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Star Wars Exhibition to Premiere in Philadelphia as Official 50th‑Anniversary Centerpiece

Organizers say the 18,000‑square‑foot, immersive show will pair more than 70 archival, screen‑used items with RFID personalization ahead of a planned five‑year North American tour.

Overview

  • The Franklin Institute announced Tuesday that "Star Wars: The Experience — A Journey Through the Galaxy" will open Feb. 13, 2027, run through Sept. 6, 2027, and then begin a five‑year North American tour.
  • Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products and experiential firm MDSX collaborated with the Franklin Institute to build the 18,000‑square‑foot exhibition featuring immersive galleries and an RFID system that personalizes each visitor’s journey.
  • The show will present more than 70 artifacts from the Lucasfilm archives, many shown to the public for the first time, including Darth Vader’s costume, Darth Maul’s lightsaber, Grogu, R2‑D2, C‑3PO, a speeder bike, and props from the Disney+ series Andor.
  • Additional details and the first gallery renderings will be unveiled at a "Making of" panel at San Diego Comic‑Con on July 24, moderated by Ashley Eckstein, and tickets are scheduled to go on sale in November 2026.
  • Promoted as the only official large‑scale Star Wars exhibition for the franchise’s 50th year, the premiere aims to boost Philadelphia’s cultural tourism and set the commercial model for a multi‑year touring exhibition of Lucasfilm’s archive.