The Museum of Broadcast Communications has opened its 2026 Front Row Experiences Auction featuring exclusive celebrity, sports and media experiences to support its educational programs and preservation efforts.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications has launched its 2026 Front Row Experiences Charity Auction, offering bidders the chance to enjoy exclusive experiences with some of the biggest names in television, radio, sports and entertainment while supporting the museum's educational mission.
The MBC Front Row Experiences Auction will feature items from "I Dream of Jeanie's" Barbara Eden. (Photo | MBC)
Online bidding is open now and continues through Tuesday, July 28, at 4 p.m. CT through Charitybuzz and the Museum of Broadcast Communications website.
Auction highlights include private lunches with Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler, Criminal Minds star Joe Mantegna and Better Call Saul actor Bob Odenkirk; VIP tickets to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; a meet-and-greet with Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins; a Chicago Bears game-day experience with quarterback Caleb Williams; a private dinner with longtime meteorologist Tom Skilling; a behind-the-scenes tour of NBC's One Chicago productions at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios with a cast meet-and-greet; an autographed I Dream of Jeannie bottle signed by Barbara Eden; and a private wellness consultation with television personality and bestselling author Dr. Ian Smith.
The MBC Front Row Experiences Auction will feature items from WGN's Svengoolie. (Photo | MBC)
Additional experiences include visits to The WGN Morning News, NBC 5 Chicago and CBS Chicago, as well as opportunities connected to MeTV's Svengoolie, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, The Breakfast Club, Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, Dean Richards, John Williams, Lisa Dent, Jim Rome, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, Chris Cuomo, Kevin Matthews and many other well-known personalities.
Sports fans can also bid on experiences with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, Northwestern Football and Illinois Fighting Illini Basketball. Music offerings include experiences with Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins, Poi Dog Pondering, Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine and iHeart Jingle Ball events.
The MBC Front Row Experiences Auction will feature an experience with legendary weatherman Tom Skilling. (Photo | MBC)
Now celebrating its 44th year, the Chicago-based museum has become one of the nation's leading institutions dedicated to preserving the history of television, radio, cable, streaming and digital media. Since opening its new museum last fall, it has received national attention for its exhibitions, The Evolution of Late-Night Television and Johnny Carson: The Centennial.
The museum's late-night television collection includes Johnny Carson's Tonight Show desk and set, Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show desk and Stephen Colbert's Late Show desk that was used during broadcasts from Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. This fall, the original Late Show with Stephen Colbert set from New York's historic Ed Sullivan Theater will become part of the museum's permanent collection following a donation from CBS and Stephen Colbert.
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"Front Row Experiences is much more than a charity auction," said David Plier, Chair, President and CEO of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. "It is an opportunity to connect fans with the personalities, programs and performances that have shaped American culture. Every winning bid supports our educational programs and will help fund complimentary field trips for high school students from underserved communities."
Tom Carballo, co-chair of the Front Row Experiences Auction and host of iHeartMedia's Mojo in the Morning, said the auction gives supporters a chance to enjoy authentic behind-the-scenes experiences while helping inspire the next generation of media professionals.
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The museum will also receive the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation's Preservation Award this fall in recognition of its leadership in preserving America's broadcast history.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Museum of Broadcast Communications, helping support educational programming, preservation efforts and complimentary field trips for high school students from underserved communities.
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