First Look at Five Select STAR WARS™ Artifacts as Tickets Go On Sale for the World Premiere of STAR WARS™: The Experience at The Franklin Institute

PRESS KIT: New Exhibit Renderings

PHILADELPHIA, November 12, 2026—Tickets are now on sale for STAR WARS™: The Experience, a world-premiere exhibition opening February 13, 2027, at The Franklin Institute. To mark the announcement, the museum today revealed five screen-used artifacts from Lucasfilm— offering an exclusive first look at what will be featured in the exhibition. 

The artifacts span several exhibition galleries, from the TIE fighter model in Birth of a Saga to the fluffy porg creature in Filled with Character. Together, they offer a preview of the exhibition’s broader collection, which includes legendary screen-used pieces like Darth Maul’s lightsaber that is featured in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Darth Vader’s costume, and Sabine’s iconic speeder bike as seen in Ahsoka—many on view to the public for the first time. 

Featured artifacts include: 

• TIE Fighter Model – Gallery 2: Birth of a Saga

  Serves as the anchor of Wireframe Worlds, showcasing the early origins of iconic Star Wars characters, ships and environments that sparked a cultural movement.

• Ezra and Chopper Clay Maquette – Gallery 4: Expanding the Galaxy

  Maquette of the beloved characters from Star Wars Rebels will be displayed alongside several character maquettes and costumes in a replica set of Queen Amidala’s Throne Room from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, illustrating the materials and techniques used to create the galaxy’s unique characters.

• Night Trooper Helmet – Gallery 5: Technology Reimagined

  Featured on a comprehensive Helmet Wall in a gallery focused on the materials and technology that power the Star Wars Galaxy. 

• Porg – Gallery 6: Filled with Character

  Highlighted in a gallery focused on the lovable creatures and other species and droids, illustrating the character design work that fleshes out the worlds of Star Wars. 

• Kylo Ren Lightsaber - Gallery 8: Light and Dark Side of Sound 

  This tri-tipped lightsaber from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be shown alongside several other lightsaber artifacts at the center of the Lightsaber Sound Lab, where RFID touchpoints trigger distinct sonic identities for a custom guest experience. 

The exhibition traces the legacy of Star Wars from its handcrafted beginnings to today's groundbreaking digital frontiers, exploring the creativity, craftsmanship and community behind the galaxy. Across ten visually rich galleries, guests will encounter artifacts, sound design, creature creation, fan art, collectibles, immersive interactive moments, and an RFID-powered experience that creates a personalized journey into the creative force behind the saga.

At the heart of Star Wars™: The Experience, is the Lightsaber Sound Bar, where interactive lightsaber replicas appear to float from floor to ceiling, surrounding guests with light and sound from across the saga. Using RFID touchpoints, guests will activate lightsabers to hear their distinct ignition, hum, and sound identity while learning how those sounds were created and evolved with each unique Star Wars story. At the center of the space, glowing towers display classic lightsaber artifacts as part of a personalized guest experience shaped by choices made throughout the exhibition.

“Every artifact in this exhibition tells a story about the creativity, technology and problem-solving that brought the films to life. The artifacts are an entry point into the stories, ideas and innovation behind the galaxy, while the immersive experiences invite guests to engage with the Star Wars universe in a deeper, more interactive way,” said Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer at The Franklin Institute.

Star Wars™: The Experience was developed by The Franklin Institute in collaboration with Lucasfilm, Disney Consumer Products and MDSX. Following its Philadelphia premiere from February 13 – September 6, 2027, the exhibition will launch a five-year North American tour.

Star Wars™: The Experience will be open daily beginning February 13 from 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Daytime Tickets

Daily: 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Adults and Seniors $49                                        

Teen (13-17) $45                                  

Child (ages 3-12) $43                       

Daytime tickets include admission to The Franklin Institute and one Fels Planetarium show. 

Evening Tickets: $25 – All Ages 

Nightly: 5:00-8:00 p.m.; last entry at 6:30 p.m.

Evening tickets include admission to Star Wars™: The Experience only. 

Other museum areas close at 5:00 p.m.

Jedi Council VIP Ticket 

$45 – Franklin Institute Members 

$65 – Non-Member; All Ages 

Includes anytime access pass, exclusive exhibition pin, and a 20% discount on a Franklin Institute membership. *Valid for any time slot on the date selected at purchase. Limited number of tickets available per day.

Tickets are timed and dated, and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. For information on purchasing tickets, please visit www.fi.edu.

THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. Pennsylvania’s most visited museum, dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by offering access to hands-on science education. For more information, visit fi.edu. 

Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.