The British Museum has released the first details of what it’s calling “the exhibition of the century”—the historic display of the Bayeux Tapestry, which will see the medieval masterpiece return to the UK for the first time in nearly a thousand years.
Opening on 10 September 2026 and running until 11 July 2027, visitors will experience the tapestry as it has never been seen before: displayed flat for the first time and in one continuous length in a specially made showcase.
General admission tickets for the 40-minute experience go on sale from 1 July 2026.
A New Way of Seeing
In previous permanent displays, the 70-meter (230-foot) tapestry has been shown vertically, and from 1700 until 1842 it was usually rolled out only for academics and important individuals to view. Displaying the tapestry flat allows audiences to fully appreciate the scale of this spectacular medieval embroidery—and enables the Museum to bring it to life with digital elements that enhance understanding.
“The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important surviving works from the medieval world and an extraordinary account of a defining moment in our history,” said Dr. Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Director of the British Museum. “Since we first announced this historic loan, we have been committed to ensuring as many people as possible can see it, and we’re excited about welcoming the first visitors through the doors on the 10th of September.”
Remarkable Loans Tell the Full Story
The display will be supported by objects from the Museum’s own collection alongside significant loans from UK and European partners, putting the tapestry into the broader context of medieval England and the Norman Conquest.
Among the highlights:
A charter of Edward the Confessor from 1060, on loan from Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. The document, written in Latin and Old English, is witnessed by several individuals who appear in the tapestry itself—including King Edward, Harold’s sister Queen Edith, Archbishop Stigand, Earl Harold, and his brother Gyrth (both shown being killed at the Battle of Hastings).
Junius II, an extensively illustrated manuscript from the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford. Created in Canterbury around AD 1000, it records biblical events and was likely borrowed by the tapestry’s creators for their depictions of clothing, ships, and items of everyday life.
The Chew Valley Hoard, a collection of silver pennies of Harold II and William I on loan from the South West Heritage Trust and Somerset Council museum collection (supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund). Buried in Somerset soon after the Norman Conquest, experts believe it was hidden for safekeeping during the 1068 rebellion against Norman rule in the southwest.
A charter issued by William I in 1067 to the citizens of London, from The London Archive. Written in Old English—the language of the newly conquered English—it promises that the new king will uphold the laws and customs of King Edward, standing in poignant contrast to the political realities suggested by hoards like Chew Valley.
Tickets and Pricing
Tickets for the 40-minute experience will go on sale from 1 July 2026 on the British Museum website, with prices ranging from £25–£33 ($31–$41) through a tiered structure based on day and time of visit.
In a commitment to ensuring access for children, under-16s will be able to visit free of charge when accompanied by an adult, and dedicated times will be set aside for school visits each week.
Tickets will be released in phases: the July release covers September–December 2026, with further releases in October (for January–March 2027) and January (for April–July 2027).
Museum membership, available from £82 ($103), includes two visits to the Bayeux Tapestry during its run, with discounts for further visits.
About the Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-meter-long (230-foot) masterpiece telling the story of events leading to the Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066) and the Norman Conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy. The embroidery—wool thread on linen cloth—was likely produced in or near Canterbury and dates to 1072–77.
Through 58 scenes, 627 characters, and 737 animals, the tapestry provides an account of the medieval period like no other, with details of civil and military architecture, armor, seafaring, and everyday life.
The tapestry has been on display at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy since 1983, until the museum closed in 2025 for renovation—providing the circumstances for this historic loan. It will return to France for display in the new Bayeux Tapestry Museum following its run at the British Museum.
“The display of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of history,” said Michael Lewis, Curator of the exhibition. “The Norman Conquest not only impacted kings, dukes and the elite, but also everyday people, including those who made this artwork.”
Publications
The British Museum Press will produce a full publishing program to accompany the exhibition, including:
- The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition catalogue: hardback £45 ($56), Museum exclusive paperback £30 ($38)
- The Bayeux Tapestry: Fold-Out Edition: paperback £15 ($19)
- The Bayeux Tapestry: Collector’s Edition: cased hardback £150 ($188)
Children’s titles published by Nosy Crow in collaboration with the British Museum include an ABC board book, a colouring book, a non-fiction history title, and a graphic novel retelling.
The Bayeux Tapestry
When: 10 September 2026 – 11 July 2027
Where: British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Tickets: £25–£33 ($31–$41); under-16s free with accompanying adult. On sale from 1 July 2026 at britishmuseum.org
More information: britishmuseum.org
A Little Bit of London In Your Inbox Weekly. Sign-up for our free weekly London newsletter. Sent every Friday with the latest news from London!
Definitely the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m guilty of envying everyone able to take advantage. Although my health is good, at 84 and living in the U.S. the chances are slim to none….but I congratulate all those involved in bringing this opportunity to so many! Please keep those of us peeking through the fence informed “in living color” !