OMM Newsroom
The Louvre could be forced to close to the public unless major renovations are carried out, its president Christophe Leribault warned on Wednesday, calling for support for a €1 billion ($1.1 billion) overhaul.
In an interview with Le Figaro, Leribault appealed to the government that takes office after France’s presidential election to back the museum’s transformation, whoever wins.
Without renovation, the Louvre risks losing its standing before eventually having to “close its doors to the public”, which Leribault described as “a disaster”. He said the world’s most visited museum was “in very poor condition” and “completely overcrowded”.
Leribault, who was appointed in February, is promoting the “Louvre New Renaissance” project. He argues that improving security requires work on the historic building and its infrastructure.
The proposed €1 billion project includes renovating the museum and building a new entrance. Completion could take 12 to 15 years.
His warning comes nearly a year after the Oct. 19, 2025 burglary in which eight crown jewels were stolen, exposing significant security weaknesses and plunging the museum into crisis.
Leribault did not rule out another increase in admission prices, provided it remained “very reasonable”. Tickets for visitors from outside Europe rose this year from €22 to €32.
The museum president aims to raise €360 million from French and international donors to help finance the project, which faces opposition from unions. No donor commitments have been signed so far, though Leribault told Le Figaro that foreign donors were ready to support the museum.
