Christophe Leribault Appointed Director of the Louvre

Christophe Leribault has been appointed as the new director of the Louvre, succeeding Laurence des Cars following her recent resignation. The appointment marks another leadership transition at one of the world’s largest and most influential museums during a period of institutional change.

Leribault is currently director of the Palace of Versailles, a position he has held since 2024. He previously served as director of the Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie, and earlier in his career worked at the Louvre as deputy director of graphic arts between 2006 and 2012. His return to the museum comes at a time when the institution is facing operational and infrastructural challenges.

In recent years, the Louvre has dealt with a series of issues including staff strikes, building maintenance concerns and increased scrutiny of security systems. A major theft in 2025 drew attention to longstanding vulnerabilities and accelerated discussions around institutional reform and investment.

Leribault will oversee the museum’s ongoing modernization plans, including a large-scale renovation project intended to improve infrastructure, visitor circulation and conservation conditions. The redevelopment programme, first announced in 2025, is expected to reshape several areas of the museum and introduce new public spaces.

His appointment follows a broader period of leadership changes across major Paris museums. Observers expect Leribault’s experience managing large national institutions to play a key role in stabilising the Louvre and guiding its next phase of development.