Bayeux Tapestry opening disrupted at British Museum over BP ties
Pro-Palestine activists disrupted the public opening of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum in London, calling on the museum to cut its ties with BP.
The protest in connection with the Tapestry show was reported on 14 September 2026, ARTnews. Those involved in the disruption to the opening demanded that the museum sever its partnership with the energy company, Morning Star.
It is an unlikely clash of old and new. The Bayeux Tapestry is an 11th-century embroidered cloth that tells the story of the 1066 Norman conquest of England, Reuters. The loan of the work to Britain was described as a symbol of improving Anglo-French ties.
Interest is intense. The British Museum show was described as sell-out in early September, Reuters. Tickets are tight.
The museum says special priority booking is now open for tickets from September to December 2026. Bookings for the next block, covering 1 January to 31 March 2027, will open on 29 September 2026, according to its exhibition page, British Museum.
That calendar matters for anyone hoping to see the work in person. The early months are already heavily booked. The January to March release is the next clear chance.
For fans, this means planning ahead. Check the museum site before travelling to London. The display brings a fragile, thousand-year-old story to a very large modern audience, and the opening protest has added an unexpected talking point to a historic visit.
