The Vatican is preparing a major restoration of the Sistine Chapel's 'Last Judgment': dates and details

TheVatican has confirmed that Michelangelo's Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel will undergo extraordinary maintenance in 2026, an operation that will coincide with the end of the Jubilee. The work aims to ensure the fresco's preservation. This decision responds to the need to reinforce the usual maintenance tasks, as the nearly seven million annual visitors leave their mark on the work's stability.

To carry this out , scaffolding will be installed to completely cover the altar wall where the monumental painting is located. This work will allow restorers to work with greater precision and closeness on the most delicate details of the work, beyond the annual maintenance already performed with the aid of a mechanical lift.

Although it is a more ambitious intervention, the project has a symbolic and practical dimension. The fresco, painted between 1536 and 1541 at the request of Popes Clement VII and Paul III , is one of the jewels of the Renaissance and a key piece of universal iconography. The challenge is to combine the demands of mass tourism with the requirements of conservation in a space that remains simultaneously sacred and artistic.

Violini, new director of the Restoration Laboratory

The person responsible for leading this challenge will be Paolo Violini , newly appointed director of the Vatican Museums’ Laboratory for the Restoration of Paintings and Wood Materials, founded in 1923 (previously, the works were under the jurisdiction of the artists of the Academy of St. Luke in the 19th century). Speaking to Vatican News , Violini confessed the emotion that comes with taking on this position and outlined his immediate priorities. “ We should finish in March, so that we can clear the wall before the start of Holy Week ,” the restorer explained, referring to the estimated timeframe for the Last Judgement .

Regarding the organization of the work, he added: "Scaffolding will be installed to cover the entire wall. It will consist of a dozen work platforms with elevators. To reduce work times and avoid obstructing the public view, this will allow us to work with up to 10 or 12 people simultaneously and gain a close-up view of the project."

The project of the Raphael Lodges

In addition to the Last Judgment , the Vatican Museums are working on another ambitious project: the restoration of Raphael's Loggias , a 65-meter-long gallery in the Apostolic Palace decorated with biblical scenes and considered a Renaissance masterpiece. This five-year project seeks to restore fourteen sections of stucco and frescoes by Giovanni da Udine and other collaborators of the Urbino master.

Violini, who dedicated 17 years of his career to Raphael's Rooms, admitted that completing this cycle represents a personal and professional challenge. Work has already begun on the Fire in the Village room , whose restoration will allow us to better understand the transition between Raphael's work and that of his studio, as well as the legacy left by disciples such as Giulio Romano and Giovanni Francesco Penni .

The Vatican considers this restoration a key part of its conservation strategy, not only for its artistic value but also for its historical significance. The Loggias, a World Heritage Site, were conceived as a ceremonial corridor through which heads of state and government still enter today on visits to the Pope . Maintaining their splendor is equivalent to preserving a symbol of diplomacy, art, and faith that remains alive half a millennium later.