David Bowie fans, mark your calendars for September 2025. The V&A’s new David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts promises an electrifying deep dive into the life and artistry of one of the most influential cultural icons of the 20th century. Housed within the V&A East Storehouse in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this ambitious David Bowie exhibition at the V&A is more than just a tribute. It’s an immersive experience that invites you to step into the creative world of a legend.

The Bowie Archive, acquired by the V&A with support from the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Warner Music Group, comprises over 80,000 items, spanning six decades. From flamboyant stage costumes to intimate notebooks, it’s an absolute treasure trove.

It covers Bowie’s journey from his early experiments in the 1960s to his boundary-pushing final years. Many of these pieces have never been displayed before, making this a rare and unmissable opportunity for fans and scholars alike.

Expect to be dazzled by the iconic Ziggy Stardust ensembles crafted by Freddie Burretti, Kansai Yamamoto’s bold Aladdin Sane tour costumes, and the Union Jack coat co-designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover. These pieces don’t just showcase Bowie’s flair for reinvention—they cement his legacy as a pioneer of style and self-expression.

Quilted two-piece suit, 1972. Designed by Freddie Burretti for the Ziggy Stardust tour. ©The David Bowie Archive

Striped bodysuit for Aladdin Sane tour, 1973. Design by Kansai Yamamoto. Photograph by Masayoshi Sukita. © Sukita and The David Bowie Archive

Beyond the costumes

The archive offers a glimpse into Bowie’s creative mind. Handwritten lyrics for classics like Heroes and Ashes to Ashes sit alongside scraps of paper featuring his ‘cut-up’ writing method, a technique inspired by author William Burroughs. Intimate notebooks reveal his thought processes and unexecuted ideas, offering a rare peek into the workings of a genius.

Cut up lyrics for Blackout from Heroes, 1977 © The David Bowie Archive 2012 Image © V&A Images

The exhibition also celebrates Bowie’s contributions to visual and performing arts. Visitors can enjoy film stills from The Man Who Fell to Earth. And explore over 70,000 photographs and contact sheets by legendary photographers such as Terry O’Neill, Brian Duffy, and Helmut Newton. Music enthusiasts will appreciate artifacts like Brian Eno’s EMS synthesiser, used on the groundbreaking Low and Heroes albums, and the Stylophone gifted by Marc Bolan, which played a pivotal role in the creation of Space Oddity.

Self portrait in pose also adopted for the album cover of “Heroes”, 1978 © The David Bowie Archive 2012 Image © V&A Images

Read more: Rare rock photos of Bowie, Debbie Harry, Lou Reed and more

But this isn’t just an archive; it’s a cultural touchstone

According to Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, Bowie’s innovations across music, theatre, fashion, and beyond continue to inspire artists ranging from Lady Gaga to Tilda Swinton. “The Bowie Centre will not only celebrate his legacy, but also serve as a sourcebook for the Bowies of tomorrow,” Hunt says.

The David Bowie Centre will be a key feature of the V&A East Storehouse, a revolutionary museum experience designed to bring visitors closer to the behind-the-scenes magic of its collections. This cutting-edge facility will house over 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives, blending research spaces with display and performance areas. It’s a fitting home for Bowie’s oeuvre, placing it in dialogue with 5,000 years of art and performance history.

This announcement follows the V&A’s wildly successful 2013 exhibition, David Bowie Is…, which drew over two million visitors worldwide. As Nile Rodgers aptly puts it, “Bowie didn’t just make art; he was art.” This new archive cements Bowie’s status not just as a musician but as a multidisciplinary visionary whose influence reverberates across generations.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or newly intrigued, the David Bowie Centre promises an unparalleled exploration of an artist who redefined the boundaries of creativity. From the glittering costumes to the intimate sketches, it’s a reminder of Bowie’s enduring mantra: “Turn and face the strange.”

So, prepare to immerse yourself in the world of Bowie. This isn’t just an exhibition—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to connect with the spirit of an icon who forever changed the way we see art, music, and ourselves.

Internal render view of the central collection hall in V&A East Storehouse, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2021

The V&A East

The V&A East will have two sites, the V&A East Museum and the East Storehouse.

The V&A will acquire The David Bowie Archive and create The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V&A East Storehouse, opening in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2025.

The acquisition and creation of The Centre has been made possible thanks to the David Bowie Estate and a generous donation of £10m from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group.

Information on the exhibition

The David Bowie Centre

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