University of Leicester set to host conference marking 50 years of Star Wars
The massive cultural impact of Star Wars will come under the spotlight at a University of Leicester conference marking the franchise’s 50th anniversary.
Organised by the University of Leicester and the Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space, the conference will bring together scholars, researchers and fans to explore half a century of the franchise’s cultural and creative influence.
Star Wars 50 Years: Pasts, Presents and Futures is set to take place at Space Park Leicester on 21–22 May 2027.
The event will be held just days before the 50th anniversary of the original US release of Star Wars: A New Hope on 25 May 1977.
Organisers are inviting proposals for presentations at the conference. The deadline for submissions has been extended to 31 December 2026.
Leicestershire is steeped in its own Star Wars history. Palitoy, the toy company that manufactured Star Wars toys in the UK during the original trilogy, was based in Coalville.
Jeremy Bulloch (1945-2020), who played Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, was born in Market Harborough.
The conference is directed by Xiyuan Gao and co-directed by Dr David Christopher, with Dr James Aitcheson and Dr Tara Smith as Leverhulme Centre partners, alongside Helen Bruce, Director of the Festival of Media Stories.
Discussing the conference, Xiyuan Gao said: “As both a Star Wars researcher and a lifelong fan, I’m incredibly excited to celebrate this milestone with scholars and enthusiasts from different backgrounds.
"Over the past fifty years, Star Wars has become a remarkable subject of academic study, offering insights into cinema, storytelling, technology, music, politics, and the ways popular culture shapes our society.
"This conference is an opportunity to reflect on its extraordinary legacy, exchange new perspectives, and consider what the next fifty years might bring. With Leicester’s own unique connections to Star Wars history, we couldn’t imagine a more fitting place to bring these conversations together.”
For full details and to submit a proposal, visit the conference webpage.