With LA 2028, the Los Angeles Olympics, just over three years away, the city is busy preparing for the influx of tourists with new infrastructure and entertainment options for visitors and residents alike.
This is happening in tandem to clean up efforts, following the devastation of the wildfires last month. So we firstly want to send our thoughts to everyone who has suffered in this tragedy. If you want to help, head HERE for information on some current, upcoming and recent events happening in LA to support relief efforts, as well as organisations worth donating to.
But we are here to look ahead to brighter times. And boy are there some amazing attractions opening in Los Angeles over the next three years, as the city gears up for the Olympics. From new and expanded art galleries, to theme park attractions and (finally!) trains at LAX, there’s a reason for everyone to be excited. Here’s just seven of them…
Meow Wolf to arrive in Los Angeles
First up, the incredible art collective Meow Wolf will be making their Californian debut in 2026, with the launch of their sixth permanent location.
Since opening their Santa Fe location in 2008 – with the help of none other than George R.R. Martin – Meow Wolf have expanded into four other cities. Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston have since seen the multi-dimensional, highly immersive spaces appear in relatively quick succession, between 2021 and 2024.
Neon Kingdom from Meow Wolf’s location Grapevine, Texas. Photo Credit: Kate Russell / Meow Wolf.
We don’t know too much about the L.A. location, however on their website, they promise “a full sensory love letter to the Los Angeles art scene, its history, and its legacy.”
Indeed, as they do in all cities they open a new space, amongst the hundreds of art practitioners involved in the project, will be plenty of locals. According to The L.A. Times, “a significant number of installations will come from the local art community. Meow Wolf curator Han Santana-Sayles, 31, a Murrieta native who now resides in Pasadena, will lead the outreach into L.A.’s art world”.
Amanda Clay, the chief development officer from Meow Wolf has also put out a statement that doesn’t just tell us something about the what, but also the where.
“We’re crafting our next surreal dream world in a movie theater in West Los Angeles, a nod to the cinematic soul of the city… (it will be located at the) HHLA (formerly The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center), nestled close to LAX, and just off the 405, is positioned at the convergence of abundant culture and opportunity… Meow Wolf Los Angeles will draw inspiration from its surroundings and translate them into something otherworldly, never-before-seen, and yet familiar to Angelenos.”
We don’t have a release date beyond “2026” so stay tuned to their website for more.
Meow Wolf headline artwork by Zac Lux.
George Lucas is getting his own futuristic museum
This one is going to be a special one. Opening in 2026, in an area which may as well be the museum row of Los Angeles, in the heart of Exposition Park, is a magnificent new gallery. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will combine the Star Wars creator’s personal collection, with works no doubt obtained just for the museum, and travelling and temporary exhibitions.
Founded in partnership with Lucas’s wife Mellody Hobson, the museum will “focus on the universal art of visual storytelling”, and will serve as something of a companion experience to the excellent Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which you’ll also find in Los Angeles.
Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects., the breathtaking (reportedly) billion-dollar building looks like something out of a Star Wars film, incorporating plenty of green space amongst the space age design. In addition to the gallery space – which will house some of Lucas’s 40,000 paintings and film memorabilia, not just from his own works, but from the history of cinema – there’ll be “state-of-the-art cinematic theatres, dedicated spaces for learning and engagement, a new public green space, restaurants, retail and event spaces.”
It will be right across the road from the LA Memorial Coliseum, which will be used for the Olympics for the third time in July 2028. Other museums that sit in the area include the Natural History Museum, the California Science Center (which will get a mention later in the article) and the California African American Museum.
Head to the official Lucas Museum website for more details.
Artist renderings – including the one used as the article header – have been supplied from the official Lucas Museum website.
New Roller Coaster and Experiences at Universal Studios Hollywood
There’s a brand new roller coaster set to open at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026, inspired by the Fast & Furious franchise. It’s only the third coaster to ever be built in the history the park, and comes ten years after they opened their first ever outdoor coaster, the Harry Potter family attraction Flight of the Hippogriff.
When I was last at the park, in May of last year, work had already begun on the build, and by all accounts its presence is already very much making itself known both from within the park, and the view of it from the nearby freeways. Initial renderings, which you can see on KTLA’s website, has the ride looking like the most thrilling experience the Hollywood park has ever produced. Count me excited.
A press release from last year gave us some further information about what to expect:
The dynamic new thrill ride, themed to Universal Pictures’ blockbuster film saga, Fast & Furious, will elevate the guest experience with innovative and technological achievements never previously employed in a roller coaster. The state-of-the-art ride system is being uniquely designed to immerse guests within the high-speed Fast & Furious universe. Highlights will include groundbreaking 360-degree rotation of the individual ride vehicles as they rocket along an elaborate track meticulously constructed with sound reduction technology for a breathtaking, superior experience. These attributions will create a seamless sensation of drifting cars as guests spin in motion at furiously fast speeds.
