Three Scottish cultural venues will feature in the British Museum’s national programme of events and exhibitions across the UK celebrating the “once-in-a-generation” Bayeux Tapestry experience at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027.
Together, the three venues reflect the enduring influence of the Bayeux Tapestry on contemporary Scottish art, storytelling and heritage, and are connected through a shared story of inspiration: The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels is home to one of the world’s longest tapestries and a landmark example of contemporary collective storytelling, directly inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry; Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh’s landmark centre for contemporary art, design and textiles, is where the idea for The Great Tapestry of Scotland was first conceived; and the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum will display part of tapestry artist Andrew Crummy’s latest work as part of its programme celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry’s visit to the British Museum.
The once-in-a-generation Bayeux Tapestry show at the British Museum will open to the public on 10 September 2026 and run until 11 July 2027. Visitors to the British Museum during this time will experience the Tapestry as it has never been seen before when it’s displayed flat for the first time and in one continuous length in a specially made show case. The exhibition will also feature objects from the museum’s own collection, alongside significant artefacts on loan.
The show will be supported by a national programme of events across the UK, putting the Tapestry into the broader context of medieval Britain, the events surrounding the Norman Conquest and the making of the Tapestry.
In Scotland, three venues have been selected to feature within this programme, hosting an inter-linked programme of events and exhibitions, each offering a distinctive perspective on the Bayeux story and its continuing influence today:
- Located in Galashiels in the heart of the Scottish Borders, The Great Tapestry of Scotland will host a year-long programme of art, history and storytelling experiences and workshops entitled Two Nations: Two Tapestries. The programme, beginning in September 2026, will reflect on the long and enduring historical links between Scotland and France, explore the role the Bayeux Tapestry played in inspiring the work of Great Tapestry of Scotland artist Andrew Crummy, and draw parallels between the experiences of the stitchers of both tapestries. It will be supported by a Bayeux-focused education programme aligned with Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. greattapestryofscotland.com
- Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh will explore the craft, creativity and technical skill behind one of history’s most celebrated textile artworks. For the first time in Scotland, a full-scale printed replica of the Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed across Dovecot’s world-renowned Tapestry Studio Viewing Balcony, allowing visitors to experience its extraordinary scale and detail. Celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry’s historic visit to the UK, the display will examine its enduring legacy through the eyes of contemporary makers. Alongside the replica, Dovecot’s weavers and volunteers are creating two new panels, one in embroidery and one in tapestry, offering a unique comparison of these traditional techniques and bringing fresh perspectives to the remarkable 1,000-year-old story.
- Just over 30 miles north of Edinburgh, in the historic city of Stirling, The Smith will examine the enduring role of tapestry and visual storytelling in recording, interpreting and sharing human experiences. Alongside the display of the Tapestry of Black Britons during Black History Month (October 2026), the museum will showcase panels from Andrew Crummy’s latest Cancer Tapestry project, which aims to capture 1,000 stories of cancer. The programme will also explore connections between the Bayeux Tapestry and earlier traditions of narrative art, including those associated with the region’s rich Roman heritage.
Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, Visitor Attraction Manager at Live Borders, the charitable trust responsible for operating The Great Tapestry of Scotland centre said: “We are thrilled that The Great Tapestry of Scotland has been selected as a Scottish partner in the British Museum’s national programme celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry.
“As the home of one of the world’s longest tapestries, which was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, we are uniquely placed to help visitors explore the remarkable connections between these two extraordinary works. The Bayeux Tapestry was the inspiration behind artist Andrew Crummy’s vision for The Great Tapestry of Scotland, which even includes a panel featuring St Margaret of Scotland, the English princess who sought refuge in Scotland following the Norman Conquest of 1066, creating a direct connection to the period depicted in Bayeux.
“While separated by almost a thousand years, both works tell powerful stories of nationhood, identity and shared history, brought to life through the skill and dedication of communities of stitchers. Alongside the historical stories stitched into the tapestries, our programme will celebrate the human stories behind them. Unlike the Bayeux Tapestry, we are privileged to have many of our original stitchers still with us today, offering visitors a unique opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of the creation of this nationally significant work. The partnership also provides an exciting opportunity to celebrate the enduring cultural and historical links between Scotland and France, while showcasing The Great Tapestry of Scotland as one of Scotland’s most significant community heritage projects.”
Heather Carroll, Curator and Exhibitions Manager at Dovecot Studios, said: “As the UK’s longest-running tapestry studio, this is a natural collaboration for Dovecot, and we are delighted to be part of this special Scotland-wide programme, sharing our craft expertise while celebrating one of the world’s most remarkable textile artworks. Creating these two panels in embroidery and tapestry invites visitors to consider what a tapestry really is, and why the world’s most famous ‘Tapestry’ is actually an embroidery.”