Major LA Museums Announce Long-Term Closures Ahead of 2028 Olympics

The Getty Center and La Brea Tar Pits Museum will undergo renovations to prepare for the influx of visitors.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:37pm

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An abstract, impressionistic image of blurred, overlapping shapes and pools of warm, vibrant colors, evoking the architectural forms and exhibits of the Getty Center and La Brea Tar Pits Museum in a dreamlike, atmospheric manner.As Los Angeles prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the 2028 Olympics, two of the city's premier museums undergo renovations to enhance the visitor experience.Los Angeles Today

Two of Los Angeles' most prominent museums, the Getty Center and the La Brea Tar Pits Museum, have announced long-term closures starting in 2027 and 2026 respectively. The closures are part of major renovation projects to upgrade facilities and infrastructure in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are expected to draw over 15 million visitors to the city.

Why it matters

As Los Angeles gears up to host the 2028 Olympics, the city is working to upgrade its infrastructure and attractions to accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists. The temporary closures of these two iconic museums will allow them to modernize and expand their offerings, ensuring a more accessible and sustainable visitor experience during the games.

The details

The Getty Center will close for about a year starting on March 15, 2027 to undergo the 'most significant series of modernization initiatives since its 1997 opening.' Planned upgrades include a renovated Welcome Hall, a new cafe bookstore, improved cell service and Wi-Fi, and revitalized galleries. The La Brea Tar Pits Museum will close for two years starting in July 2026 as part of a larger renovation project that will expand space for its over 2 million fossil specimens.

  • The Getty Center will close for about a year starting on March 15, 2027.
  • The La Brea Tar Pits Museum will close for two years starting in July 2026.

The players

Getty Center

A major art museum in Los Angeles that offers free admission to roughly 2 million annual visitors, with collections spanning from the Middle Ages to today.

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

A frequent site of field trips for local students and a quirky destination for visiting tourists, home to an active Ice Age fossil excavation site in the middle of Los Angeles.

Katherine E. Fleming

President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which oversees the Getty Center.

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What they’re saying

“Our mission has always been to make art accessible to our Los Angeles community and visitors from around the world. In the coming years, guided by our commitment to All for Art, we will enhance the visitor experience across the Getty Center campus through reimagined spaces and new offerings, while prioritizing sustainability.”

— Katherine E. Fleming, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust

“We look forward to welcoming visitors back in spring 2028, in time to celebrate the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and experience our more accessible, resilient, and dynamic campus.”

— Katherine E. Fleming, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust

What’s next

The Getty Center and La Brea Tar Pits Museum are expected to reopen sometime in 2028, just in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

These long-term museum closures highlight Los Angeles' efforts to upgrade its infrastructure and attractions ahead of hosting the 2028 Olympics. By modernizing and expanding these iconic cultural institutions, the city aims to provide a more accessible and sustainable visitor experience for the anticipated influx of tourists.