Christophe Leribault Takes the Helm at the Louvre After Laurence des Cars Resigns Amid Crisis

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PARIS — The Musée du Louvre, the world’s most visited cultural institution, is undergoing a historic leadership transition. Art historian Christophe Leribault, formerly the president of the Palace of Versailles, has been named the new director of the museum. He succeeds Laurence des Cars, who tendered her resignation on February 24, 2026.

The departure of Des Cars, the first woman to lead the Louvre in its 230-year history, follows months of intense political pressure and public scrutiny sparked by a series of security failures and infrastructure incidents that have tarnished the institution’s prestige.

The “Heist of the Century” and Other Crises

The breaking point occurred on October 19, 2025, when a spectacular robbery in the Apollo Gallery resulted in the theft of French Crown Jewels valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million). Although Des Cars offered her resignation immediately after the incident, it was not accepted by President Emmanuel Macron until last Tuesday, with the Élysée Palace describing the move as “an act of responsibility.”

Beyond the heist, Des Cars’s tenure was plagued by:

• Financial Scandals: The discovery of a suspected decade-long ticket fraud scheme with estimated losses of $12 million.

• Infrastructure Decay: Severe water leaks that damaged artworks, including a painting in the Denon Wing in February 2026, highlighting chronic waterproofing issues.

• Labor Unrest: The longest labor dispute in the museum’s history, with staff protesting overcrowding and thin staffing that undermined both working conditions and security.

Leribault’s Mission: “Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance”

Christophe Leribault, 62, is no stranger to the institution, having served as deputy director of the Department of Graphic Arts from 2006 to 2012. He returns with an urgent mandate to “pacify and modernize” a battered institution.

The new director will be responsible for executing the ambitious “Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance” project, a massive overhaul estimated at over €800 million ($820 million). The plan includes:

• Enhanced Security: A total fortification of the museum’s surveillance and entry points.

• Structural Renovation: Modernizing the aging 73,000-square-meter facility.

• Visitor Experience: Creating a new entrance and a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa to better manage the 9 million annual visitors.

“The priority is now to restore calm and provide a strong new impetus to carry out the major security and modernization projects that the world’s largest museum requires,” stated government spokesperson Maud Bregeon.

A New Chapter

While Leribault takes the reins of the Parisian palace, Laurence des Cars will transition into a new role linked to France’s G7 Presidency, focusing on international cooperation between major museums. For Leribault, the challenge is clear: stabilizing a “fragile” national wonder and ensuring the Louvre remains a global benchmark for the 21st century.