Wednesday June 3, 2026, for the first time, the Minister of Culture, Catherine Pégard, held a press conference to detail the transport conditions of the Bayeux tapestry. This will be exhibited from September at the British Museum in London. Blank trips, mobilization of experts… It’s a technical performance. Details in this article.
IF nothing filters on the travel dates of the Bayeux tapestry for England, the press conference on Wednesday June 3 made it possible to detail the technical conditions and return to the symbol of this historic loan.
The subject has been creating controversy for months, it concerns the loan of the Bayeux tapestry to the English, from September 2026 for a period of one year. On this point, the Minister of Culture, who recalled that the Bayeux museum was going to be the subject of work, quickly returned to this controversy. In his eyes, what best respects this work “is not to leave it anonymous in the obscurity of a reserve but to allow millions of visitors to understand its role in our history.”
With humor, Lord Ricketts, the United Kingdom’s special envoy for the loan of the Bayeux tapestry, quickly “relaxed” the room, recalling that “The answer is yes! Of course, we will restore the tapestry!” This press conference made it clear that when it returns in a year, the tapestry will not be alone, other remarkable objects loaned by the English will also be on the trip.
Catherine Pégard recalled the mobilization of the “best experts” requested to test and validate this transport. A transport whose terms have already been discussed several months ago.
The minister used metaphors to evoke the technicality of the insulated box used for the tapestry, comparing it to a “extrinsic”Then “to a cradle for a newborn”so many images to reassure. Dry trips were carried out to take measurements and validate each parameter. All the sensors recorded the vibrations second by second, all the steps recorded, which made it possible to identify the most sensitive moments.
Obviously, nothing is left to chance, different scenarios are considered: thus, in the event of a power outage, the temperature and hygrometry will remain stable for 48 hours.
Never before in the history of the transport of works of art have so many tests, so many protocols, so many risk controls been carried out for a single trip
Catherine P̩gard РMinister of Culture
The Bayeux Tapestry, upon its return to France at the end of 2027, will undergo a long-planned restoration. The handling of the work, 70 meters long, is also a very sensitive subject. The screen technique used to extract the work has proven itself, it is an operation which mobilized 80 people. Work is therefore continuing with the British Museum to then place it on the presentation table.
“We have carried out studies on the reaction of this screen where the tapestry is placed to ensure its transport”explains Lucie Delhomme.
This box was developed with scientists to have the best response in terms of humidity and temperature and the limitation of vibration. We were able to reduce vibrations by 96% when there is a shock, for example, and transform a violent shock like a baby in a cradle.
Lucie Delhomme РHead of Mus̩es Hizkia France
Two blank trips have already been made, including one in April, Delphine Christophe tells us, “this second trip was from Bayeux to the British museum”.
It is a form of dress rehearsal. We have measured the technical conditions, already tested during the first trip, in particular the climate which must remain constant. It’s a unique journey! We are extremely calm, we have completed our studies.
Delphine Christophe – Director of heritage and architecture at the Ministry of Culture
As you will have understood, the date of the trip will remain confidential, but the Bayeux tapestry will be installed for September 10, 2026, the opening date of the exhibition at the Bristih Museum. Entrance tickets will go on sale from July 1st. This exhibition is scheduled until July 11, 2027. Then it will be time to think… about the return trip!
