Star Wars Day

About the event

May the Fourth be with you. The fourth of May is the unofficial, yet globally recognized, Star Wars Day, built on a pun: “May the Fourth” sounds like “May the Force”. The holiday grew from the fans upward — not from the studio — and since 2013 it has been officially supported by Disney and Lucasfilm. The first organized celebration took place in Toronto in 2011: a quiz on the original trilogy, a costume contest, and a screening of the best fan films.

Where the phrase came from

The earliest recorded use of the pun dates back to May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Conservative Party published a congratulatory ad in The London Evening News that read: “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie.” In 1994, MP Harry Cohen used the phrase in a parliamentary defense debate, saying that May 4 was the perfect date for a Star Wars day. Fans picked it up — and the rest is history.

What’s happening in 2026

It is a packed year:

“Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord” is a new series that premiered on April 6, with its finale landing exactly on May 4. Disney built the perfect countdown.

Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland is receiving a major original-trilogy-themed update: starting April 29, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia appear on the planet Batuu.

Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite brings special evening events on April 28 and 30, and May 4 and 6.

Merch 2026 is centered on The Mandalorian and Grogu ahead of the film “The Mandalorian & Grogu.” The collection launches on April 4, and every Friday until May 4 brings a new drop: Endor, stormtroopers, pod racing.

And the next day comes May 5, Revenge of the Fifth — the unofficial Dark Side day, playing on the title “Revenge of the Sith.”

The galaxy in numbers

• $9.5 million — the budget of the first 1977 film. No one believed it would succeed.
• $4 billion — what Disney paid for Lucasfilm in 2012.
• $10+ billion — the total box office of all films in the franchise.
• May 25, 1977 — the premiere of A New Hope. A date that changed Hollywood forever.
• 12 films, 15+ series — and that is only the canonical universe.

Five facts for Star Wars Day

• Yoda spoke “backwards” because of George Lucas’s linguistic decision — the OSV word order (object–subject–verb) exists in only a few languages worldwide, which makes Yoda’s speech feel both alien and poetic.
• Star Wars character coins are legal tender on the Pacific island of Niue. The series was issued by the New Zealand Mint in 2011.
• Carrie Fisher received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 4, 2023 — on Star Wars Day.
• The lightsaber sound is a blend of a film projector hum and television interference, recorded by sound designer Ben Burtt.
• Dune as the grandfather. Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel is considered one of Lucas’s major inspirations: the desert planet, the Chosen One, galactic politics — the parallels are clear.

What to gift a fan?

• A lightsaber replica — from affordable versions to collector models with glowing blades and sound effects. A gift no age group can resist.
• LEGO Star Wars — from the 7,541-piece Millennium Falcon to mini sets. Meditation for the hands.
• A collectible figure — Hot Toys, Hasbro Black Series, or Funko Pop. Grogu in any form is a guaranteed win.
• A Disney+ subscription — all films, series, and animation in one place.
• A May the 4th T-shirt or hoodie — Disney releases exclusive merch every year.
• A Death Star waffle maker — yes, it exists. And yes, it makes the best breakfast in the galaxy.