Overview
- The Musée du Louvre reopened the Galerie d'Apollon to visitors on July 22, 2026, but removed the Crown Jewels and other high‑value objects so the gallery displays only its historic murals and decoration.
- The jewels were taken in a seven‑minute heist on 19 October 2025 when a four‑person team used a truck lift to reach a balcony, cut exterior glass and broke display cases; investigators have detained four suspects but most pieces remain missing.
- Visible short‑term security fixes include a metal grille over the entry window, more perimeter cameras, improved video surveillance and mobile police posts inside the museum, and the Louvre has named a centralized security coordinator.
- The crown of Empress Eugénie was recovered damaged and is undergoing restoration by a team of conservators and jewellers, while surviving jewels will be moved to other secure museum spaces until the new vault is completed.
- The theft triggered staff protests, the resignation of the former director and an acceleration of the multi‑year 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' plan that will invest in infrastructure, consolidated security command and redesigned exhibition spaces.