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“It’s a rare chance to step into Bowie’s imagination.”
More than 100 objects from David Bowie’s personal archive are to go on display in Scotland for the first time, including rare items never before seen in public. Among the treasures on display are a guitar played during the Ziggy Stardust era and handwritten lyrics to his last studio album.
David Bowie: On Tour will be hosted at the V&A Dundee from Wednesday 4 November and will bring the musician’s story and imagination to audiences in Scotland. The exhibition marks the very first time artefacts from David Bowie’s archive have been shared on a large scale outside of London.
Costumes, instruments, photography, personal memorabilia, and more will be on display at the Design Museum in Dundee, with David Bowie: On Tour offering an insight into Bowie’s life both on and off stage. Visitors can also share their own thoughts about what Bowie means to them in the exhibition.
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Bowie’s relationship with Scotland will be highlighted in the exhibition, which will focus on the sold-out Ziggy Stardust concert at Dundee’s Caird Hall in 1973. More than half a century later, Dundee is the first city in the UK to host the V&A’s David Bowie archive tour.
David Bowie: On Tour is shown over four sections. ‘Bowie Through a Lens’ explores how photography shaped Bowie’s image and identity, ‘All The Somebody People’ focuses on his work in the studio, ‘Hooked to the Silver Screen’ is dedicated to his on-screen performances, and ‘I Can’t Give Everything Away’ showcases some of the musician’s prized possessions.
Highlights include an alto saxophone given to Bowie by his father as his first instrument, a Ziggy Stardust acoustic guitar, and a flashy stage suit that Bowie wore for the Ziggy Stardust tour. Tickets and Polaroids from the musician’s Dundee gig in 1973 and a bronze ring worn by Bowie in the photo shoot for the cover of Hunky Dory will also be shown.
In addition, visitors can see a script with notes by Bowie for his character Jareth in the film Labyrinth, a sketch by Bowie of the original idea for the cover of his album Low, his passport, and various personal memorabilia. There are also handwritten lyrics and notebooks relating to Bowie’s last albums The Next Day and Blackstar, as well as his posthumous Grammy Award.
First Minister John Swinney, said: “This exhibition is a fantastic celebration of David Bowie’s legacy and offers fans across Scotland a great opportunity to learn more about his life and creative processes. Opening the exhibition in Dundee, before it travels to other museums across the UK, is testament to V&A Dundee’s strength as a cultural institution.
David Bowie: On Tour at V&A Dundee is open from 4 November 2026 to 15 February 2027. Tickets are £10.00 for adults with a £1.00 donation, while V&A Dundee members, V&A members and under 18s go free.
