The British Museum will welcome the medieval masterpiece.
Get ready for history in the making. The Bayeux Tapestry is coming to the British Museum for the very first time. Located in Russell Square, London, it will go on display from autumn 2026. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this extraordinary treasure, marking almost 1,000 years since it last came to the UK.
In a wonderful spirit of cultural exchange, treasures from the British Museum representing all four nations of the United Kingdom – including the Sutton Hoo treasures and the Lewis chess pieces – will travel to museums in Normandy, France. The agreement will be announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, and promises significant cultural and educational benefits for audiences in both countries.
Stretching an astonishing 70 metres in length, the Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Displayed in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery, the Museum will bring this pivotal moment in history to life through a rich and immersive exhibition.
Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, said: “The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world. It speaks to the deep and enduring ties between Britain and France and has captivated people across generations and borders. It is hard to overstate the joy and significance of being able to display it at the British Museum, and we are profoundly grateful to everyone who has helped make this happen.”
George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum Trustees, added: “Once in a generation, the British Museum hosts an exhibition that truly captures the public imagination. In the past, that has been Tutankhamun or the Terracotta Warriors. The Bayeux Tapestry will be the blockbuster of our generation, and I have no doubt it will thrill the entire nation.
“There is no other object in British history that is so familiar, so studied in schools and so often recreated in art. Yet in nearly a thousand years, it has never returned to these shores. Next year it will – and many thousands of visitors, especially schoolchildren, will be able to see it with their own eyes.”
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GO: Visit www.britishmuseum.org for more information.