The Paley Museum announces its latest blockbuster exhibit: The Legacy of The Handmaid’s Tale: June’s Evolution from Handmaid to Rebel
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
The Final Season Celebration of the Acclaimed and Emmy® Award–Winning Television Show Will Include Costumes, Artifacts, and Screenings
On View at The Paley Museum in Midtown Manhattan Starting Friday, April 4 – Sunday, June 8
Paley Members Event Featuring a Reception and Screening of the First Two Episodes of Season Six Introduced by Series Star Elisabeth Moss will Take Place at The Paley Museum on Tuesday, April 8
New York, York, March 26, 2025 – The Paley Museum announces its latest blockbuster exhibit, The Legacy of The Handmaid’s Tale: June’s Evolution from Handmaid to Rebel. Based on Hulu’s acclaimed and Emmy® Award-winning show, which is returning for its sixth and final season this spring, the exhibit will run at The Paley Museum located at 25 West 52 Street starting Friday, April 4 through Sunday, June 8.
Since its 2017 premiere, The Handmaid’s Tale has captivated audiences with its gripping, thought-provoking storytelling. Based on Margaret Atwood’s groundbreaking novel, the series follows June Osborn, a woman forced to struggle and survive in Gilead, a terrifying and totalitarian society that was once the United States. Now as the series concludes its stellar six-season run, visitors can explore the universe of Gilead, where every artifact tells a story of resistance, power, and survival, as the final season premieres on Hulu Tuesday, April 8.
The Legacy of The Handmaid’s Tale: June’s Evolution from Handmaid to Rebel showcases a curated collection of costumes meticulously crafted to reflect the journeys of its unforgettable characters. Visitors will have the chance to see up close June Osborn’s (Elisabeth Moss) iconic red handmaid’s dress, cloak, and white winged bonnet, as well as Serena Joy Waterford’s (Yvonne Strahovski) haunting teal dress. The exhibit also features a selection of fan-favorite artifacts and props that have become symbols of the series, including Commander Waterford’s Scrabble board, Nichole’s doll from Nick, June’s Boston map, June’s Handmaid muzzle, among others. In addition, costumes worn by other pivotal characters—Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), Nick Blaine (Max Minghella), Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford), Rita (Amanda Brugel) and Hannah’s (Jordana Blake) plum outfit and June’s prison uniform, each representing moments of heartbreaking significance. Together, these powerful pieces honor not only the creative talent behind the scenes, but also the lasting cultural impact of this critically acclaimed drama. “Over the course of six seasons, The Handmaid’s Tale has riveted audiences with its gripping storylines and talented cast,” said Maureen J. Reidy, the President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. “We are honored to mark the series’ final season with this fascinating exhibit and extend our tremendous thanks to our friends at Hulu and MGM Television for their support.”
On Tuesday, April 8, the day of the series premiere, The Paley Museum will host a reception and screening of season six’s first two episodes with an introduction by series star Elisabeth Moss. Tickets for this event are available to Paley Members only.
Located in the heart of midtown, The Paley Museum has become a New York favorite and must-visit destination thanks to its acclaimed programs including PaleyFest, the county’s longest-running television festival, interactive exhibits, and PaleyGX, a state-of-the-art gaming studio and VR lab. The Paley Museum also presents acclaimed family programming including PaleyLand, its annual holiday celebration for kids of all ages, as well as family days featuring meet-and-greets with some of television’s most popular animated characters, arts & crafts, and more. The Museum’s blockbuster exhibits have included Beyond the Big Game, Making Maisel Marvelous, The Latin GRAMMYs® 25 Years of Musical Excellence, Inside The West Wing: A 25th Anniversary Salute, and The Masked Singer: Behind the Mask!
Paley Members receive free admission to The Legacy of The Handmaid’s Tale: June’s Evolution from Handmaid to Rebel in addition to free year-round admission to The Paley Museum and advance discounted tickets to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including red carpet events and premiere events featuring exclusive screenings and conversations with some of the hottest celebrities and influential figures across sports, music, media, and more; VIP invitations; admission to the Paley Archive library with an international collection of more than 160,000 television and radio programs across genres; access to the PaleyGX Gaming Studio and VR Experience; and more. For more information about Paley Membership, visit paleycenter.org/membership.
For more information on this and other upcoming exhibits and programs, please visit paleycenter.org.
Teresa Brady, Director of Communications, The Paley Center for Media
tbrady@paleycenter.org – 212.621.6757
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
paleycenter@ssmandl.com
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About The Paley Center for Media
The Paley Center for Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has proudly made its home in NYC for almost 50 years and operates the iconic Paley Museum. Through its respected programming, the Paley Center leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of media, drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the media community. The general public can participate in Paley programs in both New York and Los Angeles that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the talent, and the leaders who are shaping media. The public can also access the Paley Center's permanent media collection, The Paley Archive, often referred to as a national treasure, containing over 160,000 television and radio programs and advertisements. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information about The Paley Center for Media, and to learn about the Paley Center’s acclaimed programming, please visit paleycenter.org