The Louvre reopens the Galerie d’Apollon after the theft of jewellery

Paris – 21 July 2026: The Louvre plans to reopen the Gallery of Apollo to the public on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. The magnificent hall has been closed since the robbery on 19 October 2025. The reopening will take place almost nine months after the spectacular theft of the Crown Jewels. The gallery will initially be accessible without the jewellery stolen during the crime.

During the robbery on the morning of 19 October 2025, the perpetrators entered the gallery, where parts of the French Crown Jewels and historic gemstones were kept. Two particularly secured display cases were targeted in the attack. According to the Ministry of Culture, the alarm was triggered and the museum staff present immediately took the prescribed security measures. No one was injured.

The investigation into theft by an organised group and criminal conspiracy is being conducted by the Anti-Banditry Brigade under the direction of the Paris public prosecutor’s office. After the crime, Interpol reported that eight pieces of jewellery still considered missing had been entered into the international database of stolen works of art. The search for the jewels will therefore continue when the gallery reopens.

Part of the loot—the crown of Empress Eugénie—remained at the crime scene and was subsequently restored. The Louvre Museum stated in February 2026 that the crown had suffered significant deformation during the robbery, but had largely been preserved. Restoration of the object began after it was recovered by the criminal police and initially examined by the museum’s art objects department.

The Gallery of Apollo is one of the Louvre’s best-known historic halls. Before the robbery, it housed the royal collection of gemstones and the Crown Diamonds. Its reopening therefore marks the return of one of the key spaces for visitors, without concealing the loss of the exhibits. According to consistent reports, the former jewellery displays will not be presented again after visitor access is restored.

The robbery once again raised questions about the protection of important cultural assets. As early as October 2025, the Ministry of Culture referred to the Louvre’s security programme. It provides for state-of-the-art surveillance camera technology, improved monitoring of the exterior grounds and a modernised security centre. These measures are part of the Louvre – New Renaissance project, which was announced before the theft.

With the reopening on 22 July, the public will once again have access to the gallery’s architecture and decoration, while the criminal investigation and international search for the jewellery continue. The Louvre is thus sending a visible signal of a return to normal museum operations. At the same time, the empty display areas serve as a reminder that important parts of France’s cultural heritage are still missing.