Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Grand Opening

Los Angeles has been waiting a long time for this one. On September 22, 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens its doors in Exposition Park, and with it, the city gains what promises to be one of the most ambitious and distinctive art museums in the country.

What Is the Lucas Museum?

Founded by filmmaker George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is built around a single unifying idea: art tells stories. The museum's collection spans illustration, comic art, concept art, movie posters, photography, and digital art, all mediums that have been historically undervalued by traditional fine art institutions but that shape how billions of people actually experience visual culture.

Lucas himself amassed one of the world's great collections of narrative art over decades, including original production art from Star Wars, Norman Rockwell paintings, and a staggering archive of illustrations, concept paintings, and cinematic imagery. At its heart, this museum makes the argument that storytelling art deserves the same serious cultural attention we give to oil paintings and sculpture, and it's hard to argue with that when you see the scope of what's housed here.

The building itself, designed by architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects, is an architectural statement unlike anything else in LA. Described as a "cloud-like" structure hovering above Exposition Park, the form is fluid and organic, a deliberate contrast to the rigidity of traditional museum buildings. It's the kind of building that becomes a landmark the day it opens.

The Opening Day Experience

The Grand Opening is September 22, with the museum running 10 AM to 5 PM. This is the moment Angelenos and film fans worldwide have been anticipating since Lucas first announced the project years ago. Expect the full museum to be accessible: permanent collection galleries, special inaugural exhibitions, and the newly opened Skywalker Grill, a contemporary American restaurant inside the museum helmed by chef Daniel Guillen, whose background includes stints at the InterContinental and Hotel Bel-Air. Reservations for Skywalker Grill are already available on Resy.

The museum sits within Exposition Park, just south of downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the Natural History Museum, the California Science Center, and the Rose Garden. The neighborhood has transformed in recent years into one of LA's most significant cultural districts.

Why This Matters for LA

For a city that gave the world Hollywood, Los Angeles has always had a complicated relationship with film and cinematic culture as art. LACMA has made strides, the Academy Museum opened just a few years ago, and now the Lucas Museum adds another major institution to that conversation. The emphasis on narrative and illustrative art also broadens the aperture: this isn't just a film museum. It's a museum about visual storytelling in all its forms.

If you're a fan of animation, comic books, illustration, concept art, movie posters, or photography, this museum was literally built for you.

Planning Your Visit

Exposition Park is accessible via the Metro E Line (Expo Line), with the Expo Park/USC station putting you within a short walk of the museum entrance. If you're driving, the Exposition Park area has surface lots and the USC parking structures nearby.

Given that this is a grand opening, expect crowds, particularly on the first weekend. If you want a calmer first visit, consider coming mid-week in the days following September 22. The museum is expected to require timed-entry tickets for at least the opening period, so check the Lucas Museum website for the latest ticketing information before you head out.

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens September 22, 2026 in Exposition Park. Explore more arts and culture events in Los Angeles and discover everything going on in the Downtown LA area.