The worlds of punk rock and classic gaming are officially colliding at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Bandai Namco Entertainment America and blink-182 have announced a major collaboration centered around PAC-MAN, bringing together two of pop culture’s most recognizable names for an exclusive Comic-Con experience. The partnership celebrates the 25th anniversary of blink-182’s iconic 2001 album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket while embracing the enduring popularity of the legendary arcade franchise.
Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con 2026, taking place from July 23 to July 26 at the San Diego Convention Center, will have access to an immersive booth packed with exclusive merchandise, interactive attractions, collectible vinyl releases, and appearances from PAC-MAN characters. The collaboration also revisits a memorable pop culture moment first teased when bassist Mark Hoppus wore a PAC-MAN x 7-Eleven T-shirt during Coachella 2023, turning what began as a playful reference into a full-scale crossover for fans of both music and gaming.
blink-182 and PAC-MAN bring exclusive SDCC 2026 merchandise and experiences
The collaboration will be showcased at booth #1415 inside the San Diego Convention Center, where visitors can explore an arcade-inspired space celebrating both blink-182’s musical legacy and PAC-MAN’s decades-long influence on gaming. Designed as an interactive fan destination, the booth features stylized animated artwork of the band, co-branded arcade cabinets, themed displays, and a claw machine stocked with PAC-MAN plush toys and blink-182-themed prizes.
The biggest attraction for collectors is a lineup of Comic-Con-exclusive merchandise. Among the highlights is a limited-edition, numbered blink-182 x PAC-MAN vinyl produced by Blood Records. The exclusive record includes two of the band’s biggest hits from Take Off Your Pants and Jacket—”The Rock Show” and “First Date.”
Another standout item is the official blink-182 version of the PAC-MAN x 7-Eleven T-shirt inspired by the shirt worn by Mark Hoppus at Coachella 2023. According to Bandai Namco, that unexpected fashion moment perfectly blended “blink-182 humor, arcade nostalgia and convenience-store culture,” making it a fitting centerpiece for the Comic-Con collaboration.
In announcing the event, Bandai Namco described the partnership as a celebration of two enduring entertainment icons, noting that
“blink-182 and Bandai Namco Entertainment will reveal more details highlighting this collaboration between two pop-culture icons, including more limited edition blink-182 x PAC-MAN gear and merchandise.”
Fans visiting the booth will also have opportunities to meet PAC-MAN and Bunny, who will make appearances throughout Comic-Con show hours for photos and fan interactions.
Collaboration celebrates two entertainment icons with lasting cultural impact
The timing of the partnership carries special significance for blink-182. The band’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket remains one of the defining pop-punk albums of the early 2000s, producing chart-topping singles that continue to resonate with fans 25 years after its release.
The trio—Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker—has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, accumulated over 16 billion streams, and most recently returned to the top of the charts with ONE MORE TIME…, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2023.
PAC-MAN brings an equally impressive legacy to the collaboration. Since debuting as a coin-operated arcade game, the franchise has become one of the most recognizable names in gaming history. Its maze-based gameplay helped define the arcade era, spawning sequels, animated television series, music releases, and an extensive merchandise lineup enjoyed by multiple generations of players.
The franchise has also earned recognition from Guinness World Records as the “Most Successful Coin-Operated Game,” while continuing to expand through modern console, PC, and mobile releases. Its ongoing partnerships and crossover projects have kept the iconic yellow character relevant decades after its original launch.
With exclusive collectibles, nostalgic attractions, and interactive experiences, the blink-182 x PAC-MAN collaboration is shaping up to be one of the standout attractions at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. More merchandise and collaboration details are expected to be announced as the event approaches, giving both longtime blink-182 fans and PAC-MAN enthusiasts even more to look forward to.
