As a city well-versed in, let’s be honest, the best music, we like to think we have fine taste here in Manchester – even when talking about musicians not from our great region – god forbid. One of these exceptions for us is the great David Bowie, and now we’re in for a treat here in this part of the country as the V&A has announced a national tour of highlights from its incredible David Bowie archive will travel across the UK for the very first time, including here in the North West.
David Bowie: On Tour is to be hosted by Blackpool’s award-winning museum of fun and entertainment, Showtown, and will be open from Wednesday 30 June to Sunday 26 September 2027.
David Bowie: On Tour at Showtown will be the only chance for North West visitors to experience over 100 highlights from the V&A’s famous David Bowie archive in this celebration of the creativity and enduring cultural impact of the iconic superstar of Sound and Vision. David Bowie: On Tour will kick off at V&A Dundee in November 2026 before visiting Blackpool’s Showtown in June 2027 and then travelling to the Bowes Museum in County Durham, the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull and finally Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, with further venues to be announced.
His timeless albums include ‘David Bowie’ (known as ‘Space Oddity’), ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars’, ‘Aladdin Sane’, ‘Diamond Dogs’, ‘Heroes’ and many more, with which he pushed the boundaries of possibility and reshaped the concept of what music and identity could be.
What to expect at David Bowie: On Tour
Items will include Bowie’s legendary costumes, musical instruments, career-spanning photography and personal treasures, including the stopwatch he used when songwriting, plus never-before-seen items including Polaroids of make-up tests, a Ziggy Stardust-era acoustic guitar, unrealised scripts, handwritten lyrics, performance notes and costumes from Bowie’s final albums ‘The Next Day’ and ‘Blackstar’.
Across four sections, David Bowie: On Tour takes audiences behind the scenes for a glimpse into Bowie’s creative process, exploring how he created his evolving image, music and screen work.
Bowie Through a Lens
The opening section, Bowie Through a Lens, explores how photography shaped Bowie’s image and identity, featuring work by Terry O’Neill, Mick Rock, Sukita, Brian Ward and others.
All the Somebody People
The second section, All the Somebody People, focuses on Bowie onstage and in the studio across four defining eras: Ziggy Stardust, featuring an acoustic guitar from the era on display for the first time; Bowie’s Berlin, highlighting his pioneering studio techniques with Tony Visconti and Brian Eno; Let’s Dance, revealing how Bowie created the blueprint for stadium tours; and Blackstar, exploring Bowie’s symbolism in recalling previous eras through his final recording and offering insight into the album’s creation.
Hooked to the Silver Screen
The third section, Hooked to the Silver Screen, reveals Bowie’s performances on TV and film, including seminal roles in Labyrinth, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige.
I Can’t Give Everything Away
The final section, I Can’t Give Everything Away, explores the items and personal possessions Bowie chose to keep, showing a creative mind always thinking about the next project.
Bowie and Blackpool
Bowie’s connection to Blackpool goes back 60 years when he played live on the resort’s South Pier on Sunday 29 May 1966 with his short-lived backing band The Buzz, three years before he released his breakthrough single Space Oddity in 1969.
As the legend prepares to return to the town in 2027, Spencer Phillips, Chairman of the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, which operates Showtown, said this is a significant announcement for Showtown and for Blackpool as a whole as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of Bowie’s live performance in the resort. He said the collaboration with the V&A demonstrates national confidence in the museum and offers North West visitors an extraordinary chance to experience Bowie’s creative legacy.
Blackpool-born journalist, musician, author and cultural commentator John Robb said there is something perfect about David Bowie: On Tour coming to Blackpool, a town built on the same stardust as the pop culture legend. He said Bowie and Blackpool both created magic out of imagination and both hypnotise with their illuminations.
Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said Bowie in Blackpool is a match made in heaven. She said the council is delighted to continue its relationship with the V&A and be the only place in the North West for people to enjoy this collection. She said Blackpool has an eclectic range of culture and David Bowie: On Tour is another addition for local people and visitors.
How to visit David Bowie: On Tour in Blackpool
David Bowie: On Tour will run from Wednesday 30 June to Sunday 26 September 2027. Bookings open later this year. Don’t be Under Pressure… be the first to know – sign up here for updates.
📍 Showtown, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool, FY1 4TQ.
