Egypt studies Nefertari reopening at Valley of the Queens
Published on 10/04/2026 at 05:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Egypt is studying a possible reopening of Nefertari’s tomb at the Valley of the Queens in Luxor after an inspection on 18 September 2026. The site, known for the tomb of Queen Nefertari, remains part of a conservation debate rather than a confirmed reopening.
The inspection places the Valley of the Queens directly in the latest discussion about how visitors may return to one of Egypt’s most closely monitored decorated tombs.
Egypt studies a reopening of Nefertari’s tomb
Hisham Leithy, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, visited the tomb during a wider inspection tour in Luxor on 18 September 2026. The council is studying whether the tomb can return to public access, while checking the condition of its wall paintings and inscriptions.
The inspection did not announce a reopening date. Instead, Leithy ordered further studies and regular monitoring of temperature and humidity inside the chamber. The measures are intended to establish whether the decorated surfaces can withstand renewed visits under suitable conservation controls.
The announcement was reported by the 18 September inspection report. A separate report also describes the possible reopening as dependent on scientific checks of the tomb’s condition.
Why the reopening matters at the Valley of the Queens
Nefertari was the wife of Ramesses II, and her tomb is numbered QV66. It was discovered in 1904 by an Italian expedition led by Egyptologist Ernesto Schiaparelli, according to the inspection report.
The chamber’s paintings and inscriptions are central to the reopening question because moisture and human presence can affect fragile decorated surfaces. A report by the conservation report says the tomb was closed in March 2024 to measure humidity and consider controlled future access.
That history gives the 18 September inspection a practical significance for visitors. It concerns not simply the return of a famous attraction, but the conditions under which access could take place without putting the surviving decoration under additional pressure.
What the latest announcement means for visitors
The current development is an assessment, not a public reopening. No reopening day was announced on 18 September 2026, so travellers should not plan a visit to QV66 on the assumption that the chamber will be accessible during October or early November.
The wider archaeological site remains the relevant destination in Luxor, while the Nefertari chamber is the specific part affected by the conservation review. Any future access would depend on the results of the temperature, humidity and surface-condition studies.
Visiting Valley of the Queens: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The conservation review was announced on 18 September 2026 at Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens, Luxor.
- The announcement did not reopen QV66. The tomb’s public access remains subject to the scientific assessment and a later decision by the antiquities authorities.
- The site is in Luxor, Egypt, and the visitor question concerns the tomb of Nefertari rather than a separate event elsewhere in the city.
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Frequently asked questions about Valley of the Queens
When was the Nefertari reopening study announced?
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities announced the study during an inspection on 18 September 2026. The work covers the tomb’s paintings, inscriptions, temperature and humidity.
What has changed at Valley of the Queens?
The latest change is a formal study of whether Nefertari’s tomb can reopen. No public reopening date was announced on 18 September 2026.
Where is Valley of the Queens and how do you get there?
Valley of the Queens is an archaeological site in Luxor, Egypt. The current announcement concerns Queen Nefertari’s tomb within that site.
