‘Star Wars: The Experience’ arrives in 2027 with more than 70 artifacts
Star Wars fans, mark your calendars for the opening of Star Wars: The Experience – A Journey Through the Galaxy, the largest collection of Star Wars artifacts, art, and costuming. The exhibit will open to the public on February 13, 2027, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the Star Wars 50th Anniversary celebration.
A long time ago, fifty years to be exact, George Lucas took audiences to a galaxy far, far away. And to celebrate the 50th anniversary, a world-class exhibit full of incredible Star Wars items will open in Philadelphia, Penn.
What’s inside Star Wars: The Experience?
Thanks to the generosity of Lucasfilm, more than 70 artifacts from the movie and television franchise – some of which have never been on display before – will be part of the exhibition. Fans can get an up-close view of Darth Vader’s armor and Darth Maul’s lightsaber hilt, as well as creatures, aliens, and vehicles from Star Wars canon, including the lovable Grogu of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” fame, and the Empire’s scout troopers’ favorite mode of transportation, the iconic speeder bike.
Props used in the Disney+ television series “Andor” play their role, and no Star Wars compilation would be complete without the two characters who have been there from the beginning: Second Generation Robotic Droid Series-2 and Cybot Galactica 3PO Series protocol droid, better known as R-2 D-2 and C-3PO.
Courtesy of The Franklin Institute
The creative side of building a galaxy
A portion of the exhibit galleries’ 18,000 square feet will be dedicated to gaming, art, sound design, and costuming. Explore Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic’s evolution, from the rugged analog technology to the broad spectrum opened up by digital cinematography.
Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute, shared his thoughts: “Star Wars created a cultural landscape that spans decades and delivers massive, undeniable global appeal. Its influence extends far beyond cinema, shaping entertainment, culture, technology, and business while redefining how stories are created, experienced, and shared across generations.”
Courtesy of The Franklin Institute
A galactic effort
Star Wars: The Experience is the culmination of a four-year collaboration between The Franklin Institute, design company MDSX, Lucasfilm, and Disney Consumer Products, and is a follow-up production to the Institute’s previous delve into popular culture, Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition.
Cinematic history
And what could be more appropriate to help kick off the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration than a limited-time re-release of the original Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, originally released as just Star Wars on May 25, 1977. The blockbuster film that launched an entirely new genre of sci-fi moviemaking reopens in theaters on February 19, 2027.
San Diego Comic-Con adds to the adventure
Attendees at Comic-Con in San Diego, California, can get a sneak peek at how the exhibit came together during the panel discussion, “The Making of Star Wars: The Experience,” moderated by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Panelists include Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at The Franklin Institute; Dave Edmonds, Art Director at MDSX; Portia Fontes, Manager of Physical Assets at Lucasfilm; Matt Martin, Sr. Creative Executive of Franchise Content and Strategy at Lucasfilm; and Dan Picard, Creative Officer and Owner of MDSX.
The discussion takes place on July 24, 2026, from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Some of the questions the creative team will be answering are:
- How do you balance cinematic authenticity with exhibition design?
- What is the visual identity of the experience?
- What are some of the never-before-seen archival pieces, and how do you celebrate 50 years of Star Wars in a way that feels as epic, emotional, and immersive as the saga itself?
Quick facts
- Star Wars: The Experience – A Journey Through the Galaxy runs from February 13 – September 6, 2027.
- Pre-sale tickets will be available to The Franklin Institute members starting in October 2026, with general-public tickets opening up in November 2026. General Admission to The Franklin Institute is also required.
- The exhibit will be making a five-year tour of North America after its world debut in Philadelphia.
For updates and more information, and to purchase tickets once they become available, visit Star Wars: The Experience – A Journey Through the Galaxy.
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