In Photos: A First Look At The V&A's New Freddie Mercury Exhibition

I would love to be buried with all my treasures, just like the pharaohs. If I could afford it, I would have a pyramid built in Kensington.

So once said music superstar Freddie Mercury, and while a permanent monument in his former stomping ground hasn't materialised (yet), the V&A South Kensington pays tribute to the former local in a new, free trail of his stage costumes.

Seven of the Queen frontman's looks — on loan to the museum from his lifelong confidante Mary Austin — are on show at various points throughout the building, laid out in a trail rather than your typical single-room exhibition.

First up is a monochrome ensemble (pictured above) worn by Mercury for an early Queen gig at Imperial College, and featured on the cover of Queen's debut album in 1973. On display just metres from Imperial's rehearsal rooms where the band honed their sound, it's surrounded by the work of artists who Mercury admired, including William Blake, nodding to his wider artistic inspiration — and presenting Mercury himself as a precious work of art.

The second installation, within the Tapestry Galleries, is the highlight of the trail. Two of Freddie's looks — the white Mercury Wing catsuit and bolero ensemble, and the black Spine Suit (or ‘Black Queen’ suit), both from 1975 — face off, as Bohemian Rhapsody booms out over the speakers.

The glass display cabinets light up in time with the music, flanked by artworks depicting battles of good vs evil.

Perhaps most dramatic, though, is the placement of the red and black costume from the Made in Heaven music video — a moment from Mercury's solo career — silhouetted against a window at the end of a long corridor. Overlooking the Photography Centre, it's also a nod to a musician who was a pioneer of early music videos.

A kimono from Mercury's private wardrobe, worn in press shots taken in nearby Holland Park, aptly takes up residence in the Japan Galleries, while the Flash t-shirt, hand-drawn by Freddie, looks down from a raised balcony over the Medieval Galleries — a room packed with depictions of gods and deities from antiquity.

The grand finale of the trail is the famous red cloak and crown ensemble worn on the Magic Tour, including Mercury's last public appearance with Queen, at Knebworth in 1986. Displayed in the iconic pose with one of Mercury's fist-clenched hands raised in the air, the outfit is mounted at ground level, allowing visitors to get a proper look at the regal ensemble, a powerful sign-off for the exhibition.

While the Kensington location of the trail is particularly poignant, and seeing the costumes is a treat — both for true Mercury fans and casual visitors — the curation sometimes lacks the pizzazz and showmanship for which Mercury was famous.

It's hard not to draw parallels to the excellent Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail which the V&A staged in similar fashion in 2024. Details of the latter were exquisitely crafted, but Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things feels less tightly curated, with fewer satisfying details to pick up on.

You could argue that the costumes speak for themselves. But there's nothing to elicit a resounding "ay-oh!"

Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things is at the V&A South Kensington, 24 October 2026-17 January 2027. It's free to visit, no booking required.