MOPOP Announces 2025 Icons of Pop Culture Gala

Museum Celebrates 25 Years of Culture and Creativity in Seattle

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP), is proud to announce the return of the Icons of Pop Culture Gala on October 23, 2025, celebrating 25 years of MOPOP’s boundary-pushing work and the creators who shaped the worlds of film, fashion, gaming and music.

The evening will honor legendary figures across film, fashion, gaming, and music, and will feature a powerful tribute concert celebrating Seattle’s own Jimi Hendrix with performances from special guest Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and All Star Tribute Artists including Devon Allman, Tony Beard , Samantha Fish, Noah Hunt, Christone Kingfish Ingram, Chris Layton, Kevin McCormick, Robert Randolph, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Dweezil Zappa.

“This gala is a tribute to the storytellers, innovators, and icons who have redefined what culture can be,” said Michele Y. Smith, CEO of MOPOP. “For 25 years, MOPOP has been a platform for artists that push boundaries. We’re honored to continue that legacy with a night dedicated to them.”

This year’s honorees include:

• Fashion: Ruth E. Carter
• Film: The Jim Henson Company’s Fraggle Rock
• Gaming: Evil Geniuses
• Music: Jimi Hendrix
• Community: 206 Zulu
• Employee: To be announced at the event

Guests are invited to attend the gala, enjoy the performances, and participate in the online auction to support MOPOP’s mission. Last year’s gala raised over $781,000, and this year’s event will once again benefit the museum’s exhibitions, youth education programs (like Sound Off!), and community initiatives that continue to fund MOPOP’s future and inspire the next generation.

“It has been extremely rewarding to reflect on MOPOP’s 25-year journey,” said Jody Allen, founding director of the museum. “What was initially conceived as a place to experience the unparalleled artistry of Jimi Hendrix evolved into a vibrant celebration of pop culture in all its forms. This year’s ICONS event honors some of the boundless creativity, variety, and shared cultural moments that have and will continue to inspire countless people across the globe.”

The gala will be held at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle from 5 to 10 PM on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Tickets are available at mopop.org/icons, with options including a gala table of 10 for $12,500, individual tickets for $1,250, and performance-only tickets for $250, which include bites and beverages.

ABOUT MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE (MOPOP)
The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) is a cutting-edge nonprofit museum in Seattle, dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary pop culture. With a mission to activate the world-shaping power of pop culture through participative experiences, discovery, and play, MOPOP reaches multigenerational audiences through its collection, exhibitions, educational programs, and community partnerships. At MOPOP, artists, audiences, and ideas converge to bring understanding, interpretation, and scholarship to the pop culture of our time. For more information, visit mopop.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.