Ashes to Fashion Exhibition - Ulster Museum Belfast

What to Expect

Ashes to Fashion marks 50 years since a 1976 Troubles firebombing at Malone House destroyed the Ulster Museum’s entire costume and textile collection. The exhibition tells the story of how the collection was rebuilt over five decades through careful curation, acquisition and donations. It spans five centuries of fashion, from 18th-century garments to contemporary pieces by Chanel and Versace, and includes the Lennox Quilt - an exquisite 18th-century embroidered quilt and the sole survivor of the 1976 fire. The show opened 27 February 2026 and runs to 13 September 2026.

Good to Know

• Open until Sunday 13 September 2026.

• Ulster Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday; free general museum admission, exhibition ticket required.

• The Lennox Quilt is the only piece that survived the 1976 Malone House fire.

• The exhibition is part of a wider Ulster Museum programme including workshops and events.

• The museum’s permanent Irish history and natural history galleries are free to visit.

Getting There

The Ulster Museum is located inside Botanic Gardens, Belfast, a short walk from Botanic railway station (Lanyon Place to Portadown/Lisburn line) and well served by Metro bus routes 7a and 7b.