V&A announces 2027 exhibition programme spanning punk, South Asian fashion and Vivienne Westwood

The UK's Victoria & Albert has announced its 2027 exhibition programme, with fashion featuring prominently across its museums in London and Dundee.

At V&A South Kensington, 'Punk to Pop' will open on March 13 and run until January 2, 2028. The exhibition will examine the relationship between music, art and fashion between 1972 and 1985, charting the influence of underground scenes and the DIY attitude of punk on popular culture.

Around 300 objects will be displayed, including stage costumes, photography, music videos and graphic designs linked to artists and groups including the Sex Pistols, The Slits, The Specials, Joy Division, Wham! and Eurythmics.

The museum will also open 'Chintz' on September 18, running until June 4, 2028. The exhibition will explore 400 years of South Indian chintz, examining how the hand-drawn cotton fabric became one of the most sought-after and influential textiles in global fashion and design.

At V&A East Museum, 'South Asia Now: Fashion. Art. Design.' will open on April 24 and run until January 23, 2028. More than 200 works from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will showcase contemporary creativity across fashion, art, architecture and design, including rare loans, new commissions and works being shown in the UK for the first time.

Meanwhile, V&A Dundee will host 'Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery' from March 26 until January 1, 2028. The exhibition will examine how jewellery became an integral part of Westwood’s designs and explore the British fashion house’s historical references and relationship with Scotland.

The 2027 programme also includes 'Sculpture in Clay' at V&A South Kensington, running from May 29 to February 6, 2028, which will examine British ceramics and sculpture from the mid-1980s to today.