Kingston University's Retro Computing Exhibition Returns with Expanded Collection and Permanent Showcase Plans
The annual Archive of Retro Computing exhibition opens in August 2026 with more than 40 years of hardware history on display, from the Fairchild Channel F to the PlayStation and Xbox, ahead of a planned permanent launch.
Kingston University will run its annual Archive of Retro Computing Exhibition from Wednesday 5 August to Tuesday 11 August 2026, bringing a public week of computing nostalgia back to its campus. Admission is free, and the university has expanded the collection of classic machines on show this year to cover more than four decades of hardware history.
The exhibition is designed as a chronological journey, with visitors able to trace a line from early home consoles through the rise of the personal computer and into the modern gaming era. The expanded collection will include classic machines from the Fairchild Channel F to PlayStation and Xbox, offering a physical archive of the devices that defined each generation of interactive entertainment.
This year’s event serves a dual purpose beyond the usual public engagement. The exhibition prepares visitors for a nostalgic journey through more than 40 years of computing history, acting as a preview for something more permanent. According to the university, the August showcase is running specifically ahead of a permanent showcase launch in September.
The shift from an annual, week-long exhibition to a year-round destination marks a significant commitment to preserving and displaying this slice of technological heritage. A permanent installation would allow the university’s collection to serve as a consistent educational resource, rather than a fleeting annual event.
For now, the focus remains on the 2026 exhibition, which offers a rare chance to see a wide range of historically significant hardware in one place without charge. The timeline from the Channel F — released in 1976 and notable for using ROM cartridges — through to the consoles that defined the 2000s provides a tangible record of how quickly both computing power and cultural footprint accelerated.
Whether the permanent showcase will expand the collection further or simply provide a stable home for the existing archive is not yet detailed. The August event will at least offer a clear indication of the scope and condition of the material Kingston University has assembled before it moves into a more fixed display.