The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announced that its David Geffen Galleries, designed by architect Peter Zumthor, will open on April 19, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The opening will be followed by two weeks of priority member access and a free day for NexGenLA youth members on May 3. The 900-foot-long building spans Wilshire Boulevard and will house LACMA's permanent collection, featuring approximately 2,500 to 3,000 objects across 110,000 square feet of gallery space. The inaugural installation is organized around the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing cultural exchange and migration, and includes works by Georges de La Tour, Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon, Vincent van Gogh, and new commissions by artists such as Todd Gray and Lauren Halsey.
This opening marks a major milestone for LACMA, representing the culmination of a long-planned campus transformation that redefines the museum experience by presenting art from all cultures and eras on a single level without hierarchies. The project underscores the museum's commitment to expanding its physical footprint and enhancing visitor engagement, supported by the County of Los Angeles, board of trustees, and donors. The new galleries also integrate 3.5 acres of outdoor public space with art installations, positioning LACMA as a revitalized cultural destination in Los Angeles.