The Philharmonie de Paris is devoting a major exhibition to video game music with Video Games & Music: The Music of which you are the Hero, to be discovered from April 2 to November 8, 2026. This immersive and interactive journey explores the sound history of video games, between technology, pop culture and emblematic musical creations.
Do you remember the thrill caused by the first notes of Zeldaof Final Fantasy or by the iconic rhythm of Pac-Man et Mario ? This is what the Paris Philharmonic with theexposition Video Games & Musicto discover April 2 to November 8, 2026. An exhibition aimed at all those for whom this video game music instantly awakens memories of epic adventures and wild games.
Designed as a sensory journey, it traces the evolution of video game music, the minimalist sounds imposed by the first technologies, but also the orchestral soundtracks which fill the largest concert halls today. A whole story to discover through playable games, interactive installations and multiple audio-visual devices. Of Pong has League of Legendsa whole musical odyssey awaits you! The exhibition also shows how these compositions, born from strict technical constraints, gradually gave birth to a universal sound language, capable of touching all generations and transcending cultural borders.
L’exposition also brings together around twenty playable games, presented alongside consoles, artwork, instruments and audiovisual archives, allowing us to concretely observe the way in which technology has shaped musical creation in video games. The opportunity to understand how these emblematic melodies, today shared by more than three billion players, have established themselves as a true global musical heritage.
A story between technology and musical creation
L’exposition takes you to the research laboratories of the 1960s, where the first sound experiments of video game saw the light of day. At that time, the limitations of sound chips required raw creativity, which forged its own aesthetic that became cult. Over the decades, the musique game has managed to free itself from these technical constraints to become a field of artistic exploration in its own right. It is also a journey which shows how playing becomes a way of composing: the instrument, here, is the player, whose actions influence the atmospheres, rhythms and sound textures.
One of the red threads of theexposition also lies in the interactive dimension of video game sound: the player becomes, in a way, the musician, influencing the rhythm, textures and soundscapes with each action. This immersive approach redefines your relationship with listening, creation, and even sound memory. By highlighting the emotional and narrative impact of music, the journey also highlights how these sound memories constitute a collective heritage shared since the 1980s.
A program for the curious, the passionate, and the nostalgic
Whether you are a fan of arcades from the 80s, fan of Just Danceor curious about immersive experiences like the one offered in Omikron with David Bowieeach room of the exhibition is designed to experience music through the body as much as through the ear. Motion sensors, collaborative musical games, and sensory installations invite a real sound choreography. The diversity of the worlds presented illustrates the extraordinary visual and musical richness of the video game medium, which has become a privileged field of experimentation for composers.
At the same time, the big names in contemporary music — from Jean-Michel Jarre has Nine Inch Nailspassing through Radiohead or the Wu-Tang Clan — are highlighted to show how the language of video game infiltrated the global music scene. Without forgetting the spaces dedicated to demoscene and chiptune, which extend the 8-Bit aesthetic in a universe that is both retro and futuristic. A way of illustrating how video game culture dialogues today with major artistic movements.
An outing to enjoy with family, friends or alone
Are you looking for an idea for a cultural outing in Paris during the school holidays, or an original meeting for a weekend with friends? The exhibition Video Games & Music adapts to all desires: nostalgic parents, passionate gamers, curious people passing through or exploring music lovers, everyone will find something to marvel at, experiment with and share. Accessible to children and adults, players and non-players alike, it offers an intuitive discovery based on emotion, interactivity and the pleasure of playing.
And if you like new experiences that mix art, history, technology and popular culture, then this exhibition is for you. Get ready to rediscover the video game through the prism of sound, and become the musical hero of this unique adventure yourself! A true immersion in a medium that has become universal, nourished today by more than three billion players around the world.
