New Exhibition Announced at Star Wars: The Experience Museum
Soon you will be able to peer into the impassive face of the unchanging mask of Darth Vader, get within a few centimeters of the charming fluffy head of Grogu and finally - finally! - find the droids you are looking for.
Next year, we'll embark on a journey to celebrate the legacy of Star Wars, the force of The Force and the fan community when the largest and most comprehensive behind-the-scenes exhibition to date opens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ahead of a five-year North American tour.
Star Wars: A Galaxy Journey will make its world premiere at the Franklin Institute on February 13, 2027 as part of the celebration 50th Anniversary ofStar Wars
Featuring an extraordinary collection of more than 70 artifacts—many of which are being shown for the first time by Lucasfilm—the exhibition invites you to take a closer look at iconic items used in the films, including the lightsaber hiltDarth Maul and Darth Vader's fearsome armor, plus a selection of fan-favorite aliens, droids and creatures, including the Mandalorian's faithful companion Grogu (from Star Wars: The Mandalorian and the movie Grogu, which hits theaters this summer), and the droid duo that started it all, R2-D2 and C-3PO.Celebrating the depth and diversity of storytelling in a galaxy far, far away, the exhibit also includes vehicles such as a full-size speeder bike and original props from the Andor series. critically acclaimed, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning on Disney+.
Star Wars:The Experience, produced by the Franklin Institute in collaboration with MDSX, Lucasfilm and Disney Consumer Products, is an all-new 18,000 square foot exhibit consisting of visually rich, interconnected galleries featuring large-scale interactive areas, filming artifacts, and an interactive, personalized and cinematic RFID-based exhibit that immerses the viewer into the creative spirit behind Star Wars.
From sound design and costume creation to fan art and gaming, the exhibition celebrates the intersection of art, innovation and fandom, showcasing the legacy ofStar Warsas a mythology that has always been and will be created by dreamers. Celebrating the groundbreaking evolution and innovation of Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic, it traces the path from analog ingenuity to digital reinvention and highlights the voices of the original creators and today's global fandom, revealing the creativity, artistry and community that make Star Warsa timeless treasure loved by people around the world.
“Star Warshas created a cultural landscape that spans decades and has enormous, undeniable global popularity,” says Larry Dubinsky, President and CEO of the Franklin Institute.“His influence extends far beyond cinema—shaping entertainment, culture, technology and business while redefining how stories are created, experienced and shared across generations. The Franklin Institute is pleased to once again put Philadelphia at the center of an important cultural moment with another major exhibition in 2027, making its world premiere this year.”
Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con this month will be the first to see how this exhibit was painstakingly crafted over more than four years of collaboration, with exclusive exhibit sketches and other new details.
Stay tuned for more details and announcements from SDCC, and plan to attend an exciting panel hosted by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano at Star Wars: The Clone Warsand other animated projects.
San Diego Comic-Con panel details
The Making of Star Wars: Impressions
Friday, July 24, 2026, 16:00 - 17:00 (Pacific Time), Room 7AB
Exclusive to San Diego Comic-Con attendees, the creators of the exhibition Star Wars:The Experience will share details about its creation, reveal behind-the-scenes details and present the first sketches of the exhibition.
In a discussion moderated by Ashley Eckstein, actress and voice of Ahsoka Tano in such animated series as Star Wars: The Clone WarsStar Wars Rebels,Tales of the Jedi, featuring experts: Matt Martin, Senior Creative Director of Content and Franchise Strategy at Lucasfilm; Portia Fontes, physical asset manager at Lucasfilm; Abby Bishe, director of experience and strategy at the Franklin Institute; Dan Pickard, creative director and owner of MDSX; and Dave Edmonds, MDSX Art Director.
The creative team will delve into questions such as: How to balance cinematic authenticity with exhibition design?What is the visual identity of the exhibition? What archival footage has never been shown before, and how can we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Wars in a way that feels as epic, emotional and exciting as the saga itself?
Tickets to Star Wars:The Experience, which runs from February 13 to September 6, 2027will go on sale in November. After its premiere in Philadelphia, the exhibition will go on a five-year tour of North America.