By George & Josh Bate
With 2025 at an end, we’re looking ahead to the new year to see what Star Wars projects and events we’re most looking forward to. And, rest assurred, The Mandalorian and Grogu is far from the only Star Wars project that should get you excited for what’s to come from a galaxy far, far away in 2026.
Here our Top 10 Most Anticipated Star Wars Projects and Events of 2026….
10. Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Recently announced at The Game Awards, Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an upcoming racing game from Fuse Games and Lucasfilm Games. Set during the New Republic era, the game follows a new character named Shade as he navigates The Galactic League, an unsanctioned racing circuit where syndicates bankroll chaos and champions are forged. Based on the first trailer and the fact that the game is developed by people involved in Need for Speed and Burnout, Galactic Racer is our most anticipated Star Wars video game of 2026. The variety of locations look incredible and the prospect of awesome multiplayer gameplay has us excited to compete with others in a variety of exciting races.
9. The Secrets of the Sith: The Chronicles of Emperor Palpatine
In 2021, Insight Editions and author Mark Sumerak published The Secrets of the Sith, an in-universe historical account of the Sith narrated by Sheev Palpatine. In 2026, an updated version of the book hits shelves, featuring new content from recent TV shows, publishing, and films. If you’re familiar with the original publication, you’ll know that it’s a fascinating read, in part due to being (at least to our knowledge) the only piece of Star Wars media told from the first-person perspective of Palpatine. The illustrations are gorgeous and, if the updated version is anything like its predecessor, there are bound to be tons of interesting tidbits and revelations about the Sith in this new release.
8. Shadow of Maul
Aligned with the release of the new animated series Maul – Shadow Lord, a new comic series focused on the Sith lord turned crime lord arrives this March. Taking place between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Shadow of Maul serves as a prequel to Maul – Shadow Lord that will “reveal Maul’s plan to rebuild his criminal syndicate on Janix, a planet untouched by the empire.” As the new Disney+ series is one of our most anticipated Star Wars releases of 2026, the prospect of setting up the story of the show with a prequel comic has us even more excited. We’ve also loved when Star Wars has featured tie-in media for its mainstream projects, something that recent Disney+ shows haven’t always featured. Thankfully, Lucasfilm seems to be changing course in this regard as they make 2026 the year of Maul.
7. Legacy
Taking place between the events of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, this new adult novel focuses on Rey’s training under the guidance of her Jedi Master Leia. From author Madeleine Roux, Legacy will explain how Rey repairs the legendary Skywalker lightsaber and will have her visit Tython, the site of one of the earliest Jedi temples that first appeared in Legends before making its canon debut in The Mandalorian Season 2. As unabashed sequel trilogy fans, we can’t wait to see a deeper exploration of the relationship between Rey and Leia, which will hopefully enhance the quality of Episode IX retrospectively.
6. Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss
The winner of our Star Wars Award for Best Star Wars Novel of 2025 receives a sequel that will release in 2026. Reign of the Empire: Edge of the Abyss will follow the events of Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear, a novel we described in our review as Andor Season 0, by further exploring the rise of the rebellion from the perspectives of Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, Bail Organa, and other key rebel figures. Like its predecessor, Edge of the Abyss will likely feature the same kind of refined, sophisticated, and grounded political thriller writing that made Andor such a stand-out series and, in turn, The Mask of Fear such a fitting companion piece to the award-winning Disney+ show. Author Rebecca Roanhorse previously penned Resistance Reborn, a terrific novel that explored the time period between Episodes VII and IX, which makes us even more excited to see what this new book has in store.
5. Star Wars Visions Presents: The Ninth Jedi
Officially announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan, Star Wars Visions Presents: The Ninth Jedi is a spin-off series that continues the story of The Ninth Jedi. The original short from Production IG and writer/director Kenji Kamiyama featured gorgeous animation and one of the best plot twists in Star Wars history, before spawning a sequel that debuted as part of Visions: Volume 3 in 2025. This new spin-off series will be solely dedicated to continuing the story of Lah Kara and her Jedi companions and, as hinted at during Celebration Japan 2025, serve as the first of several spin-off series continuing beloved stories from Star Wars Visions.
4. D23 Expo 2026
Ever since Disney acquiried Lucasfilm, D23 has become a key event for fans of a galaxy far, far away. With star-studded panels showcasing what Disney has in store, D23 2026 will likely feature our first official look at Star Wars: Starfighter, given that the new Star Wars movie hits theaters nine months after the convention. Depending on the release schedule, D23 may also include a look at Ahsoka Season 2 and possibly reveal other previously unannounced Star Wars projects in the works.
3. Ahsoka Season 2
We’re still including Ahsoka Season 2 on this list, despite the show’s conspicious absence from Disney’s official slate fo 2026. The new season promises to go grander than ever, as Dave Filoni previewed an all-out war between Thrawn’s forces and the New Republic. We’re fascinated to see how Rory McCann takes over the role of Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson, and how the season presumably will set up Dave Filoni’s crossover movie, which we highly suspect will be a loose adaptation of Heir to the Empire. To top it all off, Hayden Christensen will play a more significant role this season, Ezra and Sabine are back, and Rosario Dawson has said that Ahsoka will experience more joy and emotional range in the new episodes.
2. Maul – Shadow Lord
When Maul – Shadow Lord was announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, our jaws (and the jaws of everyone in the packed crowd) dropped to the floor. The reveal trailer previewed a seedy, gritty crime show that would fill in the gaps of Maul’s storied history. While Sam Witwer’s character has featured in a variety of stories over the years, he has yet to be the focal point as will be here. Everything Witwer has said about the show so far has only increased our anticipation, including how it will explore Maul’s feelings toward Palpatine and why he remained loyal to him despite the treachery. The trailer also suggests that Maul will take on a new apprentice, who looks suspiciously like Darth Talon from Legends, thus suggesting the new show may integrate elements from the EU (and even Geroge Lucas’ original plans for the sequel trilogy) into the show. We suspect that Maul – Shadow Lord will be the first Star Wars show to debut in 2026, which is hreat news as it can’t come soon enough.
1. The Mandalorian and Grogu
Perhaps the obvious answer to most people’s most anticipated Star Wars project of 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu easily tops our list. The first new Star Wars movie in 7 years menas we’ll get to see a galaxy far, far away return to its original home – on the big screen. Formatted for IMAX, Jon Favreau’s film will seemingly amplify the stakes, scale, and scopee of the hit Dnsey+ show by crafting a new adventure fitting for this new medium. While some have lodged complaints about the mndaity of the film’s first publicly released trailer, our hopes remain high for the film, especially after as far superior and more visually stunning trailers dropped at D23 2024 and Celebration Japan 2025. We’re excited to see Rotta the Hutt return, now as a gladiator fighting against all manner of creatures. We’re also looking forward to seeing sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver make her Star Wars debut. Celebration Japan 2025 seemingly confirmed that Pedro Pascal will appear unmasked in the movie, a smart move considering Season 3’s perplexing decision to keep him concealed for the entiety of its eight epsodes. And, finally, The Mandalrian and Grogu will likely dive into more about the Imperial Remnant’s attempts to resurrect the Empire, and possibet the stage for Dave Fioni’s big crossover movie to come. Collectively, all of this has us eager to see what Jon Favreau and company have in store when the moive hits theaters in May 2026.