Lucas Museum has Opening Date

The long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art officially has an opening date: September 22, 2026. After years of anticipation, delays, and a few well-publicized setbacks, George Lucas’ ambitious tribute to storytelling is finally nearing completion. The announcement, shared by the Los Angeles Times and other outlets, comes with new images offering a fresh look at the museum’s striking design and expansive scope.

Construction on the $1 billion facility began in 2018 at Exposition Park in Los Angeles, but progress slowed during the pandemic and amid global supply chain disruptions. Earlier this year, concerns mounted when layoffs affected 14% of the museum’s full-time staff. Now, with those challenges behind them, the project is in its home stretch—less than a year from opening its doors.

Inside the 300,000-square-foot structure, visitors will find 100,000 square feet of exhibition space spread across 35 galleries. The permanent collection spans 40,000 pieces, from sculptures and photography to comic art, children’s book illustrations, and science fiction imagery. Iconic works by artists such as Norman Rockwell, Frida Kahlo, Dorothea Lange, and Maxfield Parrish will be prominently displayed. And fittingly, Lucas’ legacy in film will be represented through costumes, props, posters, and memorabilia from Star Wars and beyond.

In statements about the project, Lucas emphasized the museum’s purpose:“Stories are mythology, and when illustrated, they help humans understand the mysteries of life… The museum was built on the belief that illustrated storytelling is a universal language.”

Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, have also described the institution as “a museum of the people’s art”—a place where shared beliefs and cultural narratives take visual form.

Alongside the museum’s futuristic glass elevators, sweeping wooden balconies, and light-filled atriums, visitors will also enjoy an 11-acre surrounding park open daily from sunrise to sunset. Educational spaces and classrooms are woven throughout the building, underscoring Lucas’ lifelong commitment to learning.