SDCC 2026 : Lucasfilm Pavilion puts The Mandalorian and Grogu center stage

At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, the Lucasfilm Pavilion turned Booth #2913 into one of the Exhibit Hall's most tangible journeys into a galaxy far, far away. Instead of relying on one giant surprise announcement, Lucasfilm placed the physical craft of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu directly in front of fans. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film opened in the United States on May 22, after a May 20 launch in France, and reached U.S. digital platforms on July 21, immediately before Comic-Con. Visitors were therefore examining objects from a theatrical adventure that had only just entered its home-entertainment life.

The centerpiece paired Din Djarin with Grogu, displaying the Mandalorian's screen-used armor beside his young apprentice. It created an unusually direct look at materials and construction normally filtered through lighting, editing and visual effects. Pedro Pascal plays Din Djarin in the film, which also stars Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward, while Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt. Lucasfilm places the story in the New Republic era.

Tiny droidsmiths meet a full-size Imperial walker

Among the pavilion's most distinctive installations was the Anzellan starship with all four Anzellan droidsmiths responsible for maintaining the tiny transport. The display made scale part of the attraction: a compact spacecraft engineered around its miniature crew could be studied from only a few feet away. On the other end of the spectrum stood a full-size AT-RT with an Imperial Remnant AT-RT Pilot at the controls, giving the booth an imposing piece of military hardware and a dramatic counterpoint to the Anzellans and Grogu.

A Rotta the Hutt maquette and a gallery of concept art completed the production-focused presentation. The mix of finished props and developmental imagery emphasized the film's practical and digital craft. The forthcoming The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu extends that idea: written by Phil Szostak, with a foreword by Doug Chiang, the 256-page Abrams Books volume is scheduled for November 3, 2026 and will collect concept art, sketches and interviews devoted to the film's characters, locations and vehicles.

Star Wars exclusives turn Booth #2913 into a retail destination

The pavilion was also a merchandising hub. Spirit Jersey brought three Star Wars designs to Booth #2913: the Jar Jar Binks Original Crew Neck Spirit Jersey, Cal Kestis Mineral Wash Crew Neck Spirit Jersey and Mandalorian Helmet Crystal Dye Crew Neck Spirit Jersey. The latter was promoted as a traveling convention exclusive, while the selection deliberately crossed several eras of Star Wars rather than focusing exclusively on the new film.

Heroes & Villains, Bioworld Merchandising's lifestyle brand, also operated inside the Lucasfilm Pavilion in addition to its main Booth #2329. Its selection included The Mandalorian and Grogu apparel, SDCC-exclusive enamel pins and a Grogu Hugging Anzellan Comfort Tee offered on the convention floor. The Anzellans' prominence across props and merchandise gave the film's smallest characters an outsized presence.
High-end collecting had its own place in Lucasfilm's programming. A panel featuring Brian Merten included Sideshow previews for Lando Calrissian, Darth Malgus and Queen Amidala, while Sideshow and Hot Toys displayed further Star Wars pieces at Booth #2401.

Publishing announcements expand the galaxy beyond the show floor

On July 24, the official Lucasfilm Publishing panel gathered Ahmed Best, Anthony Breznican, Ashley Poston, Kiersten White and Lucasfilm Publishing Creative Director Michael Siglain, with Kristin Baver moderating. One of its headline announcements was Star Wars: Twin Crossroads, a new adult novel by Beth Revis in which Luke Skywalker begins training his twin sister Leia Organa. The panel also highlighted the middle-grade horror novel Hiding from the Dark by Kiersten White and the young-adult romance Eyes Like Stars by Ashley Poston, taking Star Wars into genres the publisher described as new territory for the franchise.
Ahmed Best, known for playing Jar Jar Binks and also a Star Wars comics writer, was named an ambassador for Star Wars Reads. Looking toward the franchise's 50th anniversary in 2027, Lucasfilm also confirmed unabridged original-trilogy audiobooks narrated by Marc Thompson.

Cosplay completes the Lucasfilm Pavilion experience

Lucasfilm also spotlighted fan cosplay around the pavilion, including interpretations of Grand Admiral Thrawn, Captain Enoch, Embo, Baylan Skoll, Padmé Amidala, Hera Syndulla, Sabine Wren, Ahsoka Tano, Din Djarin and Captain Rex, plus an ambitious Rancor. That fan craftsmanship created a fitting dialogue with the production artifacts nearby: professionally fabricated screen pieces and costumes made by attendees shared the same crowded convention floor.

Comic-Con International ran July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center after Preview Night on July 22, with the venue listing anticipated attendance of 135,000. In that environment, Booth #2913 worked as a destination rather than simply a promotional stop. Its Anzellan starship, four droidsmiths, AT-RT, screen-used Mandalorian armor, Grogu, Rotta the Hutt maquette and concept art gave visitors something trailers cannot reproduce: physical proximity to the objects and design work behind the finished images.

The Mandalorian and Grogu continues after Comic-Con

The pavilion also bridged theatrical and home viewing. The film reached U.S. digital platforms July 21 and 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on August 25, with behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentary by Jon Favreau. Disney+ streaming begins September 2.

Ultimately, Lucasfilm made craftsmanship the attraction. The Anzellan ship rewarded close inspection, the AT-RT supplied scale, the armor connected visitors directly with Din Djarin, and the concept art exposed the ideas behind the finished film. Combined with exclusive apparel, premium collectibles, publishing news and a steady flow of cosplay, Booth #2913 became a compact picture of how Star Wars lives at Comic-Con across movies, books, objects, costumes and fandom.

Event recap

Where : Lucasfilm Pavilion, Booth #2913, San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Drive, San Diego, California, USA.
When : July 23-26, 2026, with Preview Night on July 22. The Lucasfilm Publishing panel took place July 24, and Lucasfilm published its official pavilion feature on July 25.
What : A Star Wars showcase centered on The Mandalorian and Grogu, featuring screen-used armor, Grogu, the Anzellan starship with four droidsmiths, a full-size AT-RT, a Rotta the Hutt maquette, concept art, licensed apparel, convention exclusives, collectibles, publishing announcements and fan cosplay.

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Photos and video 4K : Boris Colletier / Mulderville