Celebration Basics - Getting the Most Out of Your Star Wars Celebration
Star Wars Celebration is heading back to Japan! With the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, the 10th anniversary of The Force Awakens, and The Mandalorian and Grogu just over a year away, not to mention Andor season 2 premiering just 2 (!) days after, it's a perfect time to be celebrating the galaxy we all love. Heading back to Tokyo for the first time in nearly two decades, Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 is set to offer three days filled with absolutely everything from the latest reveals to cosplay so good it could have come from the movie set, plus more collectibles than you could dream of.
This post is the big one. I could just do a Top 5 or Top 10 tips, but that would leave so much out. So this page is going to be crammed with pretty much everything I can think of that will help you get the most out of your Star Wars Celebration whether you're going for one day or the full weekend experience.
Make a Plan
The golden rule of any convention. Star Wars Celebration is massive, and even if you scored a VIP Jedi Master ticket (lucky!!) you simply can't do everything. So, as guests, panels, and exclusives are announced, start picking out your priorities.
Accept you can't do everything. I know that sucks, but if you try then you'll likely end up exhausted, frustrated and probably won't have a great time. Even Jedi Masters will have to wait in some lines and you'll always find two panels you'd love to see that clash.
The full schedule is normally released about two or three weeks before the show. Pick those one or two things that you simply have to do each day, whether it's Lucasfilm Showcase panel or meeting your childhood hero or heroine for an autograph, and plan around them. Use the bigger panels to your advantage. If you're not bothered by them, that could be the perfect time to grab an exclusive from the show store, hit the autograph hall or just grab a bite to eat.
Be realistic - the bigger panels and more popular guests will have longer lines. Pick a back up or two in case you can't achieve your first choice. Being prepared and having a realistic plan gives you the best head start you can get at Celebration. But be prepared to be flexible and go with the flow as well.
Which leads nicely to...
Be Flexible
Made your plan? Great! Now be prepared to throw it out.
Have back up options planned out in case your first choice doesn't work out. With three main stages, the Holonet News (podcast) stage, collector's track, and hundreds of exhibitors on the show floor there will always be something that takes your interest. If your first choice doesn't pan out, go with your second, or third, or just wherever the flow takes you.
And there's always a surprise waiting that can make you re-think your whole day! Like when they announced the incredible The Mandalorian Experience in Anaheim! Being flexible is key so don't sweat it if your plans get thrown out the minute you hit the show floor.
With Official Pix/Epic Photos returning to run the autograph area we know that autograph and photo op times slots will be movable (availability allowing). This is incredibly useful for fans, allowing people to move their autographs and photo ops (provided another slot is available) to best fit with the panels they want to see once the full schedule is revealed.
Premieres
Star Wars Celebration has been home to the season premieres for Rebels, Resistance, Tales of the Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even a mid-season episode of The Mandalorian! So don't be surprised if there's a premiere or two at Celebration Japan this year. After all, Andor season 2 is due to arrive on Disney+ just two days after Celebration. The timing couldn't be better! Whilst most trailers and clips are shared on the live stream, episode premieres are not so you'll definitely need to be in the room where they happen.
Look at the Live Stream Schedule
Whilst it's not confirmed that Star Wars Celebration LIVE! will be back for Celebration Japan, there's very good odds that it will be.
Since 2015 Celebration has been streamed live to fans all around the world, with the full schedule usually announced a few days before Celebration. So if two panels you want to see clash, have a look if either of them is being streamed. The live stream is normally made up of a selection of the big panels and celebrity Q&As from the Celebration and Galaxy stages, whilst the smaller panels from the Behind the Scenes and fan stages are often not streamed. Just keep in mind that some of the footage shown in the room may not be shared on the stream.
Another thing to be mindful of is that the more recent Celebrations have taken the decision to not stream the major opening panel of each day. I have no idea why they made this change, and in my opinion it is a massive mistake, but that is likely to again be the situation in Japan. These panels have been lottery winners only since Chicago but sometimes overflow queues are allowed, so get there early if you don't win the panel lottery and want the chance to get a seat.
Don't Miss the Smaller Panels
One thing I've learnt from multiple Celebrations. The smaller panels can have some of the best content and you won't get to view them on the live stream later. David Collins' The Music of... panels have been some of my favorites from recent Celebrations, and London's Animation Game Night was hilarious fun with the cast of The Clone Wars. It's well worth going through the schedule and prioritizing a few things that appeal to you that aren't the major events.
