The Louvre Museum once again finds itself in the headlines, this time amid a series of unfortunate developments in
February 2026. A water leak that occurred overnight from Thursday the 12th to Friday the 13th forced the management to shut down several exhibition halls within the iconic Parisian museum, located in the 1st arrondissement. Simultaneously, the dismantling of a large ticketing fraud ring darkens the picture even further.
Visitors to the museum's website were greeted this Friday morning with an apology message announcing the temporary closure of certain galleries due to circumstances beyond the museum’s control. Specifically, the leak has damaged at least one ceiling and harmed a mural painting. According to information reported by BFMTV, the incident occurred in the Daru Room, an area dedicated to French neoclassical painting and home to some of the museum’s most significant works. Among them are large-scale paintings by David and Ingres, including The Coronation of Napoleon and The Grande Odalisque. The closed sections include the square salon and two adjoining rooms, an area described by Christian Galani, a union representative for the Louvre staff affiliated with the CGT, to France Inter, as being particularly busy. The management is currently assessing the extent of the damage.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time water has caused damage at the Louvre. In late November 2025, a leak damaged between 300 and 400 items from the Egyptian Antiquities Library in the Mollien wing, as reported by France Info. The museum’s hydraulic system, considered to be outdated, is slated for replacement starting in September 2026. For years, union representatives have voiced concerns over the state of infrastructure at the world’s largest museum, citing recurring leaks, elevator failures, and unexpected closures.
As if that weren’t enough, the Louvre is once again making headlines for a very different reason. Nine people were taken into custody on Tuesday, February 10, as part of an investigation into a ticket fraud ring targeting the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles, according to the Paris public prosecutor’s office. Among those arrested are two Louvre employees, tour guides, and an individual suspected of organizing the entire network.
The operation was relatively straightforward: guides would lead groups of tourists into the museum, reusing the same tickets multiple times, while accomplices within the museum looked the other way in exchange for cash. The network was capable of admitting up to 20 groups a day and is believed to have been active for around a decade. As a result, the losses are estimated at over 10 million euros solely for the Louvre. Authorities have already seized more than 957,000 euros in cash and 486,000 euros in bank accounts, with the suspects allegedly investing part of these funds in real estate in France and Dubai.
It’s clear that the world’s most visited museum is facing mounting problems. In October 2025, a dramatic break-in resulted in the theft of eight Crown Jewels, a high-profile heist that captured international attention. The following month, the Campana Gallery had to close its doors due to structural issues. Then, between December 2025 and January 2026, a strike by staff led to several days of closures, employees protesting poor working conditions and insufficient resources amidst record visitor numbers estimated at 9 million in 2025, according to France Bleu.
In short, the Louvre is clearly going through a challenging period. To fund urgent modernization projects, the museum has increased its admission prices by 45% for non-European visitors starting from early 2026. If you’re planning a visit, it’s a good idea to check the opening schedule on the official website beforehand to avoid any surprises. The Paris public prosecutor’s office announced it will provide an update on Friday, February 13, regarding the ongoing investigations into the ticketing fraud case.
