Police Arrest Network of Louvre Ticket Fraudsters

London's National Gallery to Cut Jobs Amid Growing Deficit

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

French police have arrested nine people in connection with an extensive network of fraudsters who sold fake tickets to the Louvre and the Chateau de Versailles, costing the Louvre an estimated 10 million euros. Meanwhile, the National Gallery in London is cutting staff and launching a 'voluntary exit scheme' to address a looming £8.2 million deficit.

Why it matters

The Louvre ticket fraud scheme highlights the ongoing challenges museums face in combating ticketing fraud, which can have significant financial impacts. The National Gallery's job cuts and deficit reduction measures reflect the broader financial pressures facing cultural institutions, particularly as they grapple with rising costs, stagnant incomes, and fewer visitors.

The details

The Louvre fraud scheme involved suspects posing as legitimate, independent museum guides and charging customers for tickets that the fraudsters reused for multiple entries. Two Louvre employees and independent guides were arrested as part of the 'large-scale' scheme. At the National Gallery, the £8.2 million deficit is attributed to increasing running costs, a stagnant income, inflation, and fewer visitors opting to pay for temporary exhibitions. The gallery will be 'stopping several of our activities where, for a number of reasons beyond our control, we can no longer justify their costs'.

  • The Louvre alerted police of suspicious activity in December 2024.
  • The Louvre arrests were made this week.

The players

Louvre

A major art museum in Paris, France.

Laurence des Cars

The president of the Louvre.

National Gallery

A renowned art museum in London, United Kingdom.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must implement emergency measures to fill them, even as museum workers continue to strike over related claims of operational dysfunction.”

— Laurence des Cars, Louvre President (Le Parisien)

“We will be stopping several of our activities where, for a number of reasons beyond our control, we can no longer justify their costs.”

— National Gallery spokesperson (The Art Newspaper)

What’s next

The Louvre is implementing a new 'structured anti-fraud plan' to address the rise in ticketing fraud.

The takeaway

The challenges faced by the Louvre and the National Gallery highlight the ongoing financial pressures and security concerns that cultural institutions must navigate in order to maintain their operations and programming.