Louvre to undergo major renovation, Mona Lisa to get private room

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on January 28 major renovation plans for the Musée du Louvre in Paris, including a new entrance to boost capacity and relocating the Mona Lisa to a dedicated room under the Cour Carrée with separate access and ticketing. The project, expected to cost between €700 and €800 million and be completed by 2031, will be largely funded by the museum's own resources, ticket sales, patronage, and a €400 million licensing agreement with Louvre Abu Dhabi. The announcement follows a leaked memo from Louvre director Laurence des Cars to the culture minister, warning of degradation including insulation problems threatening artwork conservation and overcrowding, especially around the Mona Lisa, which receives 20,000 visitors daily. An architecture competition will determine the new main entrance, designed for up to 12 million annual visitors, replacing I.M. Pei's 1989 glass pyramid built for 4 million—far below the 8.7 million visitors in 2024. Ticket prices for non-EU visitors will rise starting in 2026 to help finance the renovations.