Overview

• President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in July that the tapestry will be lent for display at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
• A petition organized by art historian Didier Rykner has surpassed 64,000 signatures calling for the loan to be reversed.
• Expert assessments in 2020 and a 2021 pre-restoration study advised against long-distance transport, citing more than 24,000 stains, thousands of creases and several non‑stabilised tears.
• French officials, including presidential adviser Philippe Bélaval, insist the work is transportable, referencing a recent confidential feasibility report and detailed precautions in development.
• The Bayeux Museum will close in September 2025 for a two-year renovation, and staff say engineering solutions are being prepared for handling and reinstallation.