The first look at Star Wars: The Experience landed at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, and the official 50th anniversary exhibition is going big on the parts of the franchise fans actually grew up touching.
The Franklin Institute unveiled the official key art and the first gallery renderings during a panel moderated by Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano across The Clone Wars, Rebels, and Tales of the Jedi.
As we reported earlier, the 18,000-square-foot exhibition premieres February 13, 2027 in Philadelphia, developed by the Franklin Institute with Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products, and MDSX.
50 years of Kenner and Hasbro figures close the show
The exhibition revealed a look at 50 years of Star Wars action figure history featuring more than 90 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.
The gallery traces how Kenner’s and Hasbro’s work evolved alongside the saga, from the Original Trilogy figures to today’s premium collectibles.
That lines up exactly with what a Hasbro rep told me on the show floor this week, when he said Lucasfilm is going big with the Original Trilogy for the 50th anniversary and has partnered with tons of companies for next year.
There is a nice bit of symmetry to Friday’s schedule, too, as the Hasbro Star Wars panel ran in Room 7AB at 2pm and the Experience panel took the same room two hours later.
Han Solo in carbonite, and you go in with him
The Carbon Freeze Capture gallery is built around a full-scale Han Solo in carbonite prop flanked by two interactive stations, where guests can run their own carbon freeze sequence and step into the scene themselves.
Queen Amidala’s Throne Room
This gallery walks guests through suspended fabric and projection while the voices and imagery of Star Wars costume designers surround them, leading to key costumes and costume art that culminate at Amidala’s red Throne Room Gown from The Phantom Menace.
Wireframe Worlds
Anchored by a wireframe TIE fighter, this one drops guests into the blueprint stage of Star Wars design, with edge-lit acrylic panels and artifacts showing early vehicle sketches and design notes alongside diagrams of the ships that built the saga.
The RFID hook we mentioned in our earlier coverage now has a name.
Each guest’s path is shaped by their own choices and their alliance with the Force, with hidden moments and evolving interactions unlocking as they move through the galleries, building to a personalized finale.
What Lucasfilm is saying
Lucasfilm Co-President Lynwen Brennan said the studio wanted to develop something truly extraordinary for the anniversary, framing the exhibition as a tribute to both the people who built the galaxy and the fan community around it.
Franklin Institute President and CEO Larry Dubinski called the world premiere a tremendous honor for the museum and the city.
On the artifact side, the exhibition still leans on the Lucasfilm vault, with screen-used pieces including Darth Vader’s costume and Darth Maul’s lightsaber, plus Grogu, R2-D2, C-3PO, a speeder bike, and original props from Andor.
Dates and tour
Star Wars: The Experience runs February 13 through September 6, 2027 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, with tickets going on sale in November.
After the Philadelphia run, the exhibition launches a five-year North American tour managed by Round Room Live.
The Franklin says more artifacts and exhibition highlights will be announced ahead of the opening.
Images via The Franklin Institute and Lucasfilm.
