PAX West 2027: dates, hours and where to stay

PAX West 2027 at a glance

PAX West is the Penny Arcade Expo's original show, first held in Seattle in 2004 and run today by ReedPop and Penny Arcade. At the end of the 2026 show the organizers announced the 2027 dates: Friday, September 3 to Monday, September 6, 2027, over Labor Day weekend.

The official site lists these details for 2027:

• Show hours: Friday to Sunday 10:00 AM to midnight; Monday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Expo hall: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day.
• Location: Seattle Convention Center, Arch building (705 Pike Street) and Summit building (900 Pine Street).

Badge sales and the full program are announced on the PAX West site and social channels. Always confirm details there before you travel; we update this guide when the organizers publish more.

Why location matters for PAX

PAX days are long. Panels and evening events run until midnight Friday through Sunday, and the queue culture means people arrive early for big panels. Being able to walk back to your room in a few minutes changes the weekend:

• Drop off merch and swag bags at lunch instead of carrying them all day.
• Head back for a shower and a meal between the expo hall closing at 6:00 PM and the evening program.
• Walk home after midnight without waiting for a ride-hail surge.

PAX uses both buildings, and you will likely cross between Arch and Summit several times a day. Our building at 1400 Hubbell Place sits on the downtown side of both, a 3-minute walk from each by the walking times in our listings.

Getting there

From Sea-Tac Airport: take Link light rail 1 Line from SeaTac/Airport Station toward downtown and get off at Westlake Station. Sound Transit quotes 38 minutes from the airport to downtown, and trains run about every 8–10 minutes most of the day. From Westlake it is about a 7-minute walk to our apartments. Our Sea-Tac to downtown guide walks through it step by step.

Driving: downtown garages fill and raise rates on show weekends. Our building has garage spaces for compact cars on request (SUVs do not fit); see the parking guide.

Badge pickup: PAX's published Show Maps page places badge pickup in the Annex at 800 Pike Street, Level 3 of the Arch building. Bring your confirmation QR code.

Sharing a 2-bedroom with your PAX group

Many PAX attendees travel as a group of friends or a small studio team. A 2-bedroom apartment gives everyone a proper bed, a kitchen for breakfast before the doors open, and a living room for board games at night:

• The Lumière 2BR: sleeps 6, round table that seats four, in-unit washer & dryer.
• The Two-Bath 2BR: sleeps 6, two full bathrooms, so mornings move faster.
• The Top-Floor 2BR: sleeps 5, top floor with skyline views.

All three have a full kitchen and an in-unit washer & dryer, and each is professionally cleaned after every stay. Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year downtown, so book as soon as your badges are confirmed. Check-in is from 4:00 PM, so if you arrive Friday morning, plan to go straight to the show and settle in later. Arriving Thursday evening makes the first morning easier.

Food and downtime nearby

The convention center has food outlets in both buildings, but they get crowded during PAX. A full kitchen lets you cook breakfast and keep snacks and drinks in the fridge. For a sit-down meal, Capitol Hill starts just east of the convention center; our Capitol Hill food walk covers the route. For a break from screens, Pike Place Market is about a 15-minute walk downhill; see the Pike Place walking guide.

Booking for PAX West 2027

The nights most groups need are Thursday September 2 or Friday September 3 through Monday September 6 or Tuesday September 7, 2027. Enter your dates on our booking search to see live availability and the full price before you pay. You get 10% off when you book direct.

Also see: Where to stay near the Seattle Convention Center and the events calendar.