Guests will queue up within a large, red brick, garage-style structure before settling into the ride vehicles, modeled after several authentic cars featured in the films, and catapulting along an aerial track that winds its way over parts of the theme park.
Entitled Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the coaster will be located on the park’s Upper Lot, not far from The Simpsons land.
Also coming to Universal Studios Hollywood this year is a brand new, after-hours event: Universal Fan Fest Nights. The event, which starts Friday 25th April, and runs through select nights until Sunday 18th May, will offer immersive in-world experiences
The experience – which for now will only take place at Universal’s Hollywood location – is being produced by the same team that delivers the annual, highly successful “Halloween Horror Nights”. So successful, in fact, that they’re building a permanent horror experience in Las Vegas! So you can expect some high concept experiences with impressive production values as part of these nights.
- Star Trek: Red Alert—Inspired by the Star Trek universe that has entertained millions of fans, this daring walk-through experience will boldly take guests on an immersive adventure aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D on a mission to prevent an interstellar threat. Laden with special effects, audio-visual effects, multi-sensory activations and themed performers, this all-original experience will create an unforgettable, awe-inspiring moment that will elevate Star Trek fandom to new levels.
- Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley—This nostalgic experience is based on the 1985 Back to the Future blockbuster movie and invites guests to time travel back to 1955 Hill Valley alongside the film’s iconic characters. Time travel begins the moment guests climb aboard the Studio Tour “Fan Tram” and venture towards Courthouse Square, the original filming location for this classic film located on the Universal Studios world famous backlot.
- DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Secrets of Waterdeep—Inspired by DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D), this epic experience will welcome guests and fans to partake in a one-of-a-kind adventure and explore the fantastic world of D&D. Guests will join the Harpers—a heroic spy network—to foil a plot by the legendary beholder Xanathar and save the city of Waterdeep. In creating this unique experience, Universal Studios Hollywood is collaborating with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to create the legendary beholder Xanathar that will come to life.
- One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering—This unique experience is inspired by the long-running global hit anime series, One Piece, from creator Eiichiro Oda, that follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Crew, including Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Sanji, on their quest to find “One Piece,” the legendary treasure of the former King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger. The Grand Pirate Gathering will transport guests into the series’ fictional world of pirates through an immersive and interactive experience, complete with iconic visuals and scenic environments that place fans at the heart of the action. Guests will also have time to enjoy uplifting meet and greet opportunities with different characters and as well as participate in themed interactive photo ops.
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed—This anime experience, inspired by a widely popular Japanese manga and its anime adaptation, follows high school student Yuji Itadori after he accidently becomes the host of a powerful curse and joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School, an organization that fights the curses. This epic adventure will be transformed into an exciting film-based experience, which first debuted at Universal Studios Japan.
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Guests and fans will have a chance to further engage in the theme park’s immersive land with all-new magical creature interactions, including the opportunity to meet the Niffler, a Baby Dragon and grand Occamy. The centerpiece of the experience will feature the visually spectacular Hogwarts™ Always light projection show designed to take guests on a whimsical journey through a school year at Hogwarts. Weaving together unforgettable music and incredible moments of wizardry, Hogwarts Always will shine bright as it comes to life set against the majestic backdrop of Hogwarts™ castle.
- SUPER NINTENDO WORLD: Let’s Go, Yoshi—This exciting addition to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will mark the debut of beloved fan favorite Yoshi as a brand new meet and greet character within the land during Universal Fan Fest Nights. As part of Yoshi’s welcome to the land, guests will have a chance to interact with Yoshi as they engage in a scavenger hunt to locate all five colorful Yoshi eggs. After completing this original quest, guests will reap the benefit of a very special reward with the unique opportunity to meet a different colored Yoshi. Plus, guests will be treated to celebratory drone moments that will illuminate the night sky throughout the evening.
Not unlike Disneyland’s Star Wars Nite, cosplay is encouraged. Plus, there’ll be a block party taking place, and special dining experiences and new merchandise released in time for the new event. Most rides and attractions are set to be open for these late night experiences, too.
Tickets for these nights are on sale now, with a variety of ticket options available. The exact dates listed as April 25-27; May 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18, 2025.
Fast & Furious photo by the author; Hogwarts photo supplied by Universal.
The Broad Museum is Expanding
In my recent article about Downtown LA, I spoke about the incredible Broad Museum, a free gallery featuring works from some of North America’s most iconic artists from the last century. Already filling out a custom built, breathtakingly designed building by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), which opened a decade ago, it was recently announced that work would begin on a brand new gallery and programming space.
