exhibition

Tartan

Available to tour from 2025

Following its successful run in Dundee in 2023/4, Tartan is available to tour internationally from 2025

★★★★★ "Tartan triumph" The Scotsman

From the high fashion of Westwood, McQueen, Chanel and Dior to tartan clad heroes such as Jackie Stewart and Doddie Weir… see Sir Billy Connolly's NYC Tartan Day Parade kilt and even the MacBean tartan that rocketed to the moon!

Take a thrilling journey through over 300 mesmerizing objects showcasing tartan’s timeless appeal and rebellious spirit across fashion, architecture, art and design. See tartan worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie, a Scottish soldier’s unwashed kilt from the trenches of WWI, and the Bay City Rollers trousers handmade by a lifelong fan.

Join us in celebrating this iconic pattern’s enduring legacy – more than just an exhibition; it’s a tartan revolution!


Please contact Daniel Smernicki, Touring and Programme Manager at touring.exhibitions@vandadundee.org for further information.

Previous exhibition: Saturday, 1 April 2023 until Sunday, 14 January 2024

Exhibition available to tour from 2025

The exhibition contains some strong language and nudity.

V&A Dundee 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee, DD1 4EZ

Sneak Peek

Highlights

A portrait of Doddie Weir wearing his signature Tartan suit
Doddie Weir OBE 1970 – 2022, Portrait by Gerard M. Burns, 2019
An Xbox controller wrapped in the official Xbox Tartan featuring the colours of their logo
Xbox Official Tartan Controller, Gordon Nicolson (designer), Helen McDermott (kiltmaker), Lochcarron of Scotland (weaver), 2022
VAD_TARTAN_009
Glen Affric Plaid Portion, About 1500-1600, Scotland's oldest tartan
Violet Chachki's reversible tartan jumpsuit from RuPaul's Drag Race
‘Tartan eleganza’ lewk, Violet Chachki, 2015
Sir Billy Connolly's Grand Marshall Kilt from the 2019 NYC Tartan Week Parade
Sir Billy Connolly's Grand Marshal kilt from the NYC Tartan Day Parade, 21st Century Kilts, 2019
Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming portrait by Christian Hook, 2014, © Christian Hook
Lord Mungo Murray
Lord Mungo Murray [Am Morair Mungo Moireach], 1668 - 1700. Son of 1st Marquess of Atholl
Three tartan outfits by Alexander McQueen in V&A Dundee's Tartan exhibition
Garments from the collections "Highland Rape"(1995), "Joan"(1998), and "Widows of Culloden" (2006), Alexander McQueen, 1995-2006
Queen Alexandra Tartan Dress
Queen Alexandra Tartan Dress, Madame Elise, 1870-79

Find out more

The latest stories from Tartan

Sir Billy Connolly at his home in the USA

Sir Billy Connolly on all things tartan!

Sir Billy Connolly shares his thoughts on his mother’s tartan, the rebellious act of kilt-wearing…. and cauld bums.

The iconic tartan jumpsuit by drag queen Violet Chachki as featured in Ru Paul's Drag Race

Our favourite objects in Tartan!

With over 300 fascinating objects in the Tartan exhibition at V&A Dundee there's so much to explore and see. Here are just a few of the highlights

A person holding a smartphone with the Smartify app loaded on the screen

Take an audio tour of Tartan

Find out more about some of the fascinating objects on display with this free audio guide, available on the Smartify app.

Headline Sponsor

Arnold Clark

Sponsors

LNER
V&A Foundation
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