Melbourne Museum has announced that Barbie®: The Exhibition will make its Australian debut from 28 November 2026, in partnership with Mattel, Inc, a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world.
Created by the Design Museum, London, the exhibition will explore the history and design of one of the world’s most famous dolls and celebrate the enduring influence of the Barbie brand over 67 years. It will invite visitors to follow the Barbie legacy that began in 1959, when Ruth Handler wished to craft a different narrative for her daughter, Barbara.
Barbie®: The Exhibition was one of the most visited exhibitions ever staged by the Design Museum after opening in July 2024. Its Australian debut will feature over 250 objects including 150 remarkable and innovative dolls, as well as an especially rare first edition Barbie from 1959, hand-painted and dressed in a black-and-white bathing suit.
Other highlights range from the first Barbie that could ‘move’ to a unique Talking Barbie prototype and best-selling Totally Hair™ Barbie. These appear alongside several momentous and distinctive dolls that explore the changing appearance of Barbie in relation to evolving cultural shifts around diversity and representation.
“Design has been at the heart of the Barbie story ever since the creation of the first doll 67 years ago and the impact has evolved with each new generation,” said Tim Marlow, Director and CEO of the Design Museum.
“Before we opened the exhibition at the Design Museum in 2024, we expressed the hope that it would be a joyful, fascinating, inspiring, illuminating and even nostalgic experience for generations of Barbie fans – and it was all those things and more, with public interest exceeding even our confident expectations.
“I have no doubt that in another world class museum in Melbourne this engagement will continue and we look forward to seeing both the exhibition re-staged and new audiences encountering a re-framed cultural icon.”
Barbie®: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum will take visitors on a journey through time, highlighting the evolution of Barbie ‘the doll’ to Barbie ‘the brand’. Showcasing 250 objects including houses, vehicles, accessories, architecture, fashion and friends, including Ken, Barbie enthusiasts of all ages are sure to delight in this unique experience.
“Over the last 67 years, Barbie has grown a huge breadth of pop cultural appeal across many demographics. The brands journey through time holds up such a fascinating mirror to changes across design, architecture, and social movements. I have no doubt that visitors will take great delight in this vivid exhibition,” said Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria.
Barbie®: The Exhibition is a partnership between the Design Museum and Mattel, Inc. Mattel granted access to the Barbie archives in California and expert brand historians and archivists. Mattel also facilitated several key loans.
Originally designed by Sam Jacob Studio and curated by Danielle Thom, Curator the Design Museum, the exhibition and its layout reflects the evolution of Barbie, charting the brand’s impact on design and culture in all its forms throughout the decades.
“Since 1959, Barbie has been an international icon and inspiration that continues to spark conversation, creativity, and self-expression around the world,” said Paul Faulkner, SVP & Managing Director Asia Pacific for Mattel.
“This exhibition tells the story of Barbie through a design lens, including fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicle design, which are all spaces where the brand has left a mark on culture throughout its remarkable 67-year legacy.”
“We can’t wait for fans and audiences to continue to experience this exhibition in Australia at Melbourne Museum this November.”
Barbie®: The Exhibition opens at Melbourne Museum on 28 November 2026. Tickets now on sale. For more information, visit: www.museumsvictoria.com.au for details.
Images: First edition Barbie and Barbie’s 65th Anniversary doll – courtesy of Mattel ©2006 | Barbie®: The Exhibition – photo by Jo Underhill for the Design Museum