Upcoming exhibit to celebrate 50 years of Star Wars

Revealed at SDCC this past weekend, Star Wars: The Experience will settle into The Franklin Institute in early 2027.

Star Wars celebrates five decades

First hitting theaters back in 1977, Star Wars was a smash hit from day one. The George Lucas-created sci-fi/fantasy film dominated at the box office, and went on to create a global legacy. And even though it’s been flagging in the modern era, it’s tough to argue that the iconic saga isn’t still a force (pardon the pun) to be reckoned with.

The saga not only went on to spawn sequels and prequels, but also a multimedia empire (whoa, two puns). It’s one that’s lasted as well, with toys, comics, both animation and live action television, and plenty of video games. And it’s with all of that in mind, that this winter it’ll be celebrating 50 years in style.

That’ll come via an exhibit at The Franklin Institute, a science museum and Philadelphia staple. Star Wars: The Experience will land there this coming February the 13th, and when it does it’ll be fully operational, with multiple points of interest. Some of those will be interactive too.

“Debuting the world premiere of Star Wars™: The Experience in Philadelphia is a tremendous honor for The Franklin Institute and for our city,” saidLarry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “Star Wars has inspired generations through imagination, innovation, and storytelling, and there is no better place to launch this exhibition than Philadelphia, a city defined by discovery and world-changing ideas.”

“This exhibition invites all fans to step into the Star Wars galaxy in an entirely new way, getting closer than ever to the stories, characters, and creativity that have inspired generations,” said Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at The Franklin Institute. “It’s an experience that celebrates not only how Star Wars began, but why it continues to captivate and unite so many across the globe.”

The Franklin Institute press release

A galaxy far, far away

As mentioned, Star Wars: The Experience is shaping up to have a wide scope. Fans will be able to see first hand what it’s like to get frozen in carbonite, as well as take a walk through Queen Amidala’s throne room from The Phantom Menace.

Those are just part of the show too, as the whole event will be RFID-led. That sounds like it’ll actually take into account what individual fans check out, creating a custom experience as they make their way through the series of exhibits.

Speaking of, there’s a capper planned that we have to admit caught our attention. That would be a celebration of Star Wars action figures, one that includes more than 90s examples. We’re not just talking about retail level entries either, as Star Wars: The Experience will tout 20 “rare prototypes” and more.

Here’s a deeper look at what’ll be on hand:

• Queen Amidala’s Throne Room: Guests walk through a room of suspended fabric and projection, surrounded by voices and imagery of Star Warscostume designers. Along the way, they encounter key costumes and costume art that culminate at Queen Amidala’s iconic red Throne Room Gown.
• Wireframe Worlds: Anchored by a wireframe TIE fighter, this gallery immerses guests in the blueprint stage of Star Wars set design. Edge-lit acrylic panels and displayed artifacts showcase early vehicle sketches and design notes that evolved into cinematic icons, while surrounding graphics display diagrams of the many ships that have brought the saga to life.
• Carbon Freeze Capture: In this dramatic, photo-ready moment, guests encounter full-scale Han Solo in a carbonite prop surrounded by two interactive stations. Here, guests can experience their own “carbon freeze” sequence – an unforgettable fusion of storytelling and technology that allows fans to “step” directly into one of cinema’s most iconic scenes.
• The Force Connects Us: Using the latest RFID technology, each guest journey becomes uniquely personal, shaped by their choices and driven by their alliance with the Force. As guests move throughout the exhibition, hidden moments, evolving interactions, and story elements will unfold, culminating in a personalized finale moment.
• 50 Years of Star Wars: As part of the finale of the exhibition is an unprecedented look at 50 years of Star Wars action figure history and creation, featuring more than 90 iconic Star Wars collectible figures, including vintage figures, over 20 rare prototypes, development models, tooling samples, and original design materials, some of which have never been displayed publicly before. This unique showcase reveals how Kenner’s and Hasbro’s artistry has evolved alongside the saga itself, from the iconic figures of the Original Trilogy to today’s premium collectibles.

The Franklin Institute press release

Look for tickets to go on sale for Star Wars: The Experience this November (2026). The Show will then officially open at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute on February 13th, 2027, and run through September 6th (2027). Click here for more on the official site, and to sign up for the ticket pre-sale.

Though it’s debuting in the iconic Pennsylvania city though, it won’t be ending there. Managed by Round Room Live, Star Wars: The Experience will take its leave of the city and kick off a five year tour of the US. Look for that to start after that September 6th, 2027 date.