The British Museum has announced that public tickets to see the Bayeux Tapestry will go on sale on 1 July 2026, ahead of what it expects to be one of the most popular events in the Museum’s history.
The Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed in London for a limited time, marking what the Museum describes as the first time it has been shown in the United Kingdom since it was made almost 1,000 years ago. Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, called it “one of the most important cultural artefacts from the Medieval world,” adding that it has long been “a source of inspiration and wonder for generations.”
The first batch of tickets will be available for entry dates between September and December 2026. The Museum says it will then make two further ticket releases: one in October 2026 for access between January and March 2027, and another in January 2027 for access between April and July 2027.
Cullinan said it was hard to capture “just how extraordinary” the opportunity is to display the tapestry in the UK, and that the Museum is eager to share the excitement as visitors begin booking trips to London for what he described as “one of the biggest cultural events the British Museum has hosted – one for the ages.”
Polling highlights public interest and support for school visits
The Museum also released findings from recent polling carried out exclusively for it, saying 75% of the public support the partnership with France. It added that 76% of respondents believe that “1066 is an important part of British history and people should learn more about it.”
According to the Museum, the polling also pointed to strong interest from families: 71% of parents want their child to learn more about the tapestry’s story while it is in the UK, and 82% are supportive of school trips and encouraging visits to the Museum.
In response, the British Museum says it will dedicate special opening hours for British school children “to guarantee as much access as possible.” It is also planning a national programme connected to the loan, aimed at supporting those who are unable to travel to London.
Launch event at Piccadilly Circus
To mark the announcement, a special advertisement was unveiled yesterday at Piccadilly Circus, where Cullinan and British Museum Chair of Trustees George Osborne were joined by the French Ambassador, Her Excellency Madame Hélène Duchêne.
Osborne said the coming period would be “without doubt the biggest year in the Museum’s history,” predicting 7.5 million visitors and calling the return of the tapestry to the UK “a defining piece of our nation’s history and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.” He added: “I hope people mark their calendars and seize the chance to see it when it arrives, in what promises to be an extraordinary moment for the country.”
The tapestry has been on display at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum since 1983, but that museum is now closed for renovation. After its display at the British Museum, the tapestry will return to France for exhibition in the new Bayeux Tapestry Museum.
The British Museum has announced that public tickets to see the Bayeux Tapestry will go on sale on 1 July 2026, ahead of what it expects to be one of the most popular events in the Museum’s history.
The Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed in London for a limited time, marking what the Museum describes as the first time it has been shown in the United Kingdom since it was made almost 1,000 years ago. Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, called it “one of the most important cultural artefacts from the Medieval world,” adding that it has long been “a source of inspiration and wonder for generations.”
Booking windows through July 2027
The first batch of tickets will be available for entry dates between September and December 2026. The Museum says it will then make two further ticket releases: one in October 2026 for access between January and March 2027, and another in January 2027 for access between April and July 2027.
Cullinan said it was hard to capture “just how extraordinary” the opportunity is to display the tapestry in the UK, and that the Museum is eager to share the excitement as visitors begin booking trips to London for what he described as “one of the biggest cultural events the British Museum has hosted – one for the ages.”
Polling highlights public interest and support for school visits
The Museum also released findings from recent polling carried out exclusively for it, saying 75% of the public support the partnership with France. It added that 76% of respondents believe that “1066 is an important part of British history and people should learn more about it.”
According to the Museum, the polling also pointed to strong interest from families: 71% of parents want their child to learn more about the tapestry’s story while it is in the UK, and 82% are supportive of school trips and encouraging visits to the Museum.
In response, the British Museum says it will dedicate special opening hours for British school children “to guarantee as much access as possible.” It is also planning a national programme connected to the loan, aimed at supporting those who are unable to travel to London.
Launch event at Piccadilly Circus
To mark the announcement, a special advertisement was unveiled yesterday at Piccadilly Circus, where Cullinan and British Museum Chair of Trustees George Osborne were joined by the French Ambassador, Her Excellency Madame Hélène Duchêne.
Osborne said the coming period would be “without doubt the biggest year in the Museum’s history,” predicting 7.5 million visitors and calling the return of the tapestry to the UK “a defining piece of our nation’s history and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.” He added: “I hope people mark their calendars and seize the chance to see it when it arrives, in what promises to be an extraordinary moment for the country.”
Returning to France after the UK display
The tapestry has been on display at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum since 1983, but that museum is now closed for renovation. After its display at the British Museum, the tapestry will return to France for exhibition in the new Bayeux Tapestry Museum.
To learn more, read our article A Medieval Exchange: Bayeux Tapestry to Visit Britain While UK Treasures Travel to France
Top Image: Hélène Duchêne, Nicholas Cullinan, George Osborne at Piccadilly Circus – Trustees of the British Museum
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