The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century artwork that chronicles the Norman conquest of England, will be displayed in the United Kingdom for the first time in nearly 1,000 years. This significant loan from France is set to arrive at the British Museum in 2026, marking a historic moment for both nations. The announcement came during a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK.
Stretching 70 metres, the tapestry illustrates the events leading up to the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Originally believed to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the tapestry has been exhibited in various locations across France, most recently at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy.
A Symbol of Shared History
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her enthusiasm for the loan. “The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK, and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026,” she stated. She emphasized that the tapestry represents “our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure.”
During the same event, King Charles noted the importance of the UK and France working together. He stated that as “friends and allies,” the two countries will face “complex threats emanating from multiple directions” in the future.
A Groundbreaking Exhibition
Chair of the British Museum Trustees George Osborne promised a “once-in-a-generation” exhibition, declaring it will “eclipse all others.” He emphasized the tapestry’s significance, saying, “There is no other single item in British history that is so familiar, so studied in schools, so copied in art as the Bayeux Tapestry.” Osborne noted that in almost a millennium, it has never returned to British shores, but this will change in 2026, allowing “many thousands of visitors, especially schoolchildren, to see it with their own eyes.”
In a reciprocal gesture, the British Museum will loan treasures from the Sutton Hoo collection to museums in Normandy. These artefacts originate from a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon ship burial, and the excavation was notably portrayed in the 2021 film The Dig, featuring actors Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan. The museum will also lend the Lewis Chessmen, medieval chess pieces made from walrus tusks and whales’ teeth, which date back to around the 12th century and were discovered on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition is expected to be a major cultural event, running from September 2026 to July 2027, and promises to attract significant interest from the public.
