Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things runs from 24 October 2026 to 17 January 2027.
Eight outfits from the Queen frontman’s career will be displayed across the V&A South Kensington.
Highlights include the Mercury Wing catsuit and his famous crown and cloak.
The free exhibition will celebrate the Queen frontman’s fearless fashion and mark what would have been his 80th birthday.
Few performers have left a visual legacy quite like Freddie Mercury. From theatrical catsuits and military-inspired jackets to the crown and cloak that became synonymous with Queen’s final years on stage, the singer understood that fashion could be as powerful as the music itself. Now, some of his most recognisable looks are heading to the V&A South Kensington for a new exhibition: Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things.
Running from 24 October 2026 to 17 January 2027, Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things will bring together eight outfits spanning different stages of Mercury’s career. The exhibition coincides with the year in which the Queen frontman would have celebrated his 80th birthday, offering fans another opportunity to explore the creativity behind one of rock music’s most distinctive performers.
The exhibition takes its name 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.”
Created in collaboration with Mary Austin, Mercury’s closest friend and former fiancée, the exhibition draws on pieces from his personal collection. Austin inherited much of Mercury’s estate following his death in 1991 and has loaned several outfits and accessories to the museum.
Rather than presenting the clothing in a single gallery, the V&A will create a six-stop trail through the museum. Each installation will use set design, lighting and audio to situate the garments within the wider story of Mercury’s career and evolving stage persona.
Among the pieces going on display is a monochrome outfit Mercury wore while at Imperial College London, offering a glimpse at his style before Queen became an international phenomenon. Visitors will also be able to see the striking Mercury Wing catsuit worn in the Bohemian Rhapsody music video, alongside the regal crown and cloak associated with his appearance during Queen’s final concert with Mercury at Knebworth in 1986.
The exhibition will also feature accessories from Mercury’s personal collection, adding another layer to the story of a performer who treated clothing as an extension of his personality.
Best of all, Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things will be completely free to visit.
Where: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
When: 24 October 2026 to17 January 2027.
Contact: www.vam.ac.uk