Seattle Museum of Pop Culture Closes Nirvana Exhibit After 14 Years

Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) is closing its long-running Nirvana exhibit, "Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses," after 14 years on September 7, 2025, to make space for a new exhibition exploring diverse music scenes and artists of the Pacific Northwest. Originally intended to last 18 months, the exhibit became a signature display, chronicling Nirvana's rise from the local scene to global stardom and including artifacts loaned from multiple collectors. Fans and Seattle residents have expressed strong disappointment and frustration, with many urging MOPOP to make the exhibit permanent, noting its cultural and historical significance. In response, MOPOP is hosting a farewell event on September 6 featuring live performances, workshops, and a panel discussion with Seattle music veterans, celebrating the grunge era's lasting influence. Despite the closure, MOPOP assures that Nirvana's legacy and grunge music will remain central to the museum's mission. Some artifacts will return to lenders, while select pieces, including at least one of Kurt Cobain's guitars, will remain on display.