Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) is reopening as a limited-time pop-up this fall.
The announcement comes two years after the museum shuttered its doors in 2023. The MBC has two special exhibitions planned for its return: The Johnny Carson Centennial and The Evolution of Late Night Television.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at each exhibition.
The Johnny Carson Centennial
A tribute to the “king of late night television,” The Johnny Carson Centennial will honor the legacy of the famed Tonight Show host through a collection of rare artifacts.
“Johnny Carson was more than a host—he was a national institution whose humor and curiosity united Americans for three decades,” said MBC CEO David Plier.
“This exhibit is a rare opportunity to celebrate a career that helped shape American culture.”
The Evolution of Late Night Television
Coinciding with the Carson exhibit, The Evolution of Late Night Television will take viewers on an interactive journey through the 75-year history of American late night TV.
The exhibition explores the contributions of other late night tv legends including Arsenio Hall, Joan Rivers, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, and more.
The MBC pop-up will launch at 440 W. Randolph Street on Friday, October 24, 2025 and run until January 2027. Learn more information here.