Personal, iconic, interactive: the Michael – the HIStory exhibition has opened, putting the man rather than the stage myth centre stage and evoking the legend with exclusive memorabilia linked to Budapest and life-size figures. The King of Pop most recently hit the headlines when the first trailer for the film about him reached 116.2 million views in 24 hours.
Sixteen years after his death, the King of Pop is still at the top: in 2025 Michael Jackson was once again the highest-earning deceased celebrity on the list recently published by Forbes, with his estate generating USD 105 million. And in 2026 his biopic, entitled Jackson, will be released amid huge anticipation – the first trailer was viewed more than 116 million times in just 24 hours. Tapping into this international interest, the Budapest exhibition, next to Kálvin tér (1053 Budapest, Kecskeméti utca 5), presents the icon’s career and his personal Budapest stories.
The exhibition not only evokes an era but also brings visitors close to the musical phenomenon who stood behind the records and was a master of stage illusion – right down to his gravity-defying lean, he redefined the art of performance. Visitors become part of a complex audiovisual experience: at the heart of the curatorial concept are original, authentic relics that trace a story through the defining periods of Michael Jackson’s career.
This uniquely valuable collection is the result of decades of work: private collector Nagy Balázs selected the pieces from the offerings of the world’s auction houses, film archives and music-history sources, and several of them are on show in Hungary for the first time.
Budapest stories take centre stage: in 1994 Michael Jackson, newly married, came to Budapest with Lisa Marie Presley to shoot the promotional film announcing the HIStory album. The visit was both a work trip and a honeymoon of sorts, and it attracted considerable media attention. Relics from this period include the black Swarovski glove and shirt worn during the shoot, the gold-and-silver helmet from the HIStory tour, and a speeding ticket that Michael Jackson signed for the Hungarian police officer guarding the corridor at the Kempinski.
The selection also evokes other instantly recognisable icons, such as the white hat from Smooth Criminal and the left-handed Swarovski crystal glove from the HIStory era. The ritual of the Billie Jean performances – the perfectly timed hat toss and the indispensable moonwalk – is also recalled.
Michael Jackson’s work is a fundamental point of reference in pop culture: his music, music videos and stage ideas remain influential to this day. His songs inspired a musical performed around the world, Cirque du Soleil devoted a stand-alone production to them, and his recordings still rank high on radio playlists and in the charts. The exhibition offers an authentic, object-based context with a Budapest focus – for families, school groups, fans and anyone interested.
More information about the exhibition is available HERE.
Source: Turizmus.com