Step Aside Met Gala, the New King of Museums Is Le Louvre

You would think that there is nothing more static than a museum. Think again.

This March 2025, the Musée du Louvre hosted its inaugural edition of Le Grand Dîner du Louvre on the back of the Paris Fashion Week womenswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 25-25.

More than simply providing a sublime backdrop for the select few that were happy to be invited, Le Louvre is now trying to step up its game among global cultural institutions to stay relevant in the digital age.

What is Le Grand Dîner du Louvre ?

Le Grand Dîner du Louvre is a charity gala that generated more than one million euros in donations in a two-part event under the tutelage of Visa Infinite. First, a dinner for 350 guests in the Cour Marly, then an afterparty under the pyramid with a performance by Grammy winner Doechii.

The event is already scheduled for another edition in March 2026 and aims to become a regular fixture in the global cultural calendar.

What about the Met Gala ?

The Met Gala, nicknamed fashion's biggest night, is an annual haute couture fundraising festival held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, which is held every year on the first Monday of May and organized by Vogue and Anna Wintour, who assumed the chairmanship of the Institute in 1995.

Will Le Grand Dîner du Louvre start to clash with its more famous counterpart The Met Gala ? Probably not. As there is definitely room for both. For now. Just like Monaco’s F1 Grand Prix didn’t lose any of its lustre with the introductions of the Las Vegas and Miami F1 Grand Prix during the Formula 1 season. They can be different occasions for celebrities to show their support for cultural institutions.

Why now ?

It is quite interesting to see how in this digital world, a museum can’t simply stay a museum and has to evolve into a content platform to stay relevant. In this regard, Le Louvre is brilliantly relying on its cachet and its famed history to show itself into a different light while maintaining the unique aspects that make it special.

In recent years, the biggest museum in the world and home to famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa or The Venus de Milo has veered into modernity through several well-created events:
- First, following Beyoncé and Jay-Z's iconic 'THE CARTERS - APESHIT' music promo shot within its walls, the museum launched a 1 hour 30 special tour revisiting some of the artwork featured in the 2018 video
- Then, the museum opened its halls last year just before the Paris Olympics for gorgeous morning workout and yoga sessions from 8am to 9am (with a complimentary museum visit for attendees)
- Lastly, in November 2024, the museum launched a partnership with L’Oreal Group for a bespoke tour of the space tracing the evolution of beauty through a variety of artworks.

The Met Gala has become one of the most sought-after red carpets events in the world and you might even forget that it is supposed to be a charity dinner for a museum. By blending heritage and modernity, the Musée du Louvre has the opportunity to create a different kind of event while bringing new and younger eyes to its collections.

Just have a look at some of the guests of its first Grand Dîner that mixed actors (Michelle Yeoh, Keira Knightley, Barbara Palvin, Dev Patel, Zoey Deutch …), models (Ashley Graham, Gigi Hadid, Farida Khelfa, Eva Herzigova, Laetitia Casta, Tyra Banks, Rosie Hintington-Whiteley, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Caroline de Maigret …), designers (Jeremy Scott, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Louboutin, Iris Van Herpen, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, John Galliano, Rick Owens, Victoria Beckham …) and celebrities (Eva Chen, Anna Wintour, David Beckham …).

Just have a look at some of the guests of its first Grand Dîner that mixed
- Actors (Michelle Yeoh, Keira Knightley, Barbara Palvin, Dev Patel, Zoey Deutch …),
- Models (Ashley Graham, Gigi Hadid, Farida Khelfa, Eva Herzigova, Laetitia Casta, Tyra Banks, Rosie Hintington-Whiteley, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Caroline de Maigret …),
- Designers (Jeremy Scott, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Louboutin, Iris Van Herpen, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, John Galliano, Rick Owens, Victoria Beckham …)
- And celebrities (Eva Chen, Anna Wintour, David Beckham …).

Launching Le Grand Dîner is a wise strategy for Le Louvre and is an unique opportunity to strengthen its brand narrative.