Ticketing details for the Lucas Museum have finally been announced—here’s what you need to know

It’s been eight years in the making, but the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is finally almost open to the public. Work on the $1-billion museum first broke ground in 2018 after Los Angeles—specifically, Exposition Park—was chosen as the museum’s home (San Francisco and Chicago were the other contenders). But due to delays including pandemic-related supply-chain issues, the opening date was pushed back from 2021 to 2022 to 2023 to 2025 to, finally, September 2026.

Until now, we haven’t known what the ticketing situation would be, though, or what pricing would be like. But those details have finally been announced (and the ticket prices are surprisingly reasonable). Read on for everything you need to know about visiting the Lucas Museum this fall, including how to get tickets.

When does the Lucas Museum open?

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will open September 22, 2026. If you just can’t wait that long to check it out, members will be able to visit during a preview period, from September 5 to 11. Not a member yet? You can sign up to become a founding member through July 12—prices start at $140 for the year and score you unlimited museum admission for you and a guest, plus priority access to tickets and previews.

When do tickets for the Lucas Museum go on sale?

The general public will be able to pre-purchase tickets online beginning Tuesday, July 21, at 10am Pacific time. You’ll need to choose a date between September 22, 2026, and February 28, 2027, for your visit at the time of purchase. And you’ll be able to snag nine tickets. (Info on larger group ticket sales will be coming at a later date.)

For members, those at the Insider and Alliance levels can reserve their tickets Tuesday, July 14, at 10am, while remaining members can get theirs on Wednesday, July 15, at 10am.

How much will tickets for the Lucas Museum cost?

Ticket prices for the Lucas Museum are nearly exactly in line with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ pricing (which seems fitting, since they both cover the art of filmmaking, among other topics). Adult tickets are $25, tickets for seniors 65 and over are $21, and children and teens 17 and under will get in for free.

Will free tickets be available for the Lucas Museum?

At the moment, no details have been announced about any free days or hours for general admission ticketholders. (Though we’ll keep our fingers crossed for the museum to take part in the annual Museums Free-for-All.) But, as mentioned above, anyone age 17 and under will get in free, as will museum members and their guests, active-duty military, personal aides and EBT cardholders. 

What will be on display at the Lucas Museum?

So just what can you expect to see inside this otherworldly, spaceship-like building? You’ll find more than an institutionalized shrine to Star Wars, as might be expected (though a selection of production designs, props and costumes from the Lucas Archives will be on display). The “Narrative Art” part of the museum’s moniker reflects a collection Lucas has been amassing for the past 50 years, made up of more than 40,000 artworks that tell a story through images. Works will be divided into galleries with themes like everyday life (with subcategories of love, family, play, childhood, motherhood, etc.) and narrative form (romance, fantasy, adventure and science fiction).

More than 1,200 pieces have been selected for the museum’s first installation, installed throughout some 30 galleries and 100,000 square feet. The artwork will range from prehistoric cave paintings and ancient sculptures of gods and goddesses all the way to comics and artifacts from modern cinema. You’ll find pieces by Norman Rockwell, Jack Kirby, Beatrix Potter, N.C. Wyeth, photographer Dorothea Lange and more modern names like cartoonist Alison Bechdel all under the same roof—in short, there should be something for everyone.