David Bowie fans will have the chance to immerse themselves in a major exhibition dedicated to the iconic musician.
David Bowie: On Tour, will open at Blackpool’s Showtown Museum in June 2027 and run until September, bringing more than 100 objects from the Victoria and Albert Museum’s David Bowie archive to the North West.
Items on display will include some of Bowie’s most famous costumes, musical instruments, photographs, and personal effects.
The collection will also feature handwritten lyrics, performance notes, and artefacts from his final albums, The Next Day and ★ (Blackstar).
Visitors will be able to see never-before-displayed items such as Ziggy Stardust-era scripts, Polaroids from make-up tests, and the acoustic guitar used during that iconic period.
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."
Spencer Phillips, chairman of the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, said: "This is a hugely significant announcement for Showtown and for Blackpool as a whole as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of David Bowie’s live performance in the resort.
"This exciting new collaboration with the V&A demonstrates a national confidence in our award-winning museum and offers North West visitors an extraordinary chance to experience the genius of Bowie and his incredible creative legacy."
The exhibition will guide visitors through Bowie’s creative journey with four themed sections exploring his visual identity, live performances, film work, and the personal items he kept throughout his life.
The first section, Bowie Through a Lens, focuses on photography’s role in shaping Bowie’s image, featuring iconic shots by Terry O’Neill, Mick Rock, Sukita, and Brian Ward.
All the Somebody People delves into Bowie’s onstage and studio personas across four key eras, including a Ziggy Stardust-era acoustic guitar and a deep dive into his Berlin period with Tony Visconti and Brian Eno.
It also looks at the creation of his Let’s Dance stadium tour blueprint and his reflective approach in ★ (Blackstar).
John Robb, a Blackpool-born journalist, musician, and author, said: "There is something quite perfect about David Bowie: On Tour coming to Blackpool, a town built on the same stardust as the pop culture legend.
"Bowie and Blackpool both created magic out of imagination and both hypnotise with their illuminations."
The exhibition is part of a nationwide tour that begins at V&A Dundee in November 2026 and will continue on to the Bowes Museum in County Durham, Ferens Art Gallery in Hull, and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, with additional venues expected to be announced.
Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: "Bowie in Blackpool - this is a match made in heaven.
"We’re delighted to continue our excellent relationship with the V&A and be the only place in the North West of England for people to enjoy this fantastic collection.
"We have such an eclectic range of culture in Blackpool, and David Bowie: On Tour is another great addition for local people and visitors to enjoy."
The David Bowie archive, now housed at the V&A East Storehouse in Hackney, was acquired by the V&A in 2024.
It contains more than 90,000 items spanning Bowie’s career, from handwritten lyrics and stage designs to personal papers and iconic stagewear.
David Bowie: On Tour will run from June 30 to September 26, 2027 at Showtown, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool. Bookings will open later this year.
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