The historic visit marks the centrepiece of Constable 250, a year-long celebration marking the artist’s 250th birthday.
For the first time, the masterpiece will leave its London home at the National Gallery to be displayed in his native Suffolk at Ipswich’s Christchurch Mansion from July 11 to October 4, 2026.
Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s portfolio holder for planning and museums, said: “Constable 250 is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to celebrate the landscapes and influences that inspired one of Britain’s greatest artists, and we’re proud that as the county town of Suffolk, Ipswich is playing such a central role.
“Welcoming The Hay Wain to Christchurch Mansion for the first time is an extraordinary moment for us, bringing this iconic painting back to the county which shaped it.
“This will be a landmark moment and highlight of the council’s wider, year-long programme, giving residents and visitors alike even more reason to see, connect with and explore many facets of Constable’s life, work and enduring appeal for art lovers worldwide.”
The exhibition, titled The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape, forms part of Ipswich Museums’ wider Constable 250 programme.
This programme includes three landmark exhibitions and a variety of events.
The Hay Wain will be displayed alongside significant loans from collections including Tate, the V&A, the Royal Academy, and the National Galleries of Scotland.
These works will appear together in Suffolk for the first time.
The exhibition explores themes of walking, landscape, and place—central to Constable’s artistic vision.
Ipswich Museums said: “Two contemporary artists bring their own responses to the theme of walking and landscape.”
Tickets for the exhibition are £10 for adults and free for children under 16.
Reduced entry is available for £8.