Last updated on January 10, 2026
After 2025’s subdued pace – highlighted solely by Andor Season 2’s gritty intrigue – the Star Wars galaxy revs up hard for 2026. Expect a theatrical live-action blockbuster, key Disney+ drops, arcade racers, novels, comics, and toys flooding shelves. This slate signals Disney/Lucasfilm’s push to reclaim momentum, blending Mando-verse bounty hunts with Thrawn threats and podrace nostalgia. Fans gear up for a content surge echoing pre-Sequel Trilogy highs.
Theatrical Comeback Kicks Off
Cinema absences since The Rise of Skywalker (2019) stemmed from mixed fan reactions, but 2026 flips the script with proven crowd-pleasers. Jon Favreau directs the charge, scaling TV triumphs to IMAX scale.
Mandalorian & Grogu Hits May 22
Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu snag a high-stakes New Republic gig, clashing Imperial holdouts and shady operators in classic bounty chaos. Sigourney Weaver joins as Colonel Ward, a Republic operative; Jonny Coyne as Imperial warlord; Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt. Expect Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff), Fennec (Ming-Na Wen), and Armorer (Emily Swallow) cameos. Can it pack theaters amid streaming dominance and Season 3 backlash? May 22 tests box office pull.
Starfighter Trailer Tease, OT Remasters Loom
Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter wraps filming – trailers likely by Star Wars Day (May 4). Original trilogy classic cuts (pre-Special Edition) eye 2027 theaters, but 2026 promo art hypes restorations.
Disney+ Slate: Quality Over Quantity
Streaming slows from binge eras, prioritizing tentpoles tying Mandalorian movie and Dave Filoni arcs.
Ahsoka Season 2 Builds Thrawn War
Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka and Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) stranded Peridea-side, Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) rallies remnants against New Republic. Eight episodes from Filoni reunite Hera, Ezra, Anakin (Hayden Christensen); Rory McCann recasts Baylan Skoll post-Ray Stevenson. Wrapped September 2025, late 2026 drop sets Filoni film stage.
Maul: Shadow Lord Animated Grit
Clone Wars spinoff tracks Maul (Sam Witwer) rebuilding syndicates post-Republic fall, bridging to Solo. Filoni exec produces this Empire dawn crime saga.
Visions: The Ninth Jedi Miniseries
Expands 2021 short’s dark Jedi hunt – standalone arcs blending Visions anime flair with canon-adjacent lore.
Gaming Revives Podracing Glory
Post-Outlaws DLC lull, 2026 races ahead.
Galactic Racer Channels Episode I Nostalgia
Fuse Games (ex-Criterion devs) crafts arcade podracer successor to Racer/Revenge. Galaxy-spanning tourneys, branching tracks, unlocks, PvP, customizable sleds – Sebulba returns? PC/PS5/Xbox sometime 2026. Run-based risks amp tension.
Zero Company Tactics, KOTOR Echoes
Bit Reactor/Respawn’s Clone Wars merc squad tactics. Fate of the Old Republic TGA tease hints remake updates.
Comics Pause, Novels Thrive
Marvel comics wind down: Alex Segura’s post-ROTJ saga ends #10; Legacy of Vader #12 January. Prequels like Shadow of Maul (Shadow Lord tie-in), Jar Jar one-shot (Ahmed Best co-write).
Novels pack punch:
- Legacy (Jul 28, Madeleine Roux) – Leia’s Rey training.
- Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss (Fall, Rebecca Roanhorse) – Rebel origins sequel.
- Eyes Like Stars (Summer) – YA First Order romance.
Art books: Andor/Acolyte (Jan/May), Mandalorian & Grogu (Apr). Kid titles: Grogu board books, Funko coloring.
Toys Fuel Hype Wave 1
LEGO drops Jan 1: BB-8, Venator/AT-AT mids, Mando/Grogu speeder, Cobb Vanth bike, Clone mech, Mandalore pack.
2026 positions Star Wars for dominance – cinema spectacle, saga threads, racing thrills, deep reads. Galaxy far, far away feels alive again.
