Music
05 Oct 26

David Bowie's 80th birthday year to be marked with special celebrations around the world

Credit: Masayoshi Sukita

Earlier this year, the show David Bowie: You're Not Alone opened at London's Lightroom.

David Bowie's 80th birthday year, 2027, is set to be marked with special celebrations around the world.

Bowie would have turned 80 on January 8 next year. He died aged 69 on January 10, 2016 after an 18-month battle with cancer.

Now, a decade on, a celebration of his life and career has been announced.

Starting today and continuing throughout 2027, there will be events, releases, collaborations and fan experiences branded under the 'Bowie80' campaign and announced through the Bowie80 website.

The first new initiative is a partnership with US-based department store Nordstrom, which "celebrates Bowie's enduring influence on fashion" through three immersive shops in their Seattle, New York City and Chicago flagships, as well as online.

The range will include clothing and accessories from designers and brands such as Undercover, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, AllSaints and more.

Meanwhile, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is currently planning a Bowie80 celebration with a dedicated retail pop-up running mid-November through January across its Museum store, online shop and airport location.

The Rock Hall will also host fan activities through Bowie's birthday weekend in January, including educational presentations, trivia, music and photo ops, alongside an exhibition featuring the work of rock & roll photographers.

The Morrison Hotel Gallery will mark Bowie's 80th year with Strange Fascination, a photography exhibition celebrating the "artistry, evolution and fearless reinvention of one of the most photographed and visually transformative figures in modern culture." It will open early February 2027 in New York City and West Hollywood.

Another event, Bowie (breaking) Glass - a live symphonic concert developed by Schrimer Theatrical with Østre Gasværk Teater - will have its world premiere in Copenhagen in the spring.

Perryscope Productions, the longtime merchandising representative for Bowie, has also launched Bowie80 merchandise.

These events and collections follow exhibitions that have already been announced across the UK.

Earlier this year, the show David Bowie: You're Not Alone opened at London's Lightroom. The 360-degree film - narrated by Bowie using interviews throughout his career - takes visitors through some of his key songs and performances, including 'Rock 'n' Roll Suicide' at London's Hammersmith Odeon in July 1973.

Next year it will be staged in Manchester and Brighton, as well as its first European venue, Port des Lumiéres in Hamburg.

David Bowie: On Tour will see 100 items related to the star from the V&A archive, some of which have never been on public display, go on show at locations across the UK, beginning at the V&A Dundee from November to February, before moving to Blackpool.

Exhibits will include costumes from the singer's Ziggy Stardust period, designed by Freddie Burretti and Kansai Yamamoto, sketches for the accompanying tour and an acoustic guitar.

Organisers of Bowie80 say more announcements are expected for the rest of 2026 and 2027.

Bowie released his final album, Blackstar, on his 69th birthday, two days before his death. It was his first album to reach No. 1 in the US, topped charts in more than 20 countries and won five Grammy Awards.