Louvre Director Resigns After Heist

Laurence des Cars, the director of the Louvre, resigned on February 24, 2026, a decision accepted by Emmanuel Macron. Her resignation follows a series of scandals at the museum, most notably a brazen jewel heist in October 2025 where $102 million worth of French crown jewels were stolen. This incident, which saw thieves take less than eight minutes to break into the Apollo Gallery, exposed 'systemic failures' in the museum's security infrastructure. In addition to the heist, the Louvre has been grappling with a decade-long ticket fraud scheme, resulting in estimated losses of over 10 million euros, and a recent water leak that damaged valuable artworks. Laurence des Cars had previously offered her resignation after the robbery, but it was initially refused by Emmanuel Macron and Rachida Dati. The events have prompted inquiries by French MPs, an internal audit by the French culture ministry, and hearings by senators, all scrutinizing the museum's security and operational deficiencies.