The Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) has launched its first major exhibition, DIVA, a dazzling celebration of the bold, genre-shaping performers who have long fuelled the world’s cultural imagination.
Featuring everything from breathtaking gowns and pioneering design to rare archival treasures, the exhibition reveals how divas across eras have shaped fashion, identity and the very pulse of live performance. DIVA also signifies a new era for AMPA as a centre dedicated to spectacle, storytelling and the protection of Australia’s performing arts legacy.
Created by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and presented exclusively in Australia, the exhibition brings together more than 250 objects – among them 60 extraordinary costumes – alongside jewellery, photography, artworks and music selected from the V&A Collection, the Australian Performing Arts Collection and international lenders.
“Today the word diva holds a myriad of meanings. At the heart of this exhibition is a story of iconic performers who with creativity, courage and ambition have challenged the status quo and used their voice and their art to redefine and reclaim the diva,” said V&A Senior Curator, Kate Bailey.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Australian Museum of Performing Arts and that this powerful story is being shared around the world. Viva La Diva!”
DIVA positions the performer as a visionary as much as an entertainer. Audiences will encounter a glittering roster of icons such as Maria Callas, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Dame Nellie Melba, Grace Jones, Cher, Prince, Tina Turner, Elton John, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Adele, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, P!nk, Björk, Billie Eilish and many more.
Australia’s own mark on global “DIVAdom” is front and centre, highlighted through standout pieces from the renowned Australian Performing Arts Collection.
The exhibition spans generations, featuring influential figures from Dame Nellie Melba and Peter Allen to Marcia Hines, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue and Kate Miller-Heidke. Chrissy Amphlett and Dame Edna Everage also make striking appearances.
They are joined by other trailblazing talents including Dame Joan Sutherland, Jessica Mauboy, Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers, Reuben Kaye and Meow Meow – each demonstrating the depth, dynamism and charisma that define Australia’s most memorable performers.
Visitors will explore a world of couture masterpieces, iconic stage costumes and personal artefacts, tracing how the concept of the “diva” has shifted and expanded over time.
By exploring the origins and evolution of the diva – from rebellious creativity and cultural pushback to modern-day reinvention – the exhibition invites audiences to look beyond the spotlight and discover the power, vulnerability and influence of these remarkable artists.
Also on display will be ephemera from DIVAdom including posters, song sheets and handwritten lyrics as well as personal objects and accessories. The voice of the diva is amplified by a sonic experience designed by world-leading sound designer Gareth Fry.
An iconic and emotional soundtrack plays throughout the exhibition and includes key music by Maria Callas, Jessye Norman, Aretha Franklin and Josephine Baker to Dolly Parton, Adele, Prince, Ella Fitzgerald, Sade, Beyoncé and Madonna, enveloping visitors in the spirit of the diva.
“The exhibition spans generations and artforms – those who have already transformed the Australian and international arts landscape and have left a powerful legacy, and those whose careers are just approaching their zenith. All are unique in the way they inspire those around them – just like this exhibition is sure to do,” said Arts Centre Melbourne CEO, Karen Quinlan AM.
DIVA
Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) – Arts Centre Melbourne, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Exhibition continues to 26 April 2026
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au for details.
Images: Installation view of DIVA at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) – all photos by Astrid Mulder