Star Wars Celebration Heads to Los Angeles for 50th Anniversary

TOKYO, Japan — The Star Wars Celebration will return to Los Angeles for its 50th anniversary, celebrating the release of the first Star Wars film, it was announced Sunday at this year’s event in Tokyo. This marks a significant return for the popular franchise convention, which previously took place in the City of Angels in 2007.

Lucasfilm confirmed that the 17th edition of the Celebration will be hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The choice of venue echoes sentiments from 2007 when the convention recognized the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars franchise.

This year’s Tokyo event was notable for being the fastest to sell out, attracting over 105,000 guests, an 8% increase from the 2023 convention held in London. Attendees hailed from 125 countries, highlighting the global appeal of the franchise, with 55% coming from the Asia-Pacific region, including 47% from Japan and 31% from the United States.

Despite overwhelming attendance, some fans expressed unhappiness regarding the size and scope of the event. One attendee from Los Angeles, who wished to remain anonymous, remarked, “There aren’t enough vendors and not enough to do,” echoing sentiments that the Tokyo occasion felt less expansive than previous Celebrations.

Another fan, sharing the experience, noted the challenge in accessing major activities compared to earlier events. The lack of major news announcements and interactive installations, such as life-sized starships, was notably missed by many.

“I got to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Hayden, so that was cool,” a British fan remarked, referring to actor Hayden Christensen. He was one of the most popular figures at the event, with fans waiting over two hours for photos and autographs.

Christensen’s photo opportunities were the priciest, with charges approximately $208, whereas other stars like Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna priced at $181 and $160, respectively, turned away few passionate attendees.

Hardcore fans Sam Dungey and his fiancée, Alisha, traveled from England for the chance to meet Christensen. Dungey described the encounter as emotionally significant, stating, “He was my childhood… I grew up with the prequels.” The couple aims to bring their future children to a Celebration.

Numerous attendees embraced the cosplay culture, dedicating hours to constructing elaborate costumes, such as an AT-ST Walker crafted from cardboard by a local fan over two months. Dawson acknowledged the effort fans pour into their costumes, expressing gratitude during her panel discussions.

Lucasfilm’s programming over the event spanned more than 26 hours across three main stages and included roughly 100 hours of fan panels and podcast content. Major announcements, including the launch date of the new spinoff film, “Star Wars: Starfighter,” were revealed, alongside the unveiling of upcoming animation projects.

Notably, director Shawn Levy joined the stage to reveal new details about the upcoming standalone film set to release in May 2027. Levy emphasized that “the fun of ‘Star Wars’ will be presented in new and original ways,” alleviating some fears about taking on such a beloved franchise.

“It’s an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen,” Lucasfilm stated regarding the new film. Gosling expressed his lifelong affinity for the franchise, noting its influence on his childhood.

This year’s Celebration echoed a deeper cultural exchange, showcasing Japan’s significant influence on the Star Wars saga. Carol Choi of Disney highlighted how elements like Jedi were modeled on samurai, showcasing a rich narrative link that has informed both Star Wars and Japanese cinema since the franchise’s inception.

“Wherever you look, themes of honor, loyalty, and adventure show how intertwined our cultures have been for generations,” asserted Choi, showcasing the ongoing relationship between Star Wars and Japanese storytelling.

The next Star Wars Celebration will mark a historic return to Los Angeles, inviting fans to join in recognizing the franchise’s legacy and its continued evolution.