May the 4th Be With You 2026: Everything Happening in the Star Wars Galaxy Today
Every May 4th, fans around the world exchange the pun-turned-rallying-cry 'May the Fourth be with you', a play on the franchise's iconic phrase, 'May the Force be with you.' The date has been embraced by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company as an annual celebration of Star Wars. And this year, there's a lot to celebrate. With a major streaming finale dropping today, a long-awaited theatrical film just 18 days away, and one of the biggest deal slates the franchise has ever produced, Star Wars Day 2026 is arguably the most packed one yet. Here's everything you need to know.
Maul – Shadow Lord Drops Its Season Finale TODAY on Disney+
If you have Disney+, your plans are already made. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, the animated series produced by Lucasfilm Animation, the same team behind The Clone Wars and Rebels, has its season finale dropping fittingly on Star Wars Day, May 4, 2026.
The 10-episode first season premiered on April 6, with two episodes releasing each week. Created by Dave Filoni, the show follows former Sith lord Maul as he rebuilds his criminal syndicate and seeks a new apprentice on the planet Janix during the reign of the Galactic Empire.
The final two episodes, Chapters 9 and 10, are titled 'Strange Allies' and 'Finale.' The tension heading in is high. Maul has faced a significant setback after many of his Mandalorian troops defected, and he remains in a difficult position against the Inquisitor Marrok while Imperial forces close in on Janix.
The series has earned strong reviews, with critics praising its dark, stylized animation. Jordan King of Empiredescribed the animation as 'gorgeously rendered,' positively comparing it to the final season of The Clone Wars, while Sarah El-Mahmoud at CinemaBlendsaid the quality was a notable step forward from prior animated entries.
Good news for fans already hooked: a second season of Maul – Shadow Lord has already been confirmed.
Where to watch: Disney+ - Episodes 9 & 10 are live now.
The First Star Wars Movie in 7 Years Is Almost Here
Today is also the perfect day to buy your tickets, because Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters on May 22, ending a seven-year absence of Star Wars from the big screen. The Rise of Skywalker was last released in 2019.
Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin alongside Sigourney Weaver andJeremy Allen White. Set after the fall of the Empire, Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the fledgling New Republic to rescue Rotta the Hutt in exchange for crucial information on a target.
Filoni described the film as a 'big celebration' of the title characters, while Favreau has said newcomers don't need to have seen the Disney+ series to enjoy it, calling the approach 'like season one, episode one' for any first-timer to the franchise.
The film is the first in a new slate of Star Wars theatrical releases. Future projects already in development include Star Wars: Starfighter, set decades later, along with possible films centered on Daisy Ridley's Rey and a Filoni-directed feature.
Get tickets:Fandango | StarWars.com
Disneyland Is Going All-Out Today
If you're anywhere near Anaheim, today is one of the best days of the year to visit. Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite has four separate event dates this season, including May 4, featuring themed entertainment, treats, character encounters, and special fan experiences.
Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge has also begun major original-trilogy updates, with Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa now appearing on Batuu. If you haven't been since those updates dropped on April 29, today is the day to see it.
Related: This Star Wars Toy Just Sold for $1.34 Million
The Best Star Wars Day Deals to Shop Right Now
May the 4th has also become one of the best shopping days of the year for Star Wars fans. Here are the highlights:
LEGO
The flagship release this year is the 1,809-piece UCS Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter set at $249.99, featuring Mando and Grogu minifigures and a printed display plaque. LEGO Insiders got early access starting May 1, with general availability today. The event runs through May 6. Free gifts-with-purchase include the Darksaber (40917) with $160+ Star Wars purchases and the Razor Crest polybag with $40+ purchases. LEGO stores are also running free in-store Make & Take events through today.
Games
Xbox is running a 2026 Star Wars game sale with up to 80% off titles. On GOG, 26 Star Wars games are discounted up to 75% off, including Knights of the Old Republic titles for $2.49 each.
Disney Store
Disney Store's LEGO Star Wars sale includes 20% off a wide range of sets, including the UCS Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser and the Millennium Falcon, through May 11 or while stocks last. They are also offering specific May the 4th items.
Action Figures
Hasbro is offering a variety of new action figures today via its Hasbro Pulse platform. These include figures from The Vintage Collection and the Black Series, and include characters such as Anakin Skywalker, Bodhi Rook, Geonosian Warriors, Plo Koon, Asajj Ventress, Clone Commander Doom, and Luuke (that's not a misspelling, its a cloned version of Luke from the Expanded Universe).
Merch
StarWars.com has also revealed a lineup of new merchandise, including a film-inspired Darth Vader mini helmet, a Captain Rex mini helmet, and Grogu-inspired themed coffees with notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel.
What to Watch Today: The Full Star Wars Streaming Guide
Whether you want to prep for the Mandalorian and Grogu film or just dive into a galaxy far, far away, here's your May the 4th watchlist:
- New today:Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, Episodes 9 & 10 (Disney+) - watch here
- Catch up:Maul – Shadow Lord Episodes 1–8 (Disney+)
- Prep for the movie:The Mandalorian Seasons 1–3 (Disney+) - get tickets for the film
- The classics: The complete Skywalker Saga - all nine films streaming on Disney+
- Fan favorites:The Bad Batch, Ahsoka, Andor (Disney+)
The Bottom Line
The Star Wars franchise that started it all turns 50 in 2027, and this May the 4th feels like a fitting start to the celebration. With a beloved villain getting his finale today, the franchise's biggest theatrical moment in seven years on the horizon, fun collaborations, one of the deepest deal slates in the holiday's history, there's never been a better time to say it...
May the Fourth be with you!
(Specifically, all May 4th birthdays!)
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 4:13 AM.