The new building will sit at the rear of the existing building, on Hope Street. Given their massive catalogue of works from the likes of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons and Kara Walker currently sitting in storage, this news is a welcome one. And they also promise to debut new artists to the collection such as Cauleen Smith, Lauren Halsey and Patrick Martinez.
In addition to the expanded gallery space, there’ll be new, outdoor courtyards, and live programming spaces for performances and concerts.
The Broad Museum will remain open through the construction. And both now and when the new building opens (which they anticipate to be before the Olympics), general admission will continue to be free. More details about the incoming space, and the museum, can be found HERE.
Artist renderings provided by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) and the Broad Museum, with a rendering by Plomp.
New transit options at LAX & beyond
For those who like public transit options to get around, Los Angeles is finally coming good on a number of promises. This starts off with some good news for travellers at the Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX.
In January 2026, the Automated People Mover (APM) – the centerpiece of LAX’s $15 billion Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) – will finally open, almost seven years after its construction began. The APM is an electric train system on a 3.62km elevated guideway with six stations total – three inside the Central Terminal Area (CTA) and three outside the CTA. During peak hours (9 a.m. to 11 p.m.), the APM will run nine trains, each with four cars and will be capable of carrying up to 50 passengers and their luggage, with a total of 200 passengers per train. The APM will be free for all users and operate 24/7. It will make connections at the airport all that much easier – no more running along the curb from terminal to terminal!
Set to open sooner than that, is the new LAX/Metro Transit Centre, that will provide “seamless connections” between LAX and the Metro rail network, with the Airport Metro Connector Transit Station (AMC) at Aviation Bl/96th Street. This will open up in the coming months. Located on the Metro K Line, the AMC includes a bus plaza, bicycle hub, customer service center and pick-up/drop-off area.
In the city, there’s also an expansion of the Metro D (formerly the “Purple”) Line happening, that currently ends at Wilshire/Western. This will see, for the first time ever, underground rail options all the way into West Los Angeles and UCLA. This line will be opening seven new stations, gradually between 2025 and 2027. The stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega, are all expected to open this year. And best of all, fares are still just US$1.75 with two hours of free transfers.
For more details about the coming D line extension, head HERE.
A new Frank Gehry designed performance space
The famed architect Frank Gehry is set to bring another design to Downtown Los Angeles – not far from where his iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall sits. Planned for completion in early 2027, the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Downtown Los Angeles will enjoy a 100,000-square-foot campus expansion with the launch of a new complex, the Colburn Center. It will include a 1,000-seat concert hall, four professional-sized dance studios and a 100-seat studio theater.
“This has been a long time in the making. The Colburn School expansion is a much-needed project for the community,” said Frank Gehry of his new work. “I hope that it will be well-used and well-loved by the students of the Colburn School and the other cultural institutions of Los Angeles. Our goal for this hall is that it will help strengthen the already robust classical music community here, solidifying Los Angeles’ leadership in this arena.”
Also, fun fact: when the Colburn Center opens, it will create the largest concentration of Gehry-designed buildings in the world – with the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Grand by Gehry, the latter of which opened in 2022.
Learn more about this one at colburnschool.edu.
A new home for the Endeavour Space Shuttle
We don’t have an opening date yet, but the California Science Center has an incredible new building they’re set to open in the next couple of years, The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Its signature attraction will be the Endeavour Space Shuttle, which the museum has had on site in a temporary pavilion since 2012. Now, their permanent pavilion is nearing completion, adding 200,000 square feet of space for exhibits, events and educational programs.
It will include three multi-level galleries – Aviation, Space and Shuttle – spanning four floors and covering 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. It will also house a new Special Exhibits and Events Center that will host the California Science Center’s lineup of well attended changing exhibitions, such as Body Worlds: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies and King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh.
Within that permanent exhibition space will be the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, featuring 20 aircraft on display, including a replica of the Wright Brothers’ 1902 Glider, and a modern supersonic jet fighter. The Kent Kresa Space Gallery, meanwhile, will include examples of spacecraft from every stage of the U.S. human space program, including the Apollo-Soyuz Command Module (ASTP), Mercury MR-2, Gemini 11 and SpaceX Dragon capsules.
But it’s the Space Shuttle that everyone will be coming to see. The California Science Center will be the only place in the world to see a complete Space Shuttle System, standing upright, with a flown orbiter, Endeavour, mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank. Oh what a sight that will be.
There are some incredible photos of them placing the Space Shuttle upright (you can see one HERE).
For more details, head to their official website.
…and the rest
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also renovations due for the Institute of Contemporary Art as well as for LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), who will also be undergoing a major renovation in 2026. And keep an eye out for more details of the largest public/private Black art program in the USA, Destination Crenshaw, which is currently under construction. The infrastructure project will take over a 2.1km stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard with new community spaces, landscaping and 100 commissioned works by Black artists.
