The South Carolina State Museum is hosting a fan-favorite blockbuster exhibition created by the Walt Disney Archives, Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume. It opened May 3, 2025 and runs through October 26, 2025.

The critically acclaimed showcase features 70 costumes from beloved characters such as Cinderella, Maleficent, and more. It highlights the innovative ways iconic characters are brought to life through the artistry and imagination of their costumes.

The exhibition features:

• Costumes worn by the likes of Bette Davis, Glenn Close, and Angelina Jolie.

• An exploration of how costumes evolve from concept to reality with quotes and detailed written accounts featured throughout the exhibition from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers, including Academy Award® winners Sandy Powell and Disney Legend Colleen Atwood, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy® nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.
• “Cinderella’s Workshop,” a gallery examining how several designers have applied their own unique style and artistry to different interpretations of the fairy tale heroine—from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997) and Into the Woods (2014) to the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time (TV, 2011–2018), and the 2015 live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic starring Lily James.

• A chance to explore the artistry on display in the iconic costumes of Disney live-action characters such as Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Queen Narissa from Enchanted (2007), and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006).

• And much more!

The South Carolina State Museum is located at 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC. I hope some of you can go see this amazing Disney exhibition! You can purchase tickets directly from the museum here.