Close your eyes for a second.
It’s 1977. You’re in a dark theater. You’ve never seen anything like this before. A giant starship roars overhead, a farm boy looks up at two suns, and a princess asks for help in a hologram.
You walk out changed. Everyone does.
Now fast forward 50 years. That same feeling is coming back to theaters, and Disney and Lucasfilm just told us exactly how they plan to make 2027 the biggest Star Wars year ever.
This isn’t a small birthday post. This is a year-long, worldwide takeover. And if you call yourself a fan, you’re going to want to clear your calendar.
Here’s everything that was just announced, month by month, and why this one might actually live up to the hype.
The Announcement That Broke the Fandom
On November 12, 2026, just 50 days before the anniversary year, Lucasfilm and Disney offered a preview of what’s coming starting in January. The plan includes new project announcements, anniversary merchandise, dedicated fan events, archival releases, and reimagined Disney Parks and Cruise Line offerings, plus a special 50th anniversary logo with a newly orchestrated score by John Williams.
Lucasfilm Co-President Lynwen Brennan put it perfectly:
“It is incredibly special to mark the 50th anniversary by returning the original version of Star Wars to theaters so audiences can experience this part of film history on the big screen.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. The centerpiece is exactly that: the original film, back where it belongs.
January: It Starts With Ahsoka
The celebration doesn’t ease you in. It drops you straight into the action.
On January 20, Ahsoka Tano returns to Disney+ for Season 2. Rosario Dawson is back in the role, set after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, as Ahsoka confronts what it means to be a Jedi while the galaxy faces Grand Admiral Thrawn.
If you’ve been waiting to see where that story goes, your wait ends in January.
February: The Original Film Returns, For Real This Time
This is the moment fans have been begging for for decades.
On February 19, Lucasfilm will release a restored version of the original Star Wars (1977) in theaters on thousands of screens globally. It will be available in IMAX 70mm, plus 70mm, 35mm, IMAX, 4DX and D-BOX, with a new poster by Matt Ferguson that pays homage to the original from 1977.
Read that again. The original 1977 version. Not a special edition. Not a re-edit. The film as audiences saw it in 1977, restored and blown up for IMAX for the first time ever.
For older fans, this is nostalgia. For younger fans who only ever saw it on a TV or laptop, this is a first-time experience. For everyone, it’s history.
And that’s not all for February.
On February 13, Star Wars: The Experience opens at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. It’s described as the largest and most comprehensive behind-the-scenes traveling exhibition celebrating the Star Wars galaxy, and the only official exhibition during the landmark anniversary year.
Tickets are already on sale, and they’re timed and dated. If you’re planning to go, don’t wait.
March: Step Inside the Movie
In March 2027, Cosm will debut a Shared Reality rendition of Star Wars: A New Hope in its immersive venues in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit and Los Angeles. Think 12K+ immersive LED Domes that surround you, themed environments, and bespoke food and beverage offerings.
This isn’t just watching the movie. This is standing inside it.
April: The Biggest Fan Weekend on Earth
April is where 2027 goes from big to absolutely massive.
From April 1 to 4, Star Wars Celebration takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center. It’s already sold out, and it will feature epic panels, hundreds of exhibitors, exclusive merchandise and legendary guests.
That same weekend, on April 2-3, the Hollywood Bowl hosts “* Star Wars* in Concert: The Skywalker Saga.” Hosted by Anthony Daniels, the beloved C-3PO himself, the shows will feature John Williams’ iconic scores with scenes and music from all nine Skywalker Saga films.
The Bowl hosted the very first official Star Wars concert in November 1977. Bringing it back there for the 50th feels like a full circle moment.
May: The Month That Started It All
May is sacred for Star Wars fans. And 2027 is making it even bigger.
On May the 4th, Lucasfilm will release a brand-new documentary, The Hero Awakens, on Disney+. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker R.J. Cutler, it exclusively features archival footage and audio captured during and around the making of the historic film in 1977.
We’ve seen behind-the-scenes before. We’ve never seen this — real, raw footage from the set when no one knew if this weird space movie would even work.
Then, on May 28, the new theatrical chapter arrives: Star Wars: Starfighter. Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, it takes place in an entirely new era with all-new characters. When a cynical rogue is confronted by his mysterious past, he is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny.
And yes, it lands on the 50th anniversary weekend of the original film’s premiere on May 25, 1977. Disney did that on purpose. Of course they did.
And The Merch? Oh, The Merch
Disney is also planning a year-round rollout of collaborations spanning collectibles, toys, apparel, automotive, food and beverage, electronics and more. The list includes Hasbro, the LEGO Group, adidas, Mars, Aston Martin, Steinway, Hajime Sorayama presented by Complex, and more.
A few highlights already confirmed:
LEGO: A seven-piece 50th anniversary collection spanning artwork, vehicles, helmets and display models, with exclusive minifigures inspired by original concept art by Ralph McQuarrie. Available beginning January 1, 2027.
Hasbro: New products from its premium Star Wars: Black Series, Star Wars Vintage Collection, and Star Wars Retro lines, all inspired by the original 1977 film.
Parks and Cruises: Disney confirmed reimagined Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line offerings, but hasn’t named specific attractions, ships, or dates yet. That announcement is still to come, which means there’s more.
Why This 50th Actually Matters
Here’s the thing about Star Wars. It’s not just a movie franchise. It’s the reason modern blockbusters exist. It’s the reason we have IMAX, special effects, merch culture, fan conventions, and May the 4th jokes in your office Slack.
It gave us a language. Light side, dark side. May the Force be with you. I am your father. We all know what those mean, even if we’ve never seen a single film.
For 50 years, parents have passed it to kids. Kids have passed it to their kids. And now, in 2027, all three generations get to sit in the same theater, watch the same original film, and feel that same opening crawl hit them all at once.
That’s not marketing. That’s legacy.
So, What Should You Do Now?
Don’t just read this and forget it. This year will sell out fast. It already is.
1. Book February 19 now. That theatrical re-release is going to be the hardest ticket of the year. IMAX 70mm will go first.
2. Set a reminder for January 1. That’s when the LEGO collection drops. Collectors know what happens if you wait.
3. Watch The Hero Awakens on May 4. Even if you think you know the story of how Star Wars was made, you don’t know this version.
4. Plan your May 28. Starfighter isn’t just another Star Wars movie. It’s the start of the next 50 years.
Fifty years ago, a little space movie no studio believed in changed the world.
In 2027, Disney is inviting us all to come back and remember why.
The Force has been with us for five decades. Next year, we get to celebrate it properly.
