Museum of the Moving Image will host a four-day event from September 24 through September 27 to commemorate what would have been Jim Henson’s 90th birthday. Located in Astoria, Queens, the museum will anchor the weekend around The Jim Henson Exhibition, which displays 50 characters from The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Sesame Street.

The event schedule features interactive workshops, screenings, fan events, and live courtyard music. Program highlights include a costume contest, a puppet prom, a collectible swap meet, live artist demonstrations, and a singing tour from Manhattan to Queens led by Heather Henson.

Special guests scheduled to appear include puppeteer Stacey Gordon, actor Kate Micucci, and archives director Karen Falk. Panel discussions will feature Henson performers Martin P. Robinson, Ryan Dillon, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, John Tartaglia, and Peter Linz, along with representatives from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

Screenings planned for the weekend include the short film Time Piece, marking its 60th anniversary, alongside a presentation of The Muppet Show: 50 Greatest Moments. The museum will also offer a live podcast taping with fan site ToughPigs and a sing-along hosted by the American Banjo Museum.

Museum of the Moving Image and The Jim Henson Company will launch a limited-edition merchandise collection online and in-person during the celebration. Tickets, RSVPs, and reservation details for both free and paid programs are available through the museum’s website.

Schedule for ‘Celebrating Jim Henson’s Birthday 2026’

Thursday, September 24

2:00–6:00 p.m. Free admission to Museum galleries

2:00–6:00 p.m. Henson Fan Art showcase (free admission)

2:30–6:00 p.m. The Muppet Show: The Very Best Episodes (free with RSVP; limited

space)

4:00 p.m. Guided tour of The Jim Henson Exhibition (ticket required)

6:00–9:00 p.m. Puppet Prom (free with RSVP; limited space)

7:00 p.m. Special program to be announced (Redstone Theater)

Friday, September 25

2:00 p.m. Sing-Along & Stroll-Along with Heather Henson (offsite) (ticket required)

2:00–8:00 p.m. Henson Fan Art showcase (free admission)

2:30–6:30 p.m. The Muppet Show: The Very Best Episodes (free with RSVP; limited

space)

4:00 p.m. Guided tour of The Jim Henson Exhibition (ticket required)

6:30 p.m. Special program to be announced (Redstone Theater)

Saturday, September 26

10:00 a.m. Sing-Along & Stroll-Along with Heather Henson (offsite) (ticket required)

11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Collectibles Swa(m)p Meet (free admission)

11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Puppet Tea Party with Stacey Gordon (free with RSVP; limited

space)

12:00 p.m. 60 Years of Jim Henson’s Time Piece (ticket required)

12:00–6:00 p.m. Summer Spin DJ sets in the Courtyard (free admission)

1:30 p.m. The Muppet Show: 50 Greatest Moments (ticket required)

2:00 p.m. Frog Choir with Dodie Whitaker (free with RSVP)

3:00 p.m. Live Artist Demo—Henson-inspired Art (free with RSVP; limited space)

3:00 p.m. Guided tour of The Jim Henson Exhibition (ticket required)

4:00 p.m. Panel: Inspired by Jim Henson (ticket required)

4:30 p.m. Panel: Henson Products—The Inside Story (free with RSVP; limited space)

6:00–10:00 p.m. Henson Meet-Up at Pig Beach (offsite)

Sunday, September 27

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Puppeteering workshop (free admission)

11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Collectibles Swa(m)p Meet (free admission)

11:30 a.m. The Muppet Show: 50 Greatest Moments (ticket required)

1:00 p.m. Gaia Music Collective One-Day Choir: “I’m Going to Go Back There

Someday” (Free with RSVP; limited space)

1:00 p.m. Guided tour of The Jim Henson Exhibition (ticket required)

1:30 p.m. ToughPigs Podcast Live: Inside Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (ticket

required)

3:00–4:00 p.m. Costume contest (Kaufman Courtyard)

4:00–6:00 p.m. Live music with John Koozin and the Neighborhood (Kaufman

Courtyard)

4:30 p.m. The American Banjo Museum presents a Henson Sing-Along with Lucas

Ross (ticket required)

6:00–8:30 p.m. Henson Meet-Up at Pig Beach (offsite)

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