New leaders of France's Louvre and Orsay museums announced

On 25 February 2026, French president Emmanuel Macron appointed Christophe Léribault as president and director of the Musée du Louvre, replacing Laurence des Cars, who resigned on 24 February following a heist and ticketing scandal. Macron also named Annick Lemoine, director of the Petit Palais, as president of the Musée d’Orsay, a post left vacant after the sudden death of Sylvain Amic in August. Proposed by culture minister Rachida Dati, the appointments come as the Louvre faces union-led strikes and controversy over a redevelopment plan that included €100m for preliminary studies and €17m for technical masterplans. Léribault, 62, previously led the Palace of Versailles and earlier held roles at the Musée Carnavalet, the Louvre’s drawings department, the Delacroix Museum, the Petit Palais, and the Musée d’Orsay.

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