On January 28, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for the Louvre Museum in Paris to relocate the Mona Lisa to a new exhibition space. This initiative is part of a broader renovation aimed at enhancing visitor experience and increasing annual attendance from nearly nine million to a target of 12 million.
- Mona Lisa to move to new exhibition space
- New entrance planned to reduce overcrowding
- Ticket prices for non-EU visitors to increase
- Goal of 12 million annual visitors set
- International architectural competition to be organized
- New entrance expected by 2031
The Louvre Museum, renowned for housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, is set to undergo significant renovations. President Macron’s announcement highlighted the need for improvements to accommodate the growing number of visitors. Currently, the museum attracts nearly nine million visitors annually, and the goal is to enhance this capacity to 12 million visitors per year.
Key details of the renovation include:
- Creation of a new entrance on the eastern facade, near the Seine River.
- Overhaul of aging infrastructure surrounding the museum.
- Increased ticket prices for visitors from non-European Union countries starting in 2026.
An international architectural competition will be organized by the culture ministry this year, with the new entrance expected to be completed by 2031. Macron expressed optimism about the Louvre’s future, referring to this initiative as a “new renaissance” for the museum.
The Louvre’s renovation aims to improve visitor experiences while accommodating a larger audience. With the Mona Lisa receiving her own dedicated space, the museum is positioning itself for a significant transformation in the coming years.
