When is Star Wars Day?
Star Wars Day 2027 is on Tuesday
Tuesday, May 4, 2027
May 4 every year. That's in 212 days.
until Star Wars Day begins, in your time zone
Star Wars Day is a fan celebration of the Star Wars saga, built on the pun "May the Fourth be with you," a play on the films' blessing "May the Force be with you." It grew from fans, not from a studio announcement.
About Star Wars Day
On Star Wars Day, fans rewatch the films and series, wear costumes, run trivia nights and greet each other with the pun that gives the day its name. Schools, libraries and fan clubs use the date for themed activities, and it gives people a shared excuse to talk about a story that began with George Lucas's 1977 film and has since spread across sequels, prequels, animation, books and games.
No single person or organization founded the day. StarWars.com describes it as a grassroots tradition with no official start year. The earliest widely cited use of the pun on May 4 comes from Britain: on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher became prime minister, a half-page advertisement in the London Evening News congratulated her with the line. Lucasfilm also notes that American newspaper writers had used a version of the joke for the Fourth of July in 1978, and that sound designer Randy Thom came up with the May 4 pun on his own in 1982 while working on the film that became Return of the Jedi.
Once the internet let fans find each other, May 4 turned into a yearly event with parties, screenings and online posts. Lucasfilm did not create it, but it began helping sponsor and promote fan events around 2011 and now marks the date on its official channels. The day is not a public holiday anywhere; it is a piece of pop culture that fans keep going themselves.
Sources: StarWars.com: The History of May the 4th, StarWars.com: May the 4th Be With You, A Cultural History. How we check dates.
How to mark Star Wars Day
- Host a viewing night for one of the films or series and let guests vote on which to watch.
- Greet friends and coworkers with "May the Fourth be with you" and see who has a reply ready.
- Run a Star Wars trivia quiz or costume contest for your family, class or club.
- Ask your local library about Star Wars novels, comics or fan events you can borrow or join for free.
- Make something inspired by the saga, such as fan art, a short story or a starship model built from household materials.
Star Wars Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, May 4, 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday, May 4, 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, May 4, 2027 |
| 2028 | Thursday, May 4, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, May 4, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, May 4, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, May 4, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Star Wars Day 2027?
Star Wars Day 2027 is on Tuesday, May 4, 2027. It falls on May 4 every year. In 2028, it is on Thursday, May 4, 2028.
Why is Star Wars Day on May 4?
"May the Fourth" sounds like "May the Force," the well-known blessing from the films. The pun was in use by 1979, and fans gradually turned the date into an annual celebration.
Did Lucasfilm create Star Wars Day?
No. Lucasfilm says the day has no single origin and grew from fans, although the company has supported and promoted it since about 2011.
Is Star Wars Day a public holiday?
No. Star Wars Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.