Freddie Mercury costumes to be displayed at London’s V&A Museum
London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) will present eight costumes worn by Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in autumn 2026. The display will mark the 80th anniversary of the singer, who was born on September 5, 1946. According to The Guardian World, the free Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things exhibition trail will run from October 24, 2026, to January 17, 2027.
Costumes from different periods
Seven of the eight outfits for the display will be provided by Mary Austin, the musician’s former fiancée and close friend. The selection covers Mercury’s career from the 1970s to the final years of his life.
Among the exhibits will be a monochrome ensemble that Mercury wore during an early Queen concert at Imperial College. He is pictured in this outfit on the cover of the band’s self-titled debut album.
Visitors will also see the Mercury Wing jumpsuit, created by designer Wendy de Smet. Mercury wore it during the A Night at the Opera tour in 1975–1976, as well as in the Bohemian Rhapsody music video.
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Crown, robe and personal belongings
The exhibition will include a crown and robe designed by Diana Mosley and used during Queen’s 1986 Magic Tour. Mercury performed in this outfit at the band’s final concert in Knebworth that same year.
The trail will also include a costume from the Made in Heaven music video, accessories and items from the performer’s personal wardrobe. The project’s title comes from Mercury’s 1978 statement about his desire to surround himself with “splendid things.”
The installations for the trail’s six stops were designed by Tom Piper. Each stop will be designed individually, using scenery, sound and lighting to convey different stages of the musician’s career.
