Star Wars: The Experience – A Journey Through the Galaxy will open on February 13, 2027, at The Franklin Institute.

Star Wars: The Experience Coming to Philadelphia

A new immersive Star Wars exhibition is being created by The Franklin Institute in collaboration with MDSX, Lucasfilm, and Disney Consumer Products. According to the museum, Philadelphia will be the only place in the world to see the exhibition first before it begins a five-year North American tour.

The 18,000-square-foot exhibition is billed as the largest and most comprehensive behind-the-scenes exhibition celebrating the Star Wars galaxy. It will feature immersive environments, interconnected galleries, screen-used artifacts, and an RFID-powered interactive experience designed to give guests a personalized journey through the creative legacy of the franchise.

Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute, spoke on the cultural significance of Star Wars:

“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. The Franklin Institute is excited to put Philadelphia once again at the center of a major cultural moment with another blockbuster world premiere exhibition in 2027.”

More than 70 artifacts will be included, many of which are screen-used and displayed by Lucasfilm for the first time. Confirmed pieces include Darth Maul’s lightsaber, Darth Vader’s costume, Grogu, R2-D2, C-3PO, a speeder bike, and original props from Andor. StarWars.com also notes that the exhibition will include aliens, droids, creatures, vehicles, props, and costumes from across the saga, from the original trilogy through more recent films and Disney+ projects.

The exhibition will also explore the making of Star Wars beyond the artifacts themselves. Visitors will learn more about the series’ sound design, costume creation, fan art, gaming, practical effects, digital innovation, and the evolution of Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic. The goal is to present Star Wars not only as a film franchise, but as a cultural and creative force shaped by filmmakers, artists, technicians, and fans across generations.

Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at The Franklin Institute, said the project represents more than four years of collaboration with Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products, and MDSX.

“Bringing an experience of this scale to life takes an extraordinary amount of dedication and expertise, and together this team has created something we believe will captivate audiences and celebrate the extraordinary and lasting impact of Star Wars.”

More information about the exhibition will be revealed during San Diego Comic-Con 2026. A panel titled “The Making of Star Wars: The Experience” will take place on Friday, July 24, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT in Room 7AB.

The panel will be moderated by Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Tales of the Jedi. Panelists will include Matt Martin, Senior Creative Executive of Franchise Content and Strategy at Lucasfilm; Portia Fontes, Manager of Physical Assets at Lucasfilm; Abby Bysshe of The Franklin Institute; and MDSX’s Dan Picard and Dave Edmonds.

Tickets for Star Wars: The Experience will go on sale to Franklin Institute members in October 2026, with public ticket sales beginning in November 2026. The special exhibition will require a separate ticket, though admission to the exhibition will also include general admission access to The Franklin Institute.

Star Wars: The Experience will run at The Franklin Institute from February 13 through September 6, 2027. After its Philadelphia premiere, the exhibition will begin a five-year tour across North America.

Disney and The Franklin Institute

This is not the first time the museum has hosted a major Disney exhibition in recent years. The Franklin Institute was also the first host venue for Disney100: The Exhibition, which opened to guests on February 18, 2023, as part of The Walt Disney Company’s centennial celebration.

That exhibition featured 10 themed galleries, more than 250 artifacts, artworks, and documents, and a recreation of Main Street, U.S.A., along with items from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, including BB-8 from the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Star Wars: The Experience will continue that connection between Disney, Lucasfilm, and the Philadelphia museum, this time focusing entirely on the galaxy far, far away for the franchise’s 50th anniversary.

Let us know on social media if you plan to visit the exhibition when it opens in Philadelphia.

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