The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London, will open a free exhibition dedicated to Freddie Mercury on October 24, 2026, to celebrate what would have been the Queen singer's 80th birthday.
Titled Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things, the public installation will remain open through January 17, 2027. It will showcase iconic stage costumes and outfits worn by the singer across different eras of his career, alongside accessories from his live performances and music videos during the 1970s and 1980s.
The exhibition concept was developed in collaboration with Mary Austin, Mercury's former fiancée, close friend, and confidante. The layout features six designated stops across an installation trail, with each stop highlighting a milestone moment in the vocalist's stage and recording career.
Tom Piper, who previously designed the Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail at the V&A, serves as the designer for the new Mercury exhibition. Reports from Secret London stated that each outfit will reflect Mercury's confidence, charisma, and creativity, with custom mannequins positioned in dynamic poses to mirror his stage presence.
The name of the exhibition comes from a statement Mercury made in 1978, when he stated that he liked to be surrounded by splendid things and wished to lead a Victorian life surrounded by exquisite clutter.
Exhibition curators and costume history
Kate Bailey, the senior curator of theatre and performance arts at the V&A, stated that the museum is delighted to display Mercury's most emblematic costumes in tribute to one of music's greatest songwriters and performers. She added that Mercury's passion for art, design, and fashion makes the South Kensington galleries a natural home for his collection.
Austin stated that the clothing and stage costumes displayed at the V&A document a vital part of Mercury's story both on and off stage. She explained that the garments were far from mere accessories, describing them as essential elements of his live performances, creative vision, and personal expression designed to leave an enduring visual and emotional impact across generations.
Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in September 1946, gained international renown as the frontman of the British rock group Queen before his death in November 1991. The Victoria and Albert Museum, established in London in 1852, is world famous for its extensive archives of decorative art, performance history, and fashion design.
Queen avatar show and Las Vegas residency plans
Alongside the London exhibition, surviving Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor are considering an immersive concert format that would bring Mercury and retired bassist John Deacon back to the stage using 3D digital avatars.
While no tour dates or concert schedules have been confirmed, guitarist May and drummer Taylor have expressed enthusiasm for the project. The planned spectacle takes direct inspiration from ABBA Voyage, the virtual concert residency in London that uses digital avatars to recreate classic live shows.
Queen's recent live concerts with touring vocalist Adam Lambert have featured emotional tributes, including May performing the song Love of My Life alongside archival footage of Mercury. However, the new proposal aims to go beyond past single hologram shows, such as those developed for Whitney Houston a decade ago, by recreating all four original band members within an interactive 3D environment.
Members of Queen stated that Mercury remains alive through his music, noting that modern technology allows them to share that live atmosphere with fans who never saw the band in person. Rather than simply screening historical footage, the group intends to design a new stage show demonstrating how the classic four-piece lineup would perform today.
May highlighted The Sphere in Las Vegas as an attractive potential location for the production due to its 360-degree projection screens and multichannel audio systems. The band favors a fixed multi-month residency over a traditional concert tour, although the potential relocation to the United States has generated mixed feelings among some British fans.
Virtual concert technology and band history
John Deacon retired from Queen and public life in 1997, leaving May and Taylor to manage the band's ongoing projects. ABBA Voyage launched in London in May 2022 inside a custom venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, while The Sphere in Las Vegas opened in September 2023 as an advanced venue specializing in immersive visual and audio experiences.
