New DIVA In Town: Denver Art Museum Opens Exhibition As Exclusive U.S. Host

With its abundance of glitz and glam, DIVA has arrived in Denver. Fashion displays, videos and accompanying headset audio combine to create a multisensory fun, fabulous and illuminating exhibition. It’s a celebration of almost 100 entertainment icons featuring 250 costumes, red-carpet looks and a spectrum of other captivating objects worn and used by those with style, talent and the “it” factor that creates superstars. Think: Beyoncé, Elton John and Cher. Add Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, Tina Turner and even more diverse, divaesque performers from the 19th century to today. They’re all part of DIVA, on display at the Denver Art Museum from Oct. 4, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027. Denver is the exclusive U.S. host of the collection organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. As a nod to America, the local curator team added displays that include Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and five Latina performers from Carmen Miranda to Selena Quintanilla.

If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one. – Dolly Parton’s tribute includes “A Coat of Many Colors,” along with a memorial book guests can sign, to be presented to her family.

I think performers are all show-offs, anyway, especially musicians. You have to—unless you show off, you’re not going to get noticed.– Elton John

Deserving of an opening party or two, on Oct. 2, invited guests sparkled along with the displays at the DIVA Opening Gala held at DAM’s Hamilton Building. One of the first previews of this special exhibition included remarks from museum leadership, along with a buffet, passed hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. Among the attendees: Bob Mackie’s longtime design director, Joe McFate; V&A’s DIVA curator Kate Bailey and DAM’s counterpart, Jill D’Alessandro; Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the Denver Art Museum, Christoph Heinrich and DAM board chair Sarah Anschutz.

Bob Mackie’s longtime design director, Joe McFate, with publicist Jenelle Hamilton

From Denver Art Museum: “DIVA celebrates the radical power, creativity and cultural impact of nearly 100 iconic performers, from 19th- and 20th-century divas like Josephine Baker, Sarah Bernhardt and Maria Callas to modern-day powerhouses like Cher, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Prince, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and more. It’s a dazzling exploration of how these stars use fashion and performance to not just entertain, but to demand visibility and ignite social change.”

Beyoncé said it all when describing her concept of the ideal diva: “A true diva is graceful and talented, and strong and fearless and brave, and someone with humility.”

Learn more @Denver Art Museum and purchase tickets at https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/diva .