<p>We explored experimentally the static and dynamic behavior of magnetic repelling particles confined in a two-dimensional cell using two particle geometries, namely, disks and rectangular bars. Despite the contactless interaction, typical static features of granular materials are observed for both particle shapes when the material rearranges under the action of gravity: pile formation with an angle of repose, and pressure saturation (Janssen-like effect), which can be explained by considering the magnetically-induced torques that generate friction between particles and confining walls. When the material is forced to be rearranged by compression, particle shape effects become notorious: while disks rearrange increasing the hexagonal ordering, bars augment their orientational ordering forming larger non-contact force chains mediated by the magnetic field; however, in both cases, the resistance to compression rises continuously, in contrast with the fluctuating compression dynamics (stick–slip motion or periodic oscillations) that characterizes granular systems with inter-particle contacts. Our results indicate that continuum approaches of granular materials can be used to characterize the system, despite the contactless interaction and specific shape of the constitutive particles.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>