This exciting and entertaining exhibit for visitors of all ages, will open on Friday, January 16 and run until Sunday, May 31, 2026, at The Paley Museum in Midtown Manhattan at 25 West 52 St. Paley Members receive free admission to the exhibit.
From a simple yellow circle to a global pop-culture phenomenon, the exhibit invites fans to rediscover—and play—one of the most beloved games in the world. Created in Japan in 1980 by Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.) and designed by Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man broke the mold of early arcade games with its welcoming spirit, playful personality, and character-driven design, opening the world of gaming to a broader audience and first-time players everywhere. From its beginnings in arcades to its expansion into homes around the world, Pac-Man helped shape the evolution of gaming—paving the way for the gaming and interactive entertainment industry as we know it today.
“For more than four decades, Pac-Man has proven that a single idea can change the world, turning arcades into gathering places, pixels into personality, and a yellow circle into one of the most enduring and beloved icons of gaming and interactive entertainment,” said Maureen J. Reidy, President & CEO, The Paley Center for Media. “We look forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to this exciting new exhibit and thank Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. for their support.”
The exhibit brings the excitement to life with hands-on gameplay, including classic Pac-Man Pixel Bash arcade cabinets, Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship, and an unforgettable thrill of playing the World’s Largest Pac-Man. Recently launched Pac-Man titles such as Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC will also be available for guests to play. It’s a chance to find out everything you ever wanted to know about your favorite yellow friend and his mischievous Ghost rivals—and then chase them yourself.
Visitors will journey through the evolution of Pac-Man while discovering how this revolutionary game introduced Power-Ups, distinct Ghost personalities, animated intermissions, and emotional storytelling through sound, motion, and pixel art. From the instantly recognizable “Waka Waka” of each chomp to the memorable musical hook that lives in players’ brains and hearts, the game’s audio design pulls you back to the very first time you played. One of the first games to make players feel like the character—not just a vehicle—Pac-Man established the maze-chase genre and proved that heart, humor, and identity could drive universal appeal. Forty-five years later, its influence stretches far beyond the arcade, powering a multimedia legacy across gaming, television, music, merchandise, and global culture.
On Saturday, January 31, The Paley Museum will turn the celebration up a notch with a fun-filled Pac-Man Family Day, featuring meet-and-greets with PAC-MAN himself, exciting giveaways, raffles, Pac-Man-themed arts and crafts, and hands-on Pac-Man arcade gameplay throughout the Museum, marking an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.
Visitors to the exhibit can also enjoy the PaleyGX Gaming Studio, which features the hottest video games and VR titles available to the public, coding classes, gaming tournaments, and more.
Paley Members receive free admission to the exhibit and other exclusive perks such as Member events, advance discounted tickets, and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Additionally, Members receive free admission year-round to the Museum, which also includes entry to the Paley Archive library featuring an international collection of more than 160,000 television and radio programs across genres, access to the PaleyGX Gaming Studio and VR Experience, and more. To learn more please visit Paley Membership.