This week, the British Museum announced that it will welcome the Bayeux Tapestry for its first display in the UK.
The historic loan agreement was announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, and it will see the 70-metre tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings go on display in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery at the British Museum in the autumn of 2026.
In exchange, treasures from the British Museum that represent all four nations of the UK – including Sutton Hoo and the Lewis chess pieces – will travel to museums in Normandy, France.
Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, said: “The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations. It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000 years ago. We are also delighted to send treasures from the British Museum representing all four nations of the UK – including Sutton Hoo treasures and the Lewis chess pieces – to France in return.”
“This is exactly the kind of international partnership that I want us to champion and take part in: sharing the best of our collection as widely as possible – and in return displaying global treasures of the world never seen in London before to a global audience.”
George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum Trustees, said: “Once in a generation there’s a British Museum exhibition that eclipses all others. Think in previous ages of Tutankhamun and the Terracotta Warriors. The Bayeux Tapestry will be THE blockbuster show of our generation. I know it will capture the imagination of an entire nation.”
Image: Bayeux Tapestry © Bayeux Museum
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