FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1000 YEARS THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY WILL BE BACK ON DISPLAY IN THE UK

For the first time in over a millennium, the famous Bayeux Tapestry—an embroidered masterwork depicting the Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings in 1066—will be on exhibit in the United Kingdom. As part of an exchange between the two countries, the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux in Normandy, France, is lending the 70-meter-long by 50-centimetre-wide (230 feet by 20 inches) tapestry to the British Museum in London.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reached an agreement that led to the borrowing. According to Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, "the Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most significant and distinctive cultural treasures in the world, which highlights the profound ties between Britain and France and has enthralled people across geographies and generations." "The value of this unique opportunity to display it at the British Museum cannot be overstated, and we are incredibly thankful to everyone concerned."

The Lewis chess pieces from the 12th century and items from the Sutton Hoo ship burial will be sent to museums in Normandy, France, by the British Museum in return. One of the best examples of Romanesque art is the exquisitely detailed Bayeux Tapestry. It tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England and the crucial Battle of Hastings in a thread, with 58 scenes, 626 characters, and 202 horses.

Fans of the Bayeux Tapestry may look forward to a number of new developments, including this recent announcement. A previously unidentified piece was discovered in a German archive earlier this year and will be reunited with the remainder of the tapestry later this year. 

The new Bayeux Tapestry exhibit is expected to be "the blockbuster show of our generation," according to George Osborne, chair of the British Museum Trustees. The museum will display the stories behind this intriguing era of history by combining the tapestry with items from its own collection and outside loans.

In the fall of 2026, the Bayeux Tapestry is scheduled to open in the British Museum's Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery.