Kurt Cobain’s Unplugged guitar to go on show at London’s Royal College of Music Museum

A special new Nirvana exhibition has been announced at London’s Royal College of Music Museum this summer.

The prestigious Kensington institution is bringing Kurt Cobain’s rare Martin D-18E guitar to public view in the UK for the first time as part of a wider exploration of the band’s legendary 1993 MTV Unplugged performance. Also featuring in the exhibition – which opens on June 3, 2025 – is the green cardigan Kurt wore during the set, making this the first time ever these two iconic items have been displayed together.

“When I purchased this guitar, my intention was to have it begin a worldwide tour of exhibitions, to support performing artists,” shares Australian entrepreneur Peter Freedman AM, who bought the instrument for over $6 million at auction in 2020. “I am delighted that this intent will be premiered at the Royal College of Music, London, with the first exhibition of its kind and will support talented musicians worldwide.”

Exhibition curator and rock journalist Alan di Perna adds: “I’m delighted to be a part of the Royal College of Music Museum’s first-ever rock music exhibition. MTV’s Nirvana Unplugged in New York was a landmark event – a stand-out performance by a group that changed the course of rock history in the 1990s.”

You can book tickets for Kurt Cobain Unplugged from Wednesday, April 30.

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