Kylie’s gold hot pants, Hugh Jackman’s Broadway dazzle and Archie Roach’s vest headline a blockbuster celebration of Australian performing arts.
Melbourne is set to sparkle this spring as ENCORE! 50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection. opens at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) inside Hamer Hall.
Running from 16 September 2026 to 9 May 2027, the exhibition dives deep into the nation’s rich performance history with 50 iconic objects that capture everything from opera divas to rock gods and groundbreaking theatre.
Encore!
- The exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the Australian Performing Arts Collection, home to over 850,000 objects
- Highlights include never-before-seen pieces like Nick Cave’s 1987 visual journal and a custom vest worn by Archie Roach
- Features costumes from Olivia Newton-John, Hugh Jackman, Judith Durham, Dame Joan Sutherland and Russell Page
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This isn’t just another museum show — it’s a full-blown backstage pass to Australia’s cultural soul. From Dame Nellie Melba’s extravagant 1891 cloak to Midnight Oil’s thunderous drum kit and Kylie Minogue’s legendary gold hot pants from the Spinning Around video, ENCORE! brings together treasures that have shaped the soundtrack and stages of our lives.
Curated by Arts Centre Melbourne, the show spans 170 years across music, theatre, dance, opera and circus. Expect Peter Allen’s maracas, Helen Reddy’s I Am Woman Grammy, Ossie Ostrich puppet, and a heavyweight Wirth’s Circus scrapbook so massive it needs two people to lift. It’s a love letter to both the superstars and the unsung heroes who built Australia’s distinct, cheeky performance identity.
Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan AM described it as an invitation to relive history-making moments while uncovering hidden stories. Dance and Opera Curator Ian Jackson added that many objects are making their public debut, offering fresh insight into the country’s cultural DNA.
With its prime location on the banks of the Yarra, AMPA continues to establish itself as a must-visit cultural hub following the success of its opening DIVA exhibition. For Melbourne’s music and arts crowd, ENCORE! is the ultimate nostalgia hit with serious depth — a chance to stand before the actual garments and instruments that powered legendary nights at the Bowl, the Palais and beyond.
Fore more information on ENCORE! and to get your tickets, head here.
