“Band on the Run”: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Offer Intimate Look at Paul McCartney and Wings’ Historic Tenure
“Paul McCartney (and Wings)” by slagheap is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has pieced together a first-of-its-kind presentation of Paul McCartney and Wings’ decade-long tenure. The Midwest site, dedicated to preserving and bolstering rock’s perennial heritage, will open its doors on May 15, 2026, and offer the public access to the bassist’s triumphant sophomore season and follow-up to his global reign as a member of The Beatles.
The exhibition, titled “Paul McCartney and Wings,” presents the most comprehensive collection of personal items from the namesake’s official archive and represents the first major museum to tell the story of the band and its frontman. Like the decade’s own label as the “Pivot of Change,” the exhibit offers attendees an overview of McCartney’s post-Beatles rebirth, covering everything from his 1970 self-titled debut album to the formation of the Wings through their 1981 descent.
On display are several never-before-seen artifacts, ranging from instruments used by the band during recording sessions and in concert to flamboyant outfits, handwritten lyrics, tour memorabilia, original artwork, and unpublished photos. The collection is framed into a singular immersive experience that uses archival video, audio, and images to guide the attendee through the lineage of the band and the man behind “Band on the Run,” “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Jet,” “Let Me Roll It,” and limitless others.
In tandem with the exhibit, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will also present an early screening of Paul McCartney: Man on the Run in its Foster Theater in Cleveland on Saturday, February 21. The impending cinematic experience opens in April 1970, in the wake of The Beatles’ dissolution, which stemmed from McCartney’s drive to focus on his solo career and subsequent self-titled album. True to the timeline, the movie tracks the life-changing decade-long tenure that followed and led to the creation of Wings.
Like the forthcoming exhibit, the film draws on archival footage and Linda McCartney’s preferred medium, photography, and also lingers on family interviews with Paul, Linda, and their daughters, Mary and Stella McCartney. Original members of Wings, and folks associated with the scene, Sean Ono Lennon, Mick Jagger, Chrissie Hynde, and more, also lend their perspectives and memories.
Additional information and tickets to the imminent exhibition and screening of Paul McCartney: Man on the Run can be found at RockHall.com.
