Kelvingrove Museum removes Egyptian mummies from display

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland, has removed several ancient Egyptian mummies and human remains from public exhibition. The items taken off display include a painted coffin containing the remains of a priest named Nekht, a mummified male head, and a mummified right hand and foot recovered from the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Glasgow Life, the organization managing the museum, stated that the decision follows a new policy regarding human remains. The policy stipulates that such remains should only be exhibited when there is documented and informed consent from the deceased or their descendants. The museum cited the International Council of Museums’ revised Code of Ethics, published in June 2026, as a guiding factor in upholding the dignity of human remains.

The move has drawn criticism from political figures and visitors. Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, described the decision as “woke madness,” arguing that museums should showcase history rather than hiding it to meet modern ideological standards. Some visitors expressed frustration on social media, noting that the removal impacted educational opportunities for children interested in ancient civilizations.