Credit: Mario Tama via Getty Images.
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Los Angeles is about to get even richer on the museum front. In 2026, the city will welcome a new wave of cultural spaces, from a $1 billion “temple to storytelling” to a playful ice-cream wonderland to a groundbreaking AI-driven exhibition hall and a culturally rooted community hub. Each promises a fresh kind of experience, reflecting how L.A. continues to reinvent itself as a capital of art, identity, and imagination.
Opening on September 22, 2026, the Lucas Museum will be an 11-acre campus in Exposition Park dedicated to the art of storytelling in all its forms — illustration, comics, photography, film, murals and more. Its permanent collection will include over 40,000 works, from painting and children’s-book illustration to comic-book art and cinematic artifacts. It’s a sweeping survey of “narrative art” through time. With 35 galleries, two theaters, a library, public gardens, a restaurant, and community spaces, it aims to be a creative gathering place exploring how stories connect people.
Opening on September 22, 2026
Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California
Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California will be located in Glendale. Its mission is to share the history, culture, and identity of the Armenian-American community, through permanent exhibitions about Armenian heritage, temporary exhibits, educational spaces, archives, a demonstration kitchen, auditorium, and more. While there’s no exact public opening date yet, recent construction milestones, including a completed steel frame and traditional “hazarashen” skylight, demonstrate major progress toward making the museum a lasting cultural landmark.
Opening in 2026
DATALAND — First Museum of AI Arts
DATALAND museum bills itself as “the world’s first museum of AI arts” and will debut in spring 2026 in downtown L.A. One of its main features will be an immersive “Infinity Room” gallery combining visual, sonic — and even scent — elements generated via AI to produce a fully multisensory art experience. With 25,000 square feet and multiple galleries, DATALAND aims to challenge what art can be in the age of algorithms, inviting visitors to experience the creative potential of machine-driven forms.
Opening in 2026
Museum of Ice Cream
The Museum of Ice Cream is returning to L.A., but this time as a proper, permanent flagship set to open in 2026. The 23,000-square-foot, three-story building will house 15 interactive, playful installations, including a 100-foot double-helix slide, a Santa Monica Pier–style carnival setup, a tiki-bar, and the world’s largest sprinkle pool. With its pastel-pink façade and immersive exhibits, the Museum of Ice Cream promises a fun, sensory-rich experience. It’s perfect for families, tourists, or anyone looking for a whimsical twist on the typical museum visit.
Opening in 2026