Freddie Mercury's Most Iconic Stage Costumes Are Coming to London's V&A Museum
Highlights include the Mercury Wing catsuit from the 1975 “A Night at the Opera” tour and “Bohemian Rhapsody” video.
Summary
Features eight iconic costumes and personal accessories tracing the legendary frontman's career from Queen's 1973 debut to his later solo work
Developed in collaboration with Mary Austin to celebrate what would have been Mercury's 80th anniversary year
Includes a free trail across six locations within the museum's South Kensington galleries featuring sets designed by Tom Piper
The Victoria & Albert Museum is celebrating the enduring cultural legacy of Queen‘s legendary frontman with Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things. Opening on October 24, 2026, the free trail will map the performer’s meteoric rise to global stardom and his subsequent solo career through his highly theatrical wardrobe. The exhibition scatters Mercury’s garments across the institution’s permanent galleries to explore the meticulous visual language behind one of music history’s most recognizable public personas.
Developed in collaboration with Mary Austin, Mercury‘s former fiancée and confidante of two decades, the display borrows seven looks directly from her private collection. The exhibition title itself pulls from the singer’s own 1978 declaration: “I like to be surrounded by splendid things. I want to lead a Victorian life surrounded by exquisite clutter.” This affinity for curated grandiosity translates directly into the six-stop trail, which creates dialogue between the rocker’s stage wear and the museum’s existing holdings in fashion, decorative arts and performance.
Standout pieces highlight pivotal eras in the band’s discography. Visitors can view a 1970s monochrome ensemble worn for an early gig at Imperial College that later graced the cover of Queen’s 1973 debut album. The retrospective also features the “Mercury Wing” catsuit designed by Wendy de Smet for the 1975-76 A Night at the Opera tour and the groundbreaking “Bohemian Rhapsody” video. Moving into his stadium era, the display showcases the regal signature crown and cloak crafted by Diana Moseley for his final 1986 Magic Tour appearance at Knebworth alongside quieter personal wardrobe items and his suit from the “Made in Heaven” music video.
Award-winning theater and exhibition designer Tom Piper transformed the museum spaces to capture the frontman’s magnetic energy. Known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Piper integrates set dressing, sound and lighting to frame each era. Specially crafted mannequins strike dynamic poses to emulate Mercury’s unmatched stage presence, reinforcing how his clothing served as essential tools to command vast arena crowds and cement his status as a permanent pop culture fixture. The installation runs through January 17, 2027.
