On stages, on fingernails, on clothes or in children’s playrooms: glitter is everywhere. Wherever it appears, it sparkles and shimmers, whether to delight or to provoke. Now the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (MK&G) in Hamburg is hosting the first museum exhibition dedicated to this extraordinary material. ‘Glitter’, which will run from 28 February to 26 October 2025, focuses on glitter as a symbol of belonging, empowerment and self-determination. At its core, the exhibition explores the subversive use of glitter in political contexts and collective movements.  

Featuring around 40 international art and design contributions, the exhibition highlights glitter as ‘an expression of joy in social diversity and collective exuberance, a tool for protest, performance and pop culture, and a symbol of visibility for marginalised groups and resistance to body norms’.  

A ‘Hall of Glitter’ invites visitors into a multifaceted cosmos of unicorns, sticker albums, mobile phone cases, nail polish, Christmas decorations and dancing shoes. Highlights include a sparkling recreation of a teenage bedroom by Hamburg artist Jenny Schäfer, photographs by Quil Lemons, skateboards by Mickalene Thomas, GIFs by Molly Soda, show wigs by Olivia Jones and a stage outfit worn by Bill Kaulitz during Tokio Hotel’s Humanoid tour in 2010. From costumes, nail-art and glittering confetti, the exhibition focuses less on flashy effects and more on the delicate moments of identity and collective expression.  

In June 2025, the exhibition will be expanded to include ‘Puff Out’, an immersive spatial installation by Turkish-Belgian duo :mentalKLINIK. In this 300-square-metre creation, fuchsia glitter is suctioned up and ejected by modified robot cleaners, creating a dynamic, shimmering display.  

Visitors are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways: submitting their favourite personal glitter objects, contributing to a sparkling timeline of key glitter events in history, or creating their own pieces in a DIY space. A vibrant programme of events complements the exhibition, including discussions, drag-led tours, film series and glitter walks exploring aspects of design, identity, politics, urban life and community.  

Tickets and vouchers for Glitter are on sale now.