Celebration


Celebration, a series of Star Wars fan conventions, receives sponsorship from Lucasfilm Ltd.. These Star Wars Celebrations have occurred sporadically since the year 1999.

Celebration[] Prior to the premiere of The Phantom Menace in 1999, Celebration took place. Specifically, it was hosted in Denver, Colorado.

Celebration II[] Ahead of the release of Attack of the Clones in 2002, Celebration II was organized. Its duration spanned from May 3 to May 5 of 2002, and it was situated in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Celebration III[] To commemorate the debut of Revenge of the Sith, Celebration III was arranged. It was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, running from April 21 to April 24 in 2005.

Celebration IV[] The 30th anniversary of Star Wars was the reason for Celebration IV. It took place in Los Angeles, California from May 24 to May 28 of 2007.

Celebration Europe[] To observe the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, Celebration Europe was convened in London, United Kingdom. Notably, it marked the first time a Celebration was held outside of the United States. It occurred from July 13 to July 15, 2007.

Celebration Japan[] From July 19 to July 21, 2008, Celebration Japan was hosted at the Makuhari-Messe Convention Center located near Tokyo. This was the first Celebration to occur in Japan. Its purpose was to commemorate three decades since the premiere of A New Hope, the original Star Wars movie, in Japan on June 24, 1978.

Celebration V[] The 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back was the focus of Celebration V, which was held in Orlando, Florida from August 12 to August 15 of 2010.

Celebration VI[] Celebration VI took place from August 23 to August 26, 2012, marking a return to Orlando, Florida.

Celebration Europe II[] Essen, Germany, hosted Celebration Europe II from July 26 to July 28, 2013, representing its inaugural occurrence in that nation.

Celebration Anaheim[] Celebration Anaheim was hosted in Anaheim, California, spanning from April 16 to April 19 of 2015. This timing coincided with the theatrical release of the second trailer for Episode VII The Force Awakens.

Celebration Europe (2016)[] Carrie-and-Gary-Fishers Carrie Fisher and her pet dog Gary at Celebration 2016 Celebration London happened in London, United Kingdom, from July 15 to July 17 in 2016.

Celebration Orlando[] Lucasfilm made the announcement regarding Celebration 2017 on May 4, 2016. This event was subsequently held in Orlando, Florida, spanning from April 13 to April 16 of 2017.

Celebration Chicago[] On March 8, 2017, Lucasfilm revealed the plans for Celebration 2019. This event materialized in Chicago, Illinois, running from April 11 to April 15 in 2019.

Celebration Anaheim (2022)[] Lucasfilm declared Celebration 2020 on April 15, 2019. It was intended to occur once more in Anaheim, California, during 2020. However, it faced cancellation due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and was then rescheduled to the same venue in August of 2022. Despite the in-person cancellation, the 2020 art show proceeded online. Later, on May 12, 2021, StarWars.com communicated that the Celebration's dates were being moved up from August to May 26 through May 29, 2022.

Celebration Europe (2023)[] Lucasfilm made public the details of Celebration 2023 on May 29, 2022. The event was eventually held in London, United Kingdom, from April 7 to April 10 of 2023.

Celebration Japan (2025)[] StarWars.com announced on February 21, 2023, that a celebration is planned for 2025.

Celebration

Celebration occurred prior to the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999. The location of the convention was Denver, Colorado.

Celebration II

Before the debut of Attack of the Clones in 2002, Celebration II was organized. It took place in Indianapolis, Indiana from May 3 to May 5 of 2002.

Celebration III

Celebration III was held in order to celebrate the release of Revenge of the Sith. Its duration spanned from April 21 to April 24 of 2005, and it was hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Celebration IV

To commemorate three decades of Star Wars, Celebration IV was organized. It was held in Los Angeles, California from May 24 to May 28, 2007.

Celebration Europe

Celebration Europe was hosted in London, United Kingdom to mark 30 years of Star Wars. This was the first Celebration event to take place outside of the United States. It spanned from July 13 to July 15 of 2007.

Celebration Japan

The Makuhari-Messe Convention Center, near Tokyo, was the venue for Celebration Japan from July 19 to July 21, 2008. This marked the first Celebration held in Japan. The purpose was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of A New Hope, the original Star Wars film, which premiered in Japan on June 24, 1978.

Celebration V

In Orlando, Florida, Celebration V was held from August 12 to August 15 of 2010, commemorating 30 years since the release of The Empire Strikes Back.

Celebration VI

Orlando, Florida, once again played host to Celebration VI, which took place from August 23 to August 26 of 2012.

Celebration Europe II

From July 26 to July 28 of 2013, Celebration Europe II was held. For the first time, it was located in Essen, Germany.

Celebration Anaheim

Celebration Anaheim occurred in Anaheim, California, from April 16 to April 19 of 2015, aligning with the release of the second trailer for Episode VII The Force Awakens in theaters.

Celebration Europe (2016)

Carrie Fisher and her pet dog Gary at Celebration 2016

Celebration London took place in London, United Kingdom, from July 15 through July 17 of 2016.

Celebration Orlando

Lucasfilm announced Celebration 2017 on May 4 of 2016. It was subsequently held in Orlando, Florida, spanning from April 13 through April 16 of 2017.

Celebration Chicago

On March 8 of 2017, Lucasfilm made public the plans for Celebration 2019. It was held in Chicago, Illinois, from April 11 through April 15 of 2019.

Celebration Anaheim (2022)

Lucasfilm announced Celebration 2020 on April 15, 2019. It was originally intended to occur again in Anaheim, California, during 2020. However, it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled for the same location in August of 2022. The 2020 art show was still held online. On May 12 of 2021, StarWars.com announced that the Celebration was being moved up from August to May 26 through May 29 of 2022.

Celebration Europe (2023)

Lucasfilm announced Celebration 2023 on May 29, 2022. It took place in London, United Kingdom, from April 7 through April 10 of 2023.

Celebration Japan (2025)

StarWars.com announced on February 21 of 2023 that a celebration is scheduled for 2025.

An Online Revelry: May the 4th Be With You and Revenge of the 5th

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization that sponsors Celebrations presented an online exhibition of Star Wars events on May 4 and 5, 2020.

Sources

Notes and references

  • Home page on the Star Wars Celebration official Star Wars Celebration website (backup link)

Appearances