LOS ANGELES — The long-delayed Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, backed by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, is now expected to open in 2026 across from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, according to multiple reports, while no specific opening date or season has been announced, multiple sources tell The Sporting Tribune it could open during the USC football season.
The futuristic, spaceship-shaped building has been under construction in Exposition Park since 2018. Originally scheduled to open in 2021, the museum has faced several delays due to the pandemic, supply chain disruptions and leadership changes.
The museum will feature more than 100,000 square feet of gallery space, multiple theaters, classrooms, restaurants, and a rooftop event space. The surrounding 11-acre park, designed by landscape architect Mia Lehrer, will be open to the public and include walking trails, gardens and outdoor gathering areas.
Lucas, who has invested over $1 billion into the project alongside his wife Mellody Hobson, envisions the museum as a space to explore narrative art across mediums — from comic books and illustration to film and digital media. The museum’s location next to the Coliseum and USC places it in the heart of South Los Angeles’ cultural and academic corridor.
Leadership at the museum shifted earlier this year when Sandra Jackson-Dumont, who had served as the museum’s director and CEO, stepped down. Former Paramount Pictures CEO Jim Gianopulos was named interim leader. Lucas is now playing a more active role in shaping the museum’s inaugural exhibits and programming.
Once open, the Lucas Museum is expected to be a major draw for Los Angeles residents, tourists, and football fans attending games at the Coliseum. With USC joining the Big Ten this year, school officials anticipate heightened interest and foot traffic through the area.
The museum’s debut will mark one of the most high-profile additions to Exposition Park in decades, joining institutions like the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum in a revitalized cultural destination.