23 April 2026 | Lead Photo: Guy Bell/Alamy/Shutterstock
The Music Is Black A British Story’ opened on 18 April at V&A East mapping the cultural impact of Black British music over time
London’s V&A East officially opened its inaugural exhibition ‘The Music Is Black: A British Story’ on 18 April, marking the launch of the museum’s new space in the Olympic Park with a sweeping exploration of Black British music and its cultural legacy. The exhibition will run until 3 January 2027.
Positioned as a landmark show, it traces over 125 years of Black music-making in Britain, mapping a narrative shaped by innovation, migration, resistance and creative excellence. Rather than focusing on a single era or genre, the exhibition draws connections across decades, highlighting how Black British music has continuously influenced the UK’s cultural and social landscape.
Structured across four sections, the exhibition presents more than 200 objects spanning from the early 1900s to the present day. The display unfolds as a multi-sensory experience, incorporating instruments, fashion, personal archives, photography and handwritten materials. Newly acquired images of artists such as Mis-Teeq and Skepta sit alongside archival pieces that reflect both underground movements and mainstream breakthroughs.
A key highlight is Stormzy’s Banksy-designed stab-proof vest, worn during his 2019 headline performance at Glastonbury Festival. Created by Banksy, the vest features a spray-painted Union Jack and has come to symbolise broader conversations around identity, visibility and systemic inequality—threads that resonate throughout the exhibition.
Curator Jacqueline Springer describes the project as an examination of how artistic expression persists despite social and institutional barriers, emphasising the role of music and visual culture in challenging dominant narratives. The exhibition reflects this approach, positioning Black British music as both a cultural force and a lens through which to understand wider societal change.
Additional items on display include stage outfits from Seal and Poly Styrene, handwritten lyrics by Michael Jackson, and early instruments linked to formative artistic journeys. Together, these works form a layered portrait of influence that extends beyond national borders while remaining rooted in Britain’s evolving musical identity.
Explore more about ‘The Music Is Black: A British Story’ here.
