Taylor Swift is currently taking the U.K. by storm as she embarks on the European leg of The Eras Tour. The chart-topping singer played three nights at Wembley Stadium in June, with many celebrities in attendance, including Paul McCartney, Hugh Grant and Prince William. Continuing the U.K. dates in August, Swift is set to return to Wembley Stadium for five more nights with support from Paramore.
With Swift’s sold out UK shows having a major impact on the country—according to a study by University of Birmingham, the “Karma” singer will boost the British economy by almost £1 billion ($1.267 billion)—it’s a given that the 14-time Grammy Award winning artist will be celebrated in big ways.
On July 27, a new Taylor Swift exhibition will open at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. Titled Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail, the exhibition will be free to visitors and will feature 13 stops that showcase pivotal moments in Swift’s life and career.
The “trail” will celebrate the artistry behind the singer’s lyrics, music videos and costumes—with items on loan from Swift’s personal collection. Costumes in the exhibit will include a pair of customized cowboy boots that she wore during her breakout success with her debut album, Taylor Swift, and the iconic black ruffled shoulder dress worn throughout the music video for “Fortnight,” the lead single from Swift’s April 2024 release, The Tortured Poets Department.
Swift’s costumes and accessories will be displayed alongside music awards, instruments, storyboards and never-been-seen-before archival content that will explore the 39-times Billboard Music Award winner’s childhood and rise to fame.
“We are delighted to be able to display a range of iconic looks worn by Taylor Swift at the V&A this summer. Each celebrating a chapter in the artist’s musical journey,” said Kate Bailey, Senior Curator, Theatre & Performance, in a press release. “Taylor Swift’s songs like objects tell stories, often drawing from art, history and literature. We hope this theatrical trail across the museum will inspire curious visitors to discover more about the performer, her creativity and V&A objects.”
The exhibition will give fans the chance to take a deeper look into the world of Swift in a unique setting. Designed by British theatre designer Tom Piper, who is best known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, each of the 13 stops will be theatrically staged to immerse Swifties in each era through clever set dressing, sound and video.
In February 2024, the V&A was hiring for five Taylor Swift “Superfan Advisors” who are well-versed in all things Swift, from “Teardrops On My Guitar” to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” The successful applicants were set to meet with V&A curators to share their knowledge of Swift, including fan culture and the memorabilia, and go behind the scenes of the upcoming exhibition. While it’s unclear if the job was a paid position, the advertisement states that successful candidates would receive travel expenses and a V&A membership.
Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail opens on July 27 and is open to visitors until September 8. Entrance is free of charge and no booking is required.
