‘Percy Jackson’ Is Turning the Empire State Building Into Mount Olympus Ahead of the Season Premiere
New York City is about to get a little more mythological. The Empire State Building, already one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, is getting a divine makeover courtesy of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. For fans of Rick Riordan’s world, the choice of location is almost too perfect.
The building has long been tied to the story, since Olympus sits hidden above Manhattan in the books. That makes it an ideal stage for a promotional event, and Disney+ clearly knows it. The takeover arrives just as the third season of the series gets ready to land.
Details of the activation were revealed exclusively by People. Called “Olympus Awaits,” the takeover runs from Monday, November 16 to Friday, December 4, and invites visitors to step into the fantastical world of the series. It also includes a special lighting display on premiere day.
The ‘Olympus Awaits’ immersive experience will be open from November 16 – December 4 at the Empire State Building. It will feature the Throne Room and the Junkyard of the Gods. via @people https://t.co/hP9QRxTQ9V
— Percy Jackson Crave (@PJOCRAVE) November 3, 2026
The centerpiece is an experience that takes fans up to the mythical “600th floor.” There they will enter an epic Throne Room filled with towering thrones inspired by the Greek gods. It is a direct nod to the moment in the story when the gods gather to judge the demigods.
Fans who would rather keep their feet on the ground have an option too. A “Hand of Talos” installation on the ground floor offers a free photo opportunity that captures the same Mount Olympus magic. That makes the event accessible to people who do not want to buy a ticket to go up the building.
On Friday, November 20, the premiere day of the new season, the Empire State Building will glow with lights inspired by the home of the gods. The “Glow from Olympus” will turn the New York skyline into part of the marketing. It is the sort of visual stunt that is tailor-made for social media.
The third season adapts ‘The Titan’s Curse,’ the third book in Riordan’s series, and marks the first time it has been brought to the screen. The story begins with the sudden disappearance of Annabeth Chase, played by Leah Sava Jeffries, and the looming Great Prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi. Percy, played by Walker Scobell, must head out on his most dangerous quest yet.
Disney+ announced the date at San Diego Comic-Con in July, and the season premieres on Disney+ and Hulu with two episodes on November 20. Scobell told fans at New York Comic Con that two new episodes will then arrive each week. A first teaser showed Percy holding up the sky, a nod to the burden at the center of the book.
Scobell also told People at New York Comic Con about how Percy copes with Annabeth’s absence in the new installment. At San Diego Comic-Con, he suggested this may be the most book-accurate adaptation of the show so far.
Several notable names join the cast. Dafne Keen plays the goddess Artemis, and Saara Chaudry portrays her lieutenant, Zoë Nightshade. Kate McKinnon appears as Aphrodite, Ming-Na Wen plays Hera, Jennifer Beals is Demeter and Hubert Smielecki is Apollo.
Holt McCallany plays the titan Atlas, who is tied to the globe in the teaser. David Costabile joins as Dr. Thorn, and Levi Chrisopulos and Olive Abercrombie play the young demigod siblings Nico and Bianca di Angelo. Returning favorites include Aryan Simhadri as Grover, Charlie Bushnell as Luke and Tamara Smart as Thalia.
The series is overseen by executive producers Dan Shotz and Craig Silverstein. Together they have steered it from a hit debut to a third season that is leaning into a darker, higher-stakes story.
Victory will require sacrifice. The two-episode premiere of #PercyJackson and the Olympians Season 3 is coming to Disney+ and Hulu November 20. https://t.co/o5iXqguX8l
— Percy Jackson (@PercySeries) November 2, 2026
The show’s success has given Disney+ a lot of room for big promotional swings. Since its December 2023 launch, it was one of the top five most-watched original series across streaming, according to Nielsen. A third season had already been ordered before the second season arrived in December 2025.
An Empire State Building activation also taps into the franchise’s greatest strength, which is fan participation. Riordan’s readers have long imagined the 600th floor, and now they can stand in it. It turns a fictional detail into a real-world experience that people can photograph and share.
With the premiere only weeks away, the takeover builds momentum in a city that plays a big part in the story. Fans in New York will get the full effect, while everyone else will get a glimpse of it through photos and videos. Either way, the Olympian gods have picked a very high perch.
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