What is documented about the Louvre heist
On 19 October 2025 a break-in took place in the Galerie d'Apollon. The French Ministry of Culture reported on the same day that two high-security display cases were attacked and that eight objects were stolen. The Mona Lisa was not among them.
This page keeps to published facts and names the date and the source for each. It does not speculate about who is behind the break-in, what the objects are worth or how it was done. Reports from the press are marked as such, and arrests are not verdicts.
Timeline with dates and sources
Each entry names who reported it.
| Date | What was reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 19 October 2025 | Break-in in the Galerie d'Apollon. Two high-security display cases attacked, eight objects stolen. | French Ministry of Culture |
| 19 October 2025 | The crown of Empress Eugénie was left at the scene. The first statement described its condition as under examination. | French Ministry of Culture |
| 28 November 2025 | All four suspected members of the team shown on camera were in custody. | Associated Press |
| 22 July 2026 | The Galerie d'Apollon reopened. The earlier collections there were removed. | The museum's press release |
| 19 October 2026 | On the first anniversary the jewels were reported as still not recovered. Four suspected members had been arrested. The role of other persons remained under investigation. | RTL |
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The objects and the crown
What the Ministry of Culture and the press say.
What was taken
The Ministry of Culture named, among other items, sapphire jewelry of Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, emerald jewelry of Marie-Louise and jewelry of Empress Eugénie. It counted eight stolen objects.
The crown of Eugénie
According to the Ministry, the crown was left at the scene. RTL later showed and described it as damaged. This does not mean the other pieces were returned.
Two ways of counting
The Ministry spoke of eight stolen objects and mentioned the crown separately. In its report on the anniversary, RTL spoke of nine stolen jewels including the crown that was recovered. The sources count differently, and this page gives both numbers.
The Mona Lisa
The painting was not part of the break-in. It hangs in the Salle des États, room 711, in the Denon wing on level 1.
The Mona Lisa →Arrests and investigation
The state of reporting by date.
On 28 November 2025 the Associated Press reported that all four suspected members of the team shown on camera were in custody. In its report around 19 October 2026, RTL repeated that four suspected members had been arrested and wrote that the jewels had not been found. According to RTL, the possible involvement of other persons, including an ordering party, was still being investigated.
These are press reports with a date. An arrest or a charge is not a conviction, and the suspects are presumed innocent until a court rules. This page does not repeat theories about the background of the case.
For anything after the dates above, such as a trial date or a recovery of objects, rely on current reports from the authorities and the press.
What changed for visitors
The gallery, the checks and the announced measures.
The Galerie d'Apollon is open again
The gallery reopened on 22 July 2026. It is in the Denon wing on level 1, room 705. The earlier collections were removed, so do not expect a display of crown jewels. The architecture and the decoration are still there to see, and the museum's room plan for 7 October to 1 November 2026 lists the gallery as open.
The Louvre map explained →Security checks for all visitors
Every visitor passes a security check at the entrances, as the museum rules state. The rules do not link today's checks to the break-in. A reservation does not remove the check.
Announced measures
In 2025 the Ministry of Culture named new cameras, perimeter detection and a new security control center as the start of a security plan. This was an announcement from the year of the break-in, and it does not describe the state of completion today.
Opening hours and tickets
Regular opening hours and ticket rules are covered on their own pages. Check them before your visit.
Opening hours →
Louvre heist: frequently asked questions
When did the Louvre heist happen?
On 19 October 2025, in the Galerie d'Apollon. The Ministry of Culture published its statement on the same day.
What was stolen?
The Ministry of Culture counted eight objects, among them sapphire jewelry of Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, emerald jewelry of Marie-Louise and jewelry of Empress Eugénie. The Mona Lisa was not among them.
Have the jewels been found?
The crown of Empress Eugénie was left at the scene. For the other pieces, RTL reported around 19 October 2026 that they had not been found.
Has anyone been arrested?
The Associated Press reported on 28 November 2025 that all four suspected members of the team shown on camera were in custody. An arrest is not a conviction.
Can I visit the Galerie d'Apollon now?
Yes. It reopened on 22 July 2026 in the Denon wing on level 1, room 705. The earlier collections were removed. Check the current list of galleries for your day.
Was the Mona Lisa stolen?
No. The Ministry's account of the break-in does not include it. The painting hangs in the Salle des États, room 711, in the Denon wing on level 1.