The world’s most famous doll will have a new summer dream house in Melbourne when Barbie®: The Exhibition makes its Australian debut at Melbourne Museum from November 28.
In partnership with Mattel, Inc. and the Design Museum, London, the exhibition explores Barbie’s cultural influence over more than six decades, featuring more than 250 objects, including 150 dolls.
Highlights include a rare first edition Barbie doll, hand-painted and dressed in a black-and-white bathing suit, alongside items such as the first Barbie that could ‘move’, a Talking Barbie prototype and the best-selling Totally Hair™ Barbie.
The exhibition also explores changing ideas around diversity and representation, reflecting how Barbie has evolved alongside shifts in society and culture.
Melbourne Museum will present the exhibition across an immersive, design-led experience, showcasing Barbie’s expansive universe, including fashion, houses, vehicles, accessories and characters such as Ken.
The exhibition builds on the Victorian Government’s ongoing investment in major cultural experiences that drive visitors to our state and showcase Victoria’s creative industries to the world.
Barbie®: The Exhibition was one of the most visited exhibitions ever staged by the Design Museum following its opening in London in 2024.
The Melbourne exhibition has been developed in partnership with Mattel, with access to the Barbie archives in California and key loans supported by the company’s brand historians and archivists.