Freddie Mercury's eight looks at the V&A: a free seven-stop trail from the crown to Mercury Wing

For a close look at Freddie Mercury's stage wardrobe in London, Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things opened at V&A South Kensington on October 24, 2026, and continues until January 17, 2027, free without booking. Eight looks form seven trail stops across existing permanent galleries, with an estimated walking time of around 35 minutes. It is neither a single room containing every outfit nor a live Queen performance. The distinctive experience is the contrast between rock clothing and spaces devoted to sculpture, Japanese design, paintings and tapestries.

Eight looks and seven stops: start with Rooms 50a and 50b

Stop one is in Room 50a of the Medieval and Renaissance galleries. Look up to the balcony for the red-and-white Flash ensemble and half microphone. The clothes refer to a 1980 performance image, while older sculpture and architectural elements sit alongside and below, connecting a stage hero's pose with historical display. Stop two moves to Room 50b, where the crown and red cloak designed by Diana Moseley for the 1986 Magic Tour create a dramatic falling line among sculptures and stained glass.

Stop three, the Japan gallery in Room 45, brings together two pieces from the private wardrobe: a jacket dating to around 1970 and a kimono dated 1950–70. They show how Japanese textiles entered Mercury's everyday life and image; not every piece should be called a concert costume. Stop four is in the paintings galleries, Room 82, with the black-and-white two-piece worn at Imperial College in 1973. Clothing and surrounding paintings share the view, inviting comparisons between the body's outline and figures in pictures.

Mercury Wing, the Spine Suit and spatial sound meet in Room 94

Stops five and six share the Tapestry Gallery, Room 94, presenting the white Mercury Wing catsuit ensemble and black Spine Suit, both from 1975. Each involves a collaboration between Wendy de Smet and Mercury. Wing motifs appear at the white look's cuffs and bolero, while spikes down the black suit's sleeves suggest another character. Sharing a gallery does not make them one outfit, and eight looks should not be read as eight separate exhibition rooms.

This area also includes a spatial-audio reimagining of Bohemian Rhapsody, using original isolated recordings from 1975 alongside costumes and dynamic lighting. It is a museum sound installation, rather than a new song premiere or band performance. The final stop is in the Photography Centre, Room 108, with the 1985 Made in Heaven music-video costume. Red fabric and crossing supports create a striking image, taking the route from the live stage into the image-making of music video.

Do you need a ticket? South Kensington's address, hours and planning

The trail was developed with Mary Austin, who lent seven of the eight looks for the display marking the 80th anniversary year of Mercury's birth. The pieces do not all come from one lender, nor is this an unchanged reconstruction of his home collection. The official trail was published on October 23. Its installation photographs document the 2026 display, while the clothes themselves belong to different decades. Read the object labels and surrounding collections as well as recognising a star, to see how dress, performance and display create memories together.

The venue is V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL, rather than V&A East. The website lists daily hours of 10:00–17:45, extended to 22:00 on Fridays. This display is free without booking, but the approximately 35-minute duration is a trail estimate, not an admission slot or a guarantee of completion time. Check the official seven-stop guide and map links and exhibition page for access to individual galleries on your chosen day, then allow your own pace.