Louvre Director Resigns After French Crown Jewels Heist

Laurence des Cars was the first woman to lead the museum in its 230-year history.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, has resigned just months after a high-profile jewelry heist at the world-famous institution. Des Cars, who was the first woman to hold the position, offered to step down following the robbery in October 2025, but her resignation was initially not accepted. However, French President Emmanuel Macron has now accepted her resignation, citing the need for 'calm and a strong new impetus' at the Louvre.

Why it matters

The Louvre is one of the world's most prestigious and visited museums, housing some of the most valuable artworks and artifacts globally. The brazen daylight robbery, in which nine pieces of jewelry including items from the French crown jewels were stolen, raised serious questions about security at the museum. Des Cars' resignation comes as the Louvre faces other challenges, including labor unrest and infrastructure issues.

The details

The theft occurred just an hour after the Louvre opened to visitors on October 19, 2025, prompting questions about the museum's security measures. In total, nine pieces of jewelry were stolen, worth an estimated $102 million. Only one item, Empress Eugenie's crown, was recovered after it was dropped during the suspects' escape. Des Cars acknowledged that the Louvre's security system was outdated, and the museum had been in the process of overhauling its infrastructure prior to the heist.

  • Laurence des Cars was appointed as Louvre director in September 2021.
  • The jewelry heist occurred on October 19, 2025.
  • Des Cars offered to step down after the robbery, but her resignation was not initially accepted.
  • Des Cars' resignation was accepted by French President Emmanuel Macron on February 25, 2026.

The players

Laurence des Cars

The first woman to ever serve as director of the Louvre Museum, a position she held from 2021 until her resignation in 2026.

Emmanuel Macron

The President of France, who accepted Des Cars' resignation from the Louvre directorship.

Rachida Dati

The French Minister of Culture, to whom Des Cars had previously offered her resignation after the jewelry heist.

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What they’re saying

“It is a wound that I will certainly carry all my life. When you take charge of this museum, you know very well that it is a political, diplomatic and cultural symbol and that it is constantly subject to very intense controversies.”

— Laurence des Cars, Former Louvre Director (The New York Times)

“Laurence des Cars's resignation is an act of responsibility at a time when the world's largest ‌museum needs calm and a strong new impetus to successfully carry out major projects involving security, and modernization.”

— Emmanuel Macron, President of France (Elysee Palace)

What’s next

The French government will now begin the process of selecting a new director to lead the Louvre Museum and oversee efforts to improve security and modernize the institution.

The takeaway

The resignation of the Louvre's first female director, Laurence des Cars, highlights the immense challenges facing one of the world's most prestigious museums. The high-profile jewelry heist, labor unrest, and infrastructure issues have put the Louvre under intense scrutiny, underscoring the need for strong leadership and a renewed focus on security and modernization.