The Victoria and Albert Museum in London will present a free exhibition featuring costumes and personal items associated with Freddie Mercury during what would have been the singer’s 80th birthday. The display, titled Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things, runs from October 24, 2026 through January 17, 2027.
Eight significant costumes spanning Mercury’s career from the 1970s onward will be featured in the exhibition, with seven pieces loaned by Mary Austin, Mercury’s former fiancée and lifelong friend. Among the items on display is the monochrome ensemble pictured on Queen’s debut album cover, the “Mercury Wing” catsuit designed by Wendy de Smet and worn during the 1975-76 A Night at the Opera tour and the Bohemian Rhapsody music video, and regalia worn during Queen’s final live performance at Knebworth in 1986. The exhibition will also include pieces from the Made in Heaven music video along with accessories and wardrobe items from Mercury’s personal collection.
The exhibition’s title derives from a 1978 statement by Mercury expressing his desire to surround himself with refined objects and artistic items. Austin and Mercury first met while working in London’s Kensington fashion district; they became engaged in 1973 but separated in the mid-1970s while remaining close until Mercury’s death in 1991. Austin has emphasized that Mercury’s clothing choices were integral to his artistic expression and stage presence, functioning as essential components of his creative vision rather than mere accessories.
The exhibition has been designed by Tom Piper, whose previous projects include work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and installations at the Tower of London and the V&A. The trail will feature six distinct stops, each staged with sets, sound and lighting designed to reflect different periods of Mercury’s career. Senior curator Kate Bailey noted the display would explore Mercury’s appreciation for design, fashion and art.
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