The Paley Museum has announced its next major exhibition, 45 Years of Pac-Man, opening January 16 and running through May 31, 2026, at the museum’s Midtown Manhattan location at 25 West 52nd Street. Admission to the exhibit is free for Paley Members.
The exhibition comprises the history of Pac-Man, from its 1980 debut in Japanese arcades to the present day. The exhibit highlights how the title influenced the industry’s direction.
Visitors will be able to play various Pac-Man games as part of the exhibit, including classic Pixel Bash arcade cabinets, Pac-ManBattle Royale Chompionship, and the World’s Largest PAC-MAN setup. More recent titles will also be available as well.
The exhibit also explores how Pac-Man introduced ideas that became foundational to game design, such as power-ups, enemy personalities, and animated intermissions through sound and motion.
On January 31, the museum will host a special Pac-Man Family Day, featuring meet-and-greets with Pac-Man, giveaways, raffles, themed arts and crafts, and arcade gameplay throughout the building.
Visitors can also access the PaleyGX Gaming Studio, which offers playable modern games, VR experiences, coding classes, and gaming tournaments.
Paley Members receive free admission to the exhibit, year-round museum access, entry to the Paley Archive library, access to PaleyGX facilities, and additional member-only events and discounts.
