Michael Jackson fans in Ireland will have a rare opportunity to see some remarkable pieces of his performance history when A Thriller Of An Exhibition – Michael Jackson: A Fashion Legacy opens at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware in County Kildare on Friday, October 30.
After Osaka, Japan, the exhibition is on its way to Ireland being the only European stop. There was rumours to also stop in London before it goes to Abu Dhabi, but clearly this is no longer on the table.
Presented in association with Julien’s Auctions, the exhibition will run for just ten days, until Sunday, November 8, 2026. Admission is free, giving fans the chance to see the costumes and memorabilia up close before the upcoming Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy auction in Abu Dhabi this December.
The exhibition’s three main attractions are Michael’s illuminated Thriller jacket from the 1987–1989 Bad World Tour, the famous rhinestone-studded glove worn during his historic Motown 25 performance in 1983, and the black leather Florsheim loafers associated with rehearsals for that legendary performance.
Michael Bush to Open the Exhibition
Michael Bush, Michael Jackson’s longtime costume designer and co-author of many of the visual ideas that defined his stage wardrobe, will attend the opening on Friday, October 30, at 11:00 AM.
Bush worked alongside his design partner Dennis Tompkins for more than 25 years, helping create many of Michael’s most recognisable outfits. Fans attending the exhibition will have the opportunity to meet Bush, hear stories about his work with Michael and have copies of his 2013 book, The King of Style: Dressing Michael Jackson, signed.
The opening takes place at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre. The venue’s published event information confirms the 11:00 AM opening with Michael Bush, although separate VIP guest arrangements have not been detailed in the information released.
Three Pieces of Music History
The illuminated Thriller jacket is one of the most striking pieces in the exhibition. Created by Bush and Tompkins, the jacket was designed to bring the visual drama of the Thriller look to enormous stadium audiences, incorporating flashing lights that made it particularly spectacular during the Bad World Tour.
It is important to distinguish this garment from the original red-and-black leather jacket worn in Michael’s 1983 Thriller music video. The illuminated version was a later creation for live performances, demonstrating how Michael and his designers continued to develop his iconic looks for the stage.
The exhibition will also feature the rhinestone-studded glove Michael wore during his performance of “Billie Jean” at Motown 25 in 1983. That performance introduced millions of television viewers to his extraordinary Moonwalk and remains one of the defining moments of his career.
The glove carries a pre-auction estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It was last sold at Julien’s Auctions in 2009 for $430,000.
Completing the trio are the black leather Florsheim loafers associated with rehearsals for the Motown 25 performance. These shoes have an estimated auction value of $60,000 to $80,000.
Other items from Michael’s Bad, Dangerous and HIStory eras will also be displayed, alongside costumes and memorabilia associated with his performances and music videos.
A Note for Collectors: The HIStory Teaser Outfit
Fans may also wonder about the HIStory Teaser outfit and whether it is the same one purchased by Lady Gaga in 2012.
To avoid confusion, the outfit Lady Gaga acquired was worn by a body double during the HIStory Teaser shoot, rather than by Michael himself. It should not be confused with an outfit worn by Michael during the shoot.
The Road to Abu Dhabi
The Newbridge exhibition is part of a wider programme leading to Julien’s Auctions’ Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy sale, scheduled for December 7, 2026, at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The auction house is also planning preview events in Bahrain during November, followed by a special exhibition at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi during Formula 1 week.
The sale is expected to include costumes and personal memorabilia associated with Michael’s career, with some items carrying substantial estimates. For fans, the opportunity to see these pieces before they potentially enter private collections is an important part of the exhibition’s appeal.
However, the auction also brings back questions that some fans have raised for years about the ownership, provenance and handling of Michael’s costumes.
In our recent opinion piece, Something Ain’t Right, we revisited the 2012 Julien’s Auctions sale involving items associated with Michael Bush. Having attended the London exhibition at the time, interviewed Bush and personally handled costumes during the exhibition changeover, we explained why questions surrounding that sale have remained with us.
We raised concerns about the circumstances in which certain costumes were presented for sale, the inscriptions attributed to Michael and the questions that emerged about whether all the items had genuinely been gifted to Bush. These were questions, not a claim that every item or signature was inauthentic.
The current exhibition is an opportunity to appreciate the extraordinary craftsmanship behind Michael’s wardrobe, but it also takes place against that wider history. Fans and collectors may understandably want clear information about the provenance of the items being offered and the arrangements surrounding their sale.
The fact that an item is displayed in an exhibition does not, by itself, resolve questions about its ownership or history.
Exhibition Details
A Thriller Of An Exhibition – Michael Jackson: A Fashion Legacy
Dates: Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 8, 2026
Opening: Friday, October 30, at 11:00 AM, with Michael Bush officially opening the exhibition
Venue: Museum of Style Icons, Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre, Athgarvan Road, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, W12 HT62
Admission: Free. The exhibition is advertised as a walk-in experience.
More information: visitnewbridgesilverware.com
Upcoming auction: Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy, December 7, 2026, at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.
For Michael Jackson fans in Ireland, this is a rare chance to see some important pieces of his performance history without paying an admission fee. For collectors, it is also an opportunity to see the items ahead of the December auction and to consider the questions of provenance and ownership that remain an important part of the conversation surrounding Michael’s legacy.
