Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” Jacket Returns to Auction in Abu Dhabi on December 7

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By Mockulus Editorial
October 21, 2026

Michael Jackson’s red-and-black “Thriller” jacket, which set a world auction record in 2011, is heading back to the block. Julien’s Auctions announced on October 7 that it will sell the jacket on December 7, 2026, at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, alongside three other pieces tied to MJ’s biggest moments of 1983.

The Four Lots

The sale is titled “Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Evening Auction” and starts at 8 p.m. local time. It is the main event of Julien’s first Celebrity & Pop Culture Experience, which runs December 7 to 9 at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.

The jacket is the headline piece. Designed by costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis, it is one of two made for the “Thriller” short film and, according to Julien’s, the only one MJ wore without zombie makeup. A pair of black leather Florsheim loafers worn during “Thriller” filming and rehearsals is also offered, accompanied by a signed letter to choreographer Michael Peters. They carry an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.

The other two lots come from the “Motown 25” television special. The rhinestone-studded glove worn during MJ’s “Billie Jean” performance, where he first showed the moonwalk to a national audience, is estimated at $600,000 to $800,000. A second pair of black Florsheim loafers, worn during rehearsals for that performance, is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000.

The Price History

Julien’s published no estimate for the jacket and lists it as available upon request. The only benchmark is its 2011 sale, when it brought in $1.8 million, a record for a piece of music memorabilia at the time, according to Rolling Stone and the BBC. The glove sold for $430,000 in 2009, so the new estimate is well above that sale price. Martin Nolan, Julien’s co-founder, said it is “a true privilege to offer these pieces of history again,” noting the firm set records for both items.

Where to See Them First

Before the sale, the collection will travel on an international preview tour, with stops in Los Angeles, Osaka, New York, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, according to MJWorld. A public display is also scheduled at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi from November 29 to December 5, per tbreak. Reality Tea reports the pieces will also be shown at Heal LA’s “This Is Thriller” event on October 24, though I couldn’t confirm which items will appear there.

Why It Matters

The “Thriller” jacket and the “Motown 25” glove are two of the most recognizable images from the early 1980s, which is why the sale draws attention each time one surfaces. For collectors, it’s a rare chance at objects tied to both the short film’s premiere and the performance that introduced the moonwalk. Whether the jacket surpasses its 2011 price will only be known after December 7, and its undisclosed estimate leaves that open.

Source; Julien’s Auctions press release, Fame Magazine, tbreak, MJWorld, Yahoo Entertainment, Rolling Stone and BBC