Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to Open in Los Angeles in September 2026

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will open on September 22, 2026, in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. The museum is created by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson and is fully dedicated to visual storytelling. Its goal is to show how images can tell human stories across different times, cultures, and media.

The building is designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects, with landscape design by Studio-MLA. The project sits on an 11-acre site that was once a parking area. It includes a 300,000-square-foot structure and a large new park. The design has a smooth, sculptural form that lifts above the ground, creating shaded outdoor areas. Paths, gardens, and open spaces connect the building to the rest of Exposition Park.

Inside the museum, visitors will find thirty-five galleries, two theaters, a library, education rooms, community spaces, a café, a restaurant, and a museum shop. The galleries cover about 100,000 square feet and are organized around broad themes about life, such as family, work, play, community, and adventure. The museum will also show films and documentaries about artists and filmmakers.

The Lucas Museum will become one of several important institutions in Exposition Park. It will stand alongside the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California African American Museum, and the California Science Center. Together, these institutions form a major cultural and educational district in the city.

As construction moves toward completion, the Lucas Museum represents a major new cultural investment for Los Angeles. It combines a large, diverse art collection with a bold architectural design, offering a new space for learning, community, and storytelling.

The Lucas Museum project reflects how leading design firms are shaping culture and the environment at the same time. MAD Architects, known for their organic and futuristic style, also focus on sustainable ideas in many of their projects. They often use natural ventilation, daylight, green roofs, and soft building forms that reduce energy use and support healthy public spaces. MAD has completed major works such as the Harbin Opera House in China and the Chaoyang Park Plaza in Beijing, both of which show how architecture can blend with nature and become part of the landscape. These projects highlight the office’s goal of creating buildings that feel alive, open, and connected to the environment.

Studio-MLA, the landscape designer for the Lucas Museum, brings a strong ecological vision to the project. The firm is known for large urban parks, river and creek restoration projects, and community-driven public spaces. Their work focuses on climate resilience, biodiversity, shade, water management, and everyday access to nature. For the museum, Studio-MLA created new pathways, planting areas, and shaded outdoor spaces that link the building to Exposition Park and support a greener, healthier experience for visitors.Together, MAD Architects and Studio-MLA show how architecture and landscape can work as one system. Their combined approach creates a cultural place that is not only visually striking but also environmentally responsible and welcoming to the public.