8 Freddie Mercury costumes come to V&A for new free museum trail
- maxwell museums
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In October 2026 and marking the 80th anniversary of his birth, eight costumes worn by Queen frontman Freddie Mercury will go on show across the V&A in London.
The looks — all from the 1970s and 1980s — will be displayed as a trail through the historic building, and they'll be shown in six locations among the South Kensington museum's permanent collections and galleries.
Visitors are promised that “each installation will be distinct and theatrically staged, bringing to life moments in Freddie’s musical career through set dressing and in some spaces – sound and light,” according to a press statement.
The new display — titled Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things — has been created in collaboration with Mary Austin, Mercury’s former fiancée, close friend and confidante of 20 years. Austin inherited Mercury’s Kensington home and all its possessions when he died in 1991, and she is lending all-but-one of the eight costumes here.
“Never mere accoutrements, his costumes and clothes were essential to his performances, creative vision, and wider self-expression” Austin said to mark the exhibition’s announcement. They were “carefully designed to create a lasting visual and emotional impact that has reached across the generations and still reverberates today,” she added.
Each of the six stops on the trail will showcase an iconic moment in Mercury’s career, with looks spotlighting his flamboyance, charisma and the multi-disciplinary creativity that helped define his enduring legacy.
The stops have each been designed by award-winning designer Tom Piper (who created the hugely well-received poppy installation at the Tower of London to mark the WWI centenary) with a theatrical staging in mind, so that they bring to life moments in Mercury’s musical career.
Visitors will see looks including a striking monochrome ensemble worn for an early Queen gig at Imperial college and featured on the cover of Queen’s debut album in 1973, as well as the ‘Mercury Wing’ catsuit designed by Wendy de Smet that was worn on stage for Night At the Opera tour in the mid-1970s and also seen in the video for Bohemian Rhapsody. Mercury’s signature crown and cloak designed by Diana Moseley and worn on the Magic Tour which included his final stage appearance with Queen at Knebworth in 1986.
The trail’s title comes from a remark Mercury made in 1978: “I like to be surrounded by splendid things. I want to lead a Victorian life surrounded by exquisite clutter.”
Kate Bailey, Senior Curator of Theatre and Performance at the V&A said: “We are thrilled to display Freddie’s most iconic costumes at the V&A, celebrating one of greatest performers and songwriters of all time. Reflecting his love of ‘splendid things’ and his passion for art, design and fashion, Freddie will be very at home in the V&A galleries.”
This new trail seems to follow the same playbook that the museum used for its hugely successful Taylor Swift costume trail in 2024. This was a 13-stop, 1-mile long tour through the galleries featuring personal items and outfits from the global superstar, and this too was designed by Piper. It gave the V&A its highest summer visitor numbers in over six years.
It’s yet another fashion show for the V&A in 2026, following the successful Schiaparelli exhibition which opened in March, and a free display celebrating the Burberry trench coat.
Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things runs at the V&A South Kensington in London from 24 October 2026 until 17 January 2027
