George Michael’s stage-worn outfits leads new immersive V&A exhibition

Costumes worn onstage by the late George Michael and handwritten lyrics by Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis are among the items which will feature in a new immersive exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The upcoming exhibition, titled Punk To Pop, will also feature memorabilia belonging to major musicians from the 1970s and 1980s, including rock bands The Cure and Blondie, and pop groups such as Wham! and Eurythmics.

Comprising three acts and around 300 objects, the exhibition will explore the creative explosion across music, art and fashion between 1972 and 1985, and how the movements influenced one another.

Through theatrical staging and a sonic headset experience, alongside fashion, photography, music videos, design and live performance, it will explore how music provided a space for escape, experimentation and self-expression during the era.

It will trace the evolution of musical styles from glam rock and disco to the emergence of subcultures including punk, northern soul, goth and the new romantics, focusing on artists such as the Sex Pistols, The Slits, Grace Jones and Blondie.

It will also examine how artists responded to austerity and political turbulence during this era, while celebrating the spirit of punk on music and popular culture.

Highlights from the exhibition include Sex Pistols album artwork designed by Jamie Reid, as well as handwritten lyrics by Curtis.

The first electric guitar owned by musician Mick Jones, who rose to fame with rock band The Clash, will also be on display on loan from The Rock And Roll Public Library.

Previously unseen costumes worn by singer-songwriter Michael while onstage will also be displayed, along with glam rock outfits worn by Roxy Music stars Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry.

Photographs of Grace Jones taken by artist Andy Warhol will also be shown, alongside clothing worn by US disco singer Sylvester and stage costumes worn by Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry.

The first act will introduce viewers to social and political life in the 1970s with a sense of gritty realism conveyed through a selection of posters, photographs, archive footage and newspapers.

It will be followed by a vibrant second act inspired by 1960s punk spirit and US garage rock, showcasing different subgenres in music such as post punk and disco fever, before the third act concludes with the “pop powerhouse” era of the 1980s.

The exhibition, sponsored by Virgin, opens on March 13 2027 and will run until January 2 2028.

Exhibition curator Kate Bailey said: “Punk to Pop tells the story of a creative and technological explosion that rewired music, fashion and design from the 70s to the 80s.

“Born from frustration, rebellion and boredom, a generation tore up the rule book, fuelling cultural change through a DIY spirit.

“Through a rich mix of objects from across the V&A collections, the exhibition will journey from art schools to nightclubs, catwalks to stadiums, music videos to recording studios considering the contemporary relevance of these transformative decades.”