Los Angeles is preparing to add a major new cultural attraction when the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens to the public on September 22, 2026, in Exposition Park. Founded by filmmaker George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum is dedicated to narrative art, bringing together illustration, photography, comics, film and fine art.
The 300,000-square-foot building was designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects with Stantec and contains more than 100,000 square feet of gallery space across over 30 galleries. Its opening exhibitions will feature more than 1,300 works, with artists ranging from Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Norman Rockwell to Charles Schulz, Jim Lee, Banksy and Diego Rivera.
Star Wars will be part of the experience, but it will not define the museum. The complete Lucas Archives from 1971 to 2012 are housed there, while the inaugural Star Wars in Motion installation will focus on vehicles from the first six films. Props, costumes and concept designs will sit within a broader exploration of how images communicate stories, myths and identity.
A Museum Designed as Part of the Park
The building itself is likely to become an attraction. MAD conceived its curving exterior without a single straight line, with a central arch spanning 185 feet and an elliptical oculus opening toward the sky.
The museum sits within a new 13-acre landscape designed by Mia Lehrer and Studio-MLA. What was previously an asphalt parking lot now includes more than 300 newly planted trees, a hanging garden, meadow, amphitheater and fountain. Ten monumental outdoor sculptures will line paths designed for broad public access, an approach aligned with accessible tourism. The Park and Gardens will be free to enter.
Inside, visitors will also find two theaters, a free research library, classrooms, a shop and a café. The library includes more than 30,000 comic books and materials from the former Skywalker Ranch Library.
The opening follows a broader trend toward museums that function as destination attractions. In northern Norway, The Whale museum is taking a similar approach by combining immersive exhibitions, landmark architecture and a strong connection to its surroundings.
What Visitors Need to Know
General admission costs $25 for adults and $21 for visitors aged 65 and older. Admission is free for children 17 and under, active-duty military members and museum members. Timed-entry reservations are required, including for free admission.
The museum will normally be closed on Tuesdays. Friday and Saturday hours extend into the evening, while other opening days generally run during daytime hours.
The campus also includes Skywalker Grill, a full-service restaurant open to museum visitors and the general public. Located at the top of the building, it will serve American food using California ingredients and offer panoramic views over Los Angeles.
For travelers, the opening adds another reason to spend time around Exposition Park, already one of the city’s key museum districts. Visitors planning a broader stay can use TravelCapybara’s Los Angeles travel guide to combine the museum with landmarks, beaches and other cultural attractions.
The Lucas Museum stands out by treating fine art, comics and cinema as parts of the same storytelling tradition, creating an attraction aimed as much at movie and pop-culture fans as traditional museum visitors.
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