Festival of the Force 2026
Festival of the Force 2026 was held at Newark Showground on 31st January, and it was one of those events that makes you realise how special it is when pure Star Wars descends on a place. This was my first time attending and it was clear simply joining that queue that it was going to be one for the purists!
Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of comiccons with Star Wars guests alongside other fandoms, but when everything all around is Star Wars there’s nothing like it. Even before getting inside, the vibe was already there with cosplayers from across the galaxy far far away milling about. There was a really good mix and some really impressive outfits including an impressive General Grievous.
Organisation was another early win. Staff checked tickets and handed out wristbands early in the queue, which meant once the doors opened everything flowed quickly. It’s a small thing, but it makes such a difference when you are keen to get going.
Inside, the main hall was packed. The vendor mix was a really refreshing change from some larger conventions that tend to have an abundance of 3D printed items and funko pops. Vintage figures, custom and handmade items, helmets, sabers and other collectables… it felt curated by fans. Surrounding the vendors was a seriously impressive array of quality prop builds and photo opportunities. I’d say easily the best for Star Wars I’ve seen outside of Star Wars Celebration, ranging from a snow speeder, Endor bunker, a probe droid, and a rancor head! Mix that in with the number of cosplays walking around, and the event fulfilled its promise of immersion.
The guest lineup was another highlight. I picked up autographs from Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Toby Philpott (Jabba), Silas Carson (Ki Adi Mundi), and Garrick Hagon (Biggs Darklighter), though there were lots of others in attendance. Every interaction felt personal and unrushed. Tim Rose was an absolute legend, going out of his way with a free selfie and an “It’s a Trap!” speech-bubble sign to put smiles on faces. Garrick Hagon was a real standout for me too, sharing his memories about working on A New Hope and the warmth and fun of filming alongside a young Mark Hamill — even on scenes that ultimately didn’t make the final cut.
The artists in attendance really elevated the event for me, as a card collector. Its something you don’t always see. Jay Manchand, in particular, stood out. Jay is a Fanatics sketch card artist for Star Wars card products, his talent is unreal — and he was more than happy to chat and share the excitment of the fandom while selling his artwork and doing some live and in person.
Throughout the day there were panels running continuously, all expertly chaired by Mark Newbold from Fantha Tracks, keeping things informative, fun, and moving at a great pace. Its always amazing to hear from Star Wars guests, and Mark is a pro at making them feel at ease and open up with some gems.
If I had one criticism, it’s that the hall did feel a little cramped at peak times, with narrow lanes between vendors it was hard to navigate at times. That said, I think this might be a side effect of success rather than poor planning — the event may simply have outgrown the venue so I am hoping we might see even bigger and better things from Festival of the Force in coming years.
All in all, it was a fantastic day, well organised, and impossible not to put a smile on Star Wars fans faces. I will definitely be back in the future.
MTFBWY