Exclusives Without Lottery Wins
The last two Celebrations have only featured exclusive lotteries for Funko and Loungefly (in Anaheim the lottery was split, in London it was one lottery for the booth). Previous events have required lotteries for Hasbro and LEGO, and Japan will have some unique vendors compared to past Celebrations, so there could be more, but it seems a safe bet that at least Funko and Loungefly with have an online lottery again for guaranteed access to their exclusives.
But, even if you don't win the lottery, you may still be able to score an exclusive. Whilst it's not guaranteed, many fans have successfully lined up later in the day and been able to buy the exclusives as vendors tend to have a little extra stock. The lottery win gives you chance to buy every exclusive from that vendor but not everyone who wins the lottery will want to buy one of everything so there tends to be some stock left over after the lottery winners have made their purchases each day. Just ask at the booth where the line is/what time the line opens for non-winners.
Use Lightspeed Lane for the Celebration Store
You may have heard horror stories about getting into the Celebration Store. In the words of Han Solo, "It's true, all of it." The wait time just to get into the store can easily be hours long, and can be capped if the store reaches capacity. But you don't have to wait in it!
Keep an eye out in the lead up to Celebration for Lightspeed Lane reservations. Grab one of these and you'll be able to select a time to enter the store with no queue, simple as that.
Sadly there's no pass for getting through the checkouts, so make sure you allow at least an hour for that.
Embrace the Line
This is a little different now that lotteries have replaced the over night line up for the major panels, but when you do find yourself waiting in line, try to enjoy the experience. Sure, no one pays thousands of dollars and travels across the country or flies around the world to stand in a line, but everyone here is a fan and some of your best memories of Celebration can come from just hanging out with other fans whilst waiting in line. Speaking from experience, I can say that the person next to you might just become a friend for life.
Star Wars Celebration is the only event of this size that is completely dedicated to one thing. Everyone you meet at Celebration is there because they love Star Wars. Share memories, share stories. Your line buddies could become your new best friends. Some of my favorite Celebration memories are from the over night line in 2016 and then reuniting with those friends at all the events since.
Free Flow
Unless you have to be first on the show floor to grab that exclusive or get as close as possible to the live stage for the first celebrity guests, you honestly don't need to line up from the early hours. People will be lining up from around 6am each morning (I know, I'm often one of them) but you don't need to. Yes, it is great to hang out with other fans and make new friends, and there's always a fantastic buzz in the air each morning before the show floor opens, but if you just want to get onto the show floor and don't want to wait in line then aim to get there a little after opening and you should be able to just walk straight in.
If You Can Afford It, Go for It
My advice on spending at Celebration will always be to focus on things you can only buy at Celebration. There's so many exclusives and, last day bargains aside, Celebration isn't the best place for picking up great deals on Star Wars merchandise.
Specifically though, I want to talk about autographs/photo ops. I tell this story every time I do this guide, and in my piece on budgeting for Celebration, but it bears repeating. In London 2016 I decided to get a photo op with Mark Hamill that year and get one with Carrie Fisher next time because I didn't think I could justify the expense of two photo ops at the time. Honestly, I had the money and I was just being overly cautious. In the grand scheme of what I spent at that Celebration I could have done the photo. Now I never can and it's something I will always regret.
I would never tell anyone to spend what they can't afford, nothing at Celebration is worth that, but if you can afford something, especially something like a photo op, then I would always advise going for it.
But also be aware that, generally speaking you will pay more at Celebration than you would at local conventions. So it's arguably best to focus on the guests who don't sign frequently or who don't normally attend conventions near you.
Pre-Order Where You Can
Ahead of the show you will be able to pre-order a selection of exclusives from autographs to pin badges. Whilst most of the merchandise will be available at the show, some popular guests and exclusives can sell out before hand. So if you have the chance to pre-order something you want ahead of time, go for it.
Prioritize Your Exclusives
Almost every Star Wars licensee will have at least one exclusive on offer at Celebration, and that's before we get to the Art Show and the Celebration Store! Some will have daily allocations whilst others may sell out on day one. They will be offered at multiple booths all over the show floor. You can only get in one line when the show floor opens each day so pick the ones that you want most and go for them. Pre-order if the option is available and keep an eye on social media so you can see if things have sold out. Good luck!
Watch Out for Unannounced Surprises
Sometimes Celebration can surprise you with unexpected guests and signings. In 2016 Sam Witwer was one of the special guests at the Rebels panel. He wasn't, as far as I can recall, an announced guest and certainly wasn't scheduled to be signing, but after the panel on Saturday he signed for the rest of the weekend. Gareth Edwards also had an unannounced signing in the Art Show area, signing a special Rouge One print. I believe the only announcement was on Twitter. The Mandalorian Experience was a surprise exhibit announced on the first day of Celebration Anaheim. It pays to keep an eye out and an ear to the ground whilst you're at Celebration, you never know who might pop up or where!
