AMP Article

David Bowie exhibition to tour UK with never-before-seen items

Published July 1, 2026 · Updated July 1, 2026 · By Sarah Martin

David Bowie Exhibition Embarks on National Tour with Rare Artifacts

David Bowie exhibition to tour UK - A new touring exhibition, drawing from the extensive David Bowie archive housed at the V&A, is set to travel across the UK, offering fans an immersive experience with a curated selection of 100 significant items. This collection will showcase some of Bowie’s most iconic memorabilia, including costumes, instruments, and design sketches, ensuring a fresh perspective on his legendary career.

A Journey Through Bowie’s Creative Evolution

Titled David Bowie: On Tour, the exhibition aims to highlight the artist’s transformation over decades. Visitors will encounter original costumes from the Ziggy Stardust era, crafted by renowned designers Freddie Burretti and Kansai Yamamoto, alongside drafts of his musical sketches and a vintage acoustic guitar that symbolizes a pivotal phase in his artistic journey. These artifacts, many of which have never been displayed publicly, will provide insight into Bowie’s innovative approach to music and performance.

The exhibition will debut at V&A Dundee, with a planned run from November 2026 through February 2027. This initial leg will serve as a launching pad for the tour, which is expected to span multiple venues across the country. The choice of Dundee as the first stop is symbolic, given Bowie’s deep connection to the city through his Berlin period, where he recorded seminal albums like Low and Heroes.

Curating a Legacy in Every City

Following its opening in Scotland, the exhibition will move to Showtown in Blackpool (June to September 2027), the Bowes Museum in County Durham (October 2027 to January 2028), the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull (February to May 2028), and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (June to September 2028). Each location will feature a distinct section, reflecting different phases of Bowie’s career. For instance, one segment will focus on his early work, while another will delve into his later experimental projects, such as the groundbreaking album Blackstar, released on his 69th birthday in 2016.

Notable items include Bowie’s keys from his Berlin apartment, where he lived while creating albums that redefined rock music. The exhibition will also feature the Natasha Korniloff-designed costume from the 1980 video for “Ashes To Ashes,” a clapperboard used during the production of the 1976 film The Man Who Fell To Earth, and his first instrument, a Grafton Alto saxophone gifted by his father in 1961. These objects, scattered across his life’s work, will be brought together for the first time in a national tour, emphasizing the breadth of his influence.

“David Bowie: On Tour represents a landmark national collaboration, allowing audiences to engage with the remarkable artifacts of his extraordinary career,” said Sir Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A. “By showcasing these items in locations tied to his life and legacy, we aim to inspire new generations of artists and fans while honoring his enduring creativity.”

The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections, each designed to reflect a different chapter of Bowie’s life. One section will explore his early years as a pop singer, another will highlight his glam rock reinvention, while subsequent parts will delve into his forays into soul, jazz, and electronic music. This structure ensures that visitors can trace his artistic evolution in chronological order, from the 1960s to his final days in the 2010s.

Preserving Bowie’s Archive for Future Generations

As part of the tour, the V&A has established the David Bowie Centre at the Storehouse in September 2025. This space serves as a permanent home for the archive, housing a dedicated display of Bowie’s personal and professional artifacts. The centre’s opening coincides with the exhibition’s launch, underscoring the V&A’s commitment to preserving and presenting his legacy for years to come.

Bowie’s career was marked by a fearless willingness to reinvent himself, both musically and visually. His early work as a pop artist laid the groundwork for his later experimental projects. By the 1970s, he had transitioned into glam rock with albums like The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (1972) and Aladdin Sane (1973), which cemented his reputation as a visionary. His subsequent exploration of soul, as seen in Young Americans (1975) and Station To Station (1976), further expanded his creative boundaries, making him a pioneer in cross-genre experimentation.

The exhibition also highlights Bowie’s collaborations with artists such as Queen, Mick Jagger, and Trent Reznor, showcasing how he continually pushed the boundaries of music. His work with Queen on the album Starman (1972) and his performance on the US TV show Soul Train in the 1970s demonstrate his ability to merge diverse influences into a cohesive artistic vision. The inclusion of these elements will give visitors a comprehensive view of his collaborative spirit and eclectic style.

Global Impact and Enduring Influence

As a five-time UK number-one single artist and an 11-time number-one album winner, Bowie’s contributions to music are unparalleled. His iconic tracks, such as “Space Oddity” (1969) and “Sound And Vision” (1983), remain cultural touchstones, resonating with audiences worldwide. The exhibition will not only celebrate these achievements but also explore the lesser-known facets of his creative process, such as his early work with the band The Kinks and his avant-garde experiments in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Bowie’s ability to evolve his sound and image is a central theme of the exhibition. From the androgynous Ziggy Stardust persona to the minimalist aesthetics of his Berlin period, each phase of his career reflects a unique artistic statement. The tour will include items that capture these transformations, such as the clapperboard from The Man Who Fell To Earth and his Berlin keys, which symbolize the transition from glam rock to avant-garde experimentation.

While the exhibition’s primary focus is on Bowie’s creative output, it will also touch on the broader cultural impact of his work. The V&A’s partnership with local museums and venues aims to make his legacy accessible to communities across the UK. This approach ensures that fans in cities like Blackpool, Durham, and Bristol can experience the same level of inspiration as those in London, where the exhibition first debuted.

Further details about the tour’s itinerary and additional venues are set to be announced soon. The exhibition is expected to draw a wide audience, from dedicated Bowie enthusiasts to those discovering his music for the first time. By bringing together rare and never-before-seen items, the V&A hopes to celebrate the artist’s enduring creativity and his status as one of the most iconic figures in modern culture.