the jewels were shown, reopened to visitors in July 2026.

France’s state auditor found the museum will need years to fix its security problems, with a full security overhaul expected to run to 2032 Reuters. France tasked the director of the Palace of Versailles outside Paris with leading an overhaul of the Louvre after the heist. New risks flagged in that review included drone overflights and cybersecurity threats Reuters.

For visitors, this means patience. Gallery closures, temporary hangs and ticketed time slots are part of how the Louvre modernises while staying open. Leribault’s message is blunt: without deeper repairs and reliable funding, that balancing act cannot hold.