Industry News

V&A announces national tour of highlights from David Bowie’s archive – travelling across the UK from November 2026.

Today, the V&A and partner venues across the UK announce a landmark national tour celebrating the creativity and enduring cultural impact of David Bowie. Bringing together 100 highlights from the V&A’s David Bowie archive – many that have never been on public display before – David Bowie:
On Tour will travel to venues across the UK across multiple years, kicking-off at V&A Dundee (November 2026 –February 2027).

Following its debut in Scotland, the tour continues to Showtown in Blackpool (June–September 2027), the Bowes Museum in County Durham (October 2027–January 2028), the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull (February–May 2028), and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (June–September 2028), with further venues to be announced in due course.

David Bowie: On Tour marks the first time highlights from David Bowie’s archive have been shared on this scale across the UK, outside of London, bringing Bowie’s story and creative imagination to new audiences across the country. This touring programme is part of the V&A’s commitment to widening access to its collections, ensuring audiences across the UK can experience their national collections where they live.

Across four sections, David Bowie: On Tour takes audiences behind the scenes into Bowie’s creative process, exploring how he created his ever-evolving image, music and screen work.

Sir Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, said: “David Bowie: On Tour is a landmark national partnership for the V&A, bringing highlights from David Bowie’s extraordinary archive to audiences across the UK for the first time. Working with our colleagues in museums and venues nationwide, we’re opening up Bowie’s story in the places connected to his life and legacy, ensuring people across the country can experience these remarkable objects where they live, and be inspired by his enduring creativity.”

Harriet Reed, Curator of Contemporary Performance at the V&A, said: “David Bowie’s archive reveals an artist in constant motion — a restless, forward-looking mind at work beyond the music and images we know. From fan art and his first instrument to unrealised projects, handwritten notes and unseen sketches, David Bowie: On Tour brings visitors up close to the ideas behind his work — including items from The Next Day and ★ (Blackstar) never shown before — offering new insight into how his creativity took shape. It’s a rare chance to step inside Bowie’s imagination and experience the curiosity and daring that defined his life’s work.”

Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programmes and Collections at The Bowes Museum, said: "We're excited to bring Bowie at The Bowes as part of the national David Bowie: On Tour. Presenting 100 extraordinary highlights from the V&A's David Bowie archive is a major cultural moment for the North of England, giving audiences unprecedented access to one of the world's most iconic creative legacies and revealing the remarkable imagination behind Bowie's enduring influence.

"Being selected as one of only a handful of venues to present this exhibition is a significant achievement and a real vote of confidence in The Bowes Museum. It represents an exciting opportunity to welcome new audiences, strengthen our national profile and bring a major cultural moment to County Durham and the North of England."

David Bowie: On Tour has been developed by V&A Touring and V&A National Programmes, in collaboration with partner venues across the UK, and is curated by Harriet Reed, Curator of Contemporary Performance at the V&A.

The David Bowie archive was acquired by the V&A in 2024 through the generosity of the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. It comprises more than 90,000 items spanning Bowie’s extraordinary career, from iconic costumes and musical instruments to handwritten lyrics, photography, stage designs and personal papers. Visitors can book free one-to-one appointments with items from David Bowie’s archive through the V&A’s Order an Object and Archives Appointment services and also visit the David Bowie Centre – the archive’s permanent home – at V&A East Storehouse as part of East Bank in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.