A year-long programme of concerts, exhibitions, releases, fashion collaborations and fan experiences will celebrate what would have been David Bowie’s 80th birthday throughout 2027.

The programme, titled Bowie80, launched on October 5, 2026, with further events and announcements planned throughout the anniversary year.

Bowie was born on January 8, 1947, meaning January 8, 2027 would have marked his 80th birthday. The artist died in January 2016 at the age of 69.

A new symphonic Bowie experience

One of the major musical announcements is Bowie (Breaking) Glass, a new symphonic concert experience combining Bowie's original recordings with the music of composer Philip Glass.

The production is scheduled to premiere in Copenhagen in May 2027.

Rather than presenting a conventional greatest-hits tribute, the project will bring Bowie's recordings together with Glass's compositions, reflecting the long-standing connection between the two artists.

Glass previously created his Low Symphony and Heroes Symphony from material inspired by Bowie's Berlin-era albums.

Further details about the Copenhagen performances and the wider presentation are expected as the anniversary programme develops.

Strange Fascination photography exhibition

The Morrison Hotel Gallery will present Strange Fascination, a major photography exhibition opening in February 2027 in New York and West Hollywood.

The exhibition will draw from the gallery's archives and the David Bowie estate, bringing together career-spanning images alongside previously unreleased photographs.

The exhibition will explore several distinct periods of Bowie's career and his transformation through different musical and visual identities.

Further information about the participating photographers is expected in January.

David Bowie: On Tour heads around the UK

The V&A's David Bowie: On Tour exhibition will also form part of the Bowie80 celebrations.

The exhibition brings together 100 highlights from the V&A's extensive David Bowie archive, including objects that have never previously been displayed publicly.

The collection includes costumes, musical instruments, photography, handwritten lyrics, performance notes and other material documenting Bowie's touring career.

The tour begins at V&A Dundee, where it runs from November 2026 through February 2027.

It will then move to Showtown in Blackpool from June to September 2027, followed by the Bowes Museum in County Durham, the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull and Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

The later UK dates extend into 2028.

You’re Not Alone expands beyond London

The immersive production David Bowie: You're Not Alone, created by Lightroom, will also reach new cities.

The 360-degree experience uses Bowie himself as its sole voice, drawing on interviews, performance footage, photography, drawings, lyrics and other archive material.

After its London run, the production is scheduled for Manchester and Brighton in 2027, as well as Hamburg, marking its first European venue outside the UK.

At Brighton Dome, the show is scheduled to run from July 16 to August 30, 2027.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrations

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will also take part in Bowie80.

A Bowie80 retail pop-up is scheduled to open in November, with further activities planned around Bowie's birthday weekend in January.

The programme is expected to include talks, music, trivia, photography and other fan-focused activities, with additional details to be announced.

Bowie80 fashion collaborations

The anniversary programme will also explore Bowie's influence on fashion.

US retailer Nordstrom is launching immersive Bowie80 shops at its flagship stores in Seattle, New York and Chicago, as well as online.

The spaces will feature exclusive and limited-edition fashion collections inspired by Bowie.

Collaborating designers and brands include Undercover, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith and AllSaints.

Additional Bowie80 merchandise will also be released through the official David Bowie webstore, with further licensed products planned throughout 2027.

A global celebration

Bowie80 is designed to extend well beyond a single birthday weekend.

The programme will bring together music, photography, fashion, exhibitions, archive material and immersive experiences across the United States, United Kingdom and Europe.

The David Bowie estate says further announcements will be made throughout the remainder of 2026 and across 2027.

The anniversary comes more than a decade after Bowie's death, but the scale of the programme reflects the continuing influence of an artist whose career repeatedly crossed the boundaries between music, performance, fashion, film and visual art.

For fans, 2027 will offer multiple ways to revisit different periods of Bowie's career, from the Ziggy Stardust era and his Berlin years to his later work, through original archive material, immersive productions, exhibitions and new musical interpretations.

Bowie80 will continue throughout 2027, with further events, releases, collaborations and experiences still to be announced.