Hollywood stars and cultural luminaries gathered on September 19, 2026, for the grand opening gala of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the 300,000-square-foot institution opens to the public on September 22, housing a 40,000-piece collection celebrating visual storytelling.
Star-Studded Gala Kicks Off Long-Awaited L.A. Museum Opening
Hollywood turned out in force to celebrate the launch of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s campus in Exposition Park. George Lucas hosted an exclusive opening-night gala that brought together major figures from across the entertainment industry, including Oprah Winfrey, Guillermo del Toro, Laura Dern, Mark Hamill, Spike Lee, and Greta Gerwig.
The star-studded red carpet also welcomed Nicolas Cage, Tracee Ellis Ross, Queen Latifah, Eva Longoria, George R.R. Martin, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The high-profile gathering served as a preview event for invited guests, offering an early look inside the sprawling five-story facility just days before its official public debut on September 22.
Pharrell Williams also attended the gala, which underscored the massive scope of the project. More than a decade in development, the institution represents a deeply personal mission for its founders to elevate commercial illustration, comic art, and cinematic design into traditional museum spaces.
Architecture and Campus Layout in Exposition Park
Located at Exposition Park directly south of the University of Southern California, the striking building has drawn frequent architectural comparisons to a landed spacecraft. Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects in collaboration with executive architect Stantec, the 300,000-square-foot structure features a curving exterior clad in 1,271 custom fiberglass-reinforced polymer panels.
Inside and out, the campus blends organic architectural lines with extensive public green spaces. Studio-MLA designed the surrounding 13-acre park and gardens.
Museum leadership emphasizes that the campus is built to integrate with the surrounding community rather than wall itself off.
“We have a 300,000-square-foot campus here, but the parks and gardens are free for anybody to use; you don’t need a ticket to the museum, you don’t need a ticket to the museum for our research library or restaurants.”
Tracey Bates, CEO of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Inside the 30 Galleries and the Star-Order Collection
The museum houses a 40,000-piece art collection spanning fine and popular art across centuries and cultures. Works are on display across the institution’s inaugural exhibitions, distributed among more than 30 galleries organized by theme, genre, and artist.
While the institution covers a vast range of visual storytelling—including mural paintings, comic art, children’s book illustrations, and photography—a modest share of the floor plan is dedicated to cinematic history.
Alongside traditional fine art, the museum showcases deep holdings in comic art and science-fiction illustration, fulfilling Lucas’ long-held vision to celebrate what he terms the People’s Art
.
Film artifacts occupy a place within the galleries. The cinema collection includes movie posters, and 7% of the space is dedicated to Star Wars-related objects.
Research Library Holdings and Public Access Details
Beyond the exhibition halls, the museum functions as a research hub. Its dedicated research library is free to the public.
For visitors planning a trip to the facility, general admission tickets are priced at $25 for adults, while children age 12 and under and students with valid identification receive free admission. Local residents living within the 90037 ZIP code can also register for a free LM37 pass, which grants year-round access for the cardholder and a guest.