FIRST LOOK: Over 100 rare David Bowie objects unveiled at V&A Dundee ahead of landmark exhibition
From iconic Ziggy Stardust costumes and handwritten lyrics to personal belongings never previously seen by the public, V&A Dundee has revealed a first look at its major new David Bowie exhibition, opening this week!
David Bowie: On Tour opens on Wednesday 4 November 2026, bringing more than 100 objects from the legendary musician’s personal archive to Scotland for the very first time.
The exhibition will offer visitors an extraordinary glimpse into the life and imagination of one of the world’s most influential artists, featuring rare costumes, musical instruments, photographs, notebooks and personal keepsakes spanning his remarkable career.
And with Dundee becoming the first city outside London to host highlights from the V&A’s David Bowie archive on this scale, the exhibition marks another major cultural moment for the city.
From Ziggy Stardust to Blackstar
Among the most exciting objects going on display is an acoustic guitar used during Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era, which will be shown publicly for the first time.
Visitors will also be able to see a lightning-bolt stage costume from the Ziggy Stardust tour, Bowie’s first musical instrument, an alto saxophone given to him by his father, and the bronze ring he wore for the cover photoshoot of his 1971 album Hunky Dory.
Other fascinating objects include the keys to Bowie’s Berlin apartment, his passport, handwritten notes and personal to-do lists, offering an unusually intimate look at the person behind the famous stage personas.
The exhibition will also feature handwritten lyrics and notebooks connected to his final albums, The Next Day and Blackstar, alongside his posthumous Grammy Award.
For fans of Bowie’s film career, there will be an opportunity to see his annotated script for the character Jareth in the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth, as well as the famous costume from his Ashes to Ashes music video.
Many of the objects have never been displayed publicly before, making the Dundee exhibition a particularly special opportunity for fans.
Remembering David Bowie’s unforgettable Dundee concert
One of the most exciting parts of the exhibition is its connection to Dundee itself.
On 17 May 1973, David Bowie performed at the Caird Hall as part of his legendary Ziggy Stardust Tour, playing to a sold-out audience of approximately 2,500 people.
Wearing a striking red Kansai Yamamoto jumpsuit, Bowie performed songs including Changes, The Jean Genie and Life on Mars?, creating memories that have stayed with local fans for more than half a century.
The exhibition will celebrate that historic night through original concert memorabilia, including a ticket and Polaroid photographs preserved by people who attended.
Visitors will also be invited to share their own thoughts and memories about Bowie, helping celebrate his lasting influence on Dundee and beyond.
Svetlana Panova, Curator at V&A Dundee, said:
“When researching Bowie’s performances in Dundee, we were struck by how vividly they still live in the hearts and memories of local fans, who have proudly held on to keepsakes such as concert tickets and Polaroid photographs.”
She explained that these treasured items have helped the museum tell the story of Bowie’s unforgettable 1973 performance.
Four sections exploring Bowie’s extraordinary creativity
The exhibition is divided into four sections, each exploring a different side of Bowie’s life and work.
Bowie Through a Lens examines how photography helped shape his constantly changing image, featuring photographs taken throughout his career by renowned photographers including Masayoshi Sukita, Terry O’Neill and Brian Ward.
All the Somebody People focuses on his music and performances, exploring different periods of his career, from Ziggy Stardust and his experimental years in Berlin to the global success of Let’s Dance and his final album, Blackstar.
Hooked to the Silver Screen celebrates Bowie’s work in film, television and music videos, including material connected to Labyrinth, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Ashes to Ashes.
Finally, I Can’t Give Everything Away offers a more personal look at Bowie through objects he chose to keep, including musical instruments, everyday belongings, handwritten plans and gifts from fans.
Together, the four sections reveal how Bowie continually explored new ideas across music, fashion, film, photography and design.
A rare glimpse into David Bowie’s imagination
Harriet Reed, Curator of Contemporary Performance at the V&A, described the exhibition as an opportunity to discover the creative thinking behind Bowie’s extraordinary work.
She said:
“David Bowie: On Tour reveals an artist in constant motion - a restless, forward-looking mind at work beyond the music and images we know.”
She added that the collection includes previously unseen sketches, handwritten notes and other objects that help reveal how Bowie developed his ideas.
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee, said the exhibition would give visitors the chance to encounter personal objects that reveal how Bowie thought, worked and continually reinvented himself.
She also welcomed the wider celebrations taking place across Dundee, with the city embracing the exhibition through its special Bowie Town programme.
Dundee becomes the first stop on a major UK tour
The exhibition is particularly significant because Dundee is the first destination for the V&A’s national tour of highlights from David Bowie’s archive.
The collection, acquired by the V&A in 2024, contains more than 90,000 objects documenting the artist’s life and career.
Following its opening in Dundee, David Bowie: On Tour will travel to Blackpool, County Durham, Hull and Bristol between 2027 and 2028.
The exhibition also forms part of international celebrations marking what would have been Bowie’s 80th birthday on 8 January 2027.
First Minister John Swinney welcomed the exhibition, describing its opening in Dundee as recognition of V&A Dundee’s importance as a cultural institution and its contribution to attracting visitors to the city.
Dundee celebrates Bowie Town
The arrival of the exhibition is also being celebrated through Bowie Town, a city-wide programme of events and activities inspired by the legendary musician.
Venues and organisations across Dundee are taking part, with opportunities to explore Bowie’s influence on music, fashion, art and popular culture.
The celebrations aim to build on the city’s historic connection with Bowie while encouraging residents and visitors to discover more of Dundee’s cultural attractions.
Further information about the programme is available at dundee.com/bowietown.
How to visit David Bowie: On Tour at V&A Dundee
David Bowie: On Tour opens at V&A Dundee on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and runs until Monday 15 February 2027.
The exhibition will be open during the museum’s usual opening hours, from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week, excluding 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Adult tickets cost £10, with an optional £1 donation, while young people aged 18 and under, V&A Dundee Members and V&A Members can visit free of charge.
Concession tickets are also available, and advance booking is essential.
Tickets can be booked through the official V&A Dundee website.
With rare objects, previously unseen material and a special celebration of Bowie’s historic Dundee performance, the exhibition promises to be one of the city’s standout cultural attractions this winter.
More than 50 years after David Bowie brought Ziggy Stardust to the Caird Hall, his extraordinary creative legacy is returning to Dundee in spectacular fashion.