Bring a Poster Sleeve
It's a tradition for most of the major panels to give out posters at Celebration. These posters are normally pretty sturdy card stock that you won't want to bend in a poster tube so a plastic poster sleeve is the best way to protect them without having to take them back to your hotel or car after the panel. As a bonus you can also use it for any art prints, photo ops, and autographs too (just make sure you let the ink dry!).
These next bits of advice are a bit more generic but are still important for Celebration.
Study the Surrounding Area Before You Go
Find out the route from your hotel to the convention center before you go. Are you close enough to walk or do you need public transport? Are there grocery or convenience stores within walking distance of your hotel? If you're using public transport, where are your stops and what's the time table? What's good to eat around the convention center and around your hotel? Maybe even make a list of places you'd like to try before you go. Knowing all these little things in advance can really help take the stress out of your trip.
Bring Your Own Food and Water
Convention center food is over priced and staying hydrated is important, simple as that. Sure, you can leave and come back but bringing your own food and water means you don't have to. It saves you money and gives you more time to spend enjoying everything that Celebration has to offer.
Portable Chargers and Spare Batteries Are Essential
Whether it's for your phone, camera, or lightsaber, there's nothing worse than having that essential bit of kit die whilst you're out and about. Pixel blades look amazing but die fast, and chances are your phone will have your lottery wins, autograph/photo op codes, and Lightspeed Lane pass for the store, as well as serving as your camera and social media hub, so a good charger and spare batteries are essential to keep everything topped up during the day.
Backpack/Tote Bag and Poster Tube
It's nice to be hands free. In addition to holding your essentials, a decent backpack or tote bag should be able to hold whatever you're planning on buying as well, from shirts to action figures. A poster tube is generally a must if you're planning on buying art prints, along with a hard sleeve or file for autographs and photo ops to keep your pictures in perfect condition (you can see my full convention bag guide here).
Comfy Shoes and Clothing
It goes without saying, you'll be doing a lot of walking so comfy shoes are arguably the most essential thing to take with you. And if you're planning on getting new shoes make sure you have time to break them in before you go. In terms of clothes, Tokyo in April averages a pleasant 16℃/60.8℉ during the day but be prepared for it to get colder in the evenings. Again, comfort is a big thing as you'll be on the go a lot.
Hygiene
This one should go without saying. Personal hygiene is a must at any convention. Shower, use deodorant/antiperspirant, and have fresh clothes every day. You'll feel better and the people around you will definitely thank you for it. Breath mints or gum can help you feel fresh throughout the day. Hand sanitizers are also recommended, you'll be coming into contact with a LOT of people and sadly not all of them will have good hygiene.
Always Ask Permission Before Taking Photos with Cosplayers
Pretty straight forward this one. Cosplay is not consent and if Japan is anything like previous Celebrations there will be signs everywhere helping to enforce this. Be polite, be respectful. The vast majority of cosplayers will be more than happy to pose and take pictures with you, but just remember that, like you, they might be rushing to that panel that they really want to see.
Take Cash
Not all vendors will take cards and ATMs inside the convention center will most likely charge high fees for withdrawals.
Stay Vigilant
Whilst the vast majority of people at Celebration are there for the love of Star Wars, there's sadly always going to be some scum and villainy in attendance. Keep a close eye on your money, phone, and any other valuables whilst you're enjoying the convention.
A Second Suitcase?
If you're planning on buying a lot then consider bringing a second suitcase to get all your purchases home. Alternatively, you could also post your stuff home. Check out if your baggage allowance includes a second case, or, if your airline charges for a second case, get the cost and compare it with the shipping rates to see what's best for you.
Make a Note of Booth Numbers
The show floor is massive. If you see something you think you might want to come back to later, make sure you make a note of the booth name and number. It will save you having to hunt around for it later.
Last Minute Deals
Whilst you'll want to get most of your Celebration exclusives picked up as quickly as possible, try leaving any none-exclusives until Sunday. A lot of dealers would rather lower their prices than have to pack stuff up and ship it back home. Just be mindful that whatever it is may sell out, so it's a balancing act.
If you've made it this far, congratulations (and thank you!). One last bit of advice before you go:
Concentrate on the Moment
As Qui-Gon says, be mindful of the here and now. Three days may seem like this epic, long event, but I promise it will be over before you know it. Celebration is full of so many amazing and wonderful distractions that it can be overwhelming. There's always something to see and do. So as you race from panel to panel, every now and then just try to step back and enjoy the moment. Take in the atmosphere of being surrounded by thousands of others who share your passion for Star Wars. It's an amazing feeling.
May the Force be with you.
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