Get Ready to Experience History: The Salt Lake Temple Opens Its Doors in 2027

After more than 130 years of exclusivity, one of the most iconic religious buildings in America is finally throwing open its doors to the public. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Salt Lake City are preparing for what promises to be an absolutely massive celebration: the reopening of the beautifully restored Salt Lake Temple.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

If you’ve ever wondered what’s inside that magnificent building sitting right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, next year might be your only chance to find out for yourself. Starting April 5, 2027, the general public will be invited to tour the Temple for the first time since 1889. This isn’t just a quick peek—this is a full, guided experience through one of the most significant religious buildings in America.

The open house will run through October 1, 2027, giving you a solid six months to plan your visit. After that? The doors close again, and only church members with active temple recommends will be allowed inside. So if you’re curious, mark your calendar now.

What to Expect: Millions of Visitors

The Church isn’t downplaying the scale of this event. They’re estimating that between 3 to 5 million visitors will show up during the open house period. That’s roughly 20,000 to 29,000 people per day—imagine one full session of the church’s biannual general conference happening every single day for six months straight.

To put that in perspective: during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, about 70,000 visitors a day flooded the city, but that was only over 17 days. This event will be even bigger and much longer. The city and the Church are taking this seriously and planning for larger crowds to ensure nothing gets out of hand.

What’s Behind All the Hype?

The Salt Lake Temple has been closed since January 1, 2020, undergoing a major transformation. Workers completed extensive renovations and crucial seismic upgrades designed to preserve this historic building for future generations. The result? A beautifully restored Temple that’s ready to welcome the world.

How to Plan Your Visit

Want to tour? Tickets will be available through a special app launching in late August or early September 2027. You’ll be able to book your tour time in advance, which should help manage the enormous crowds.

Getting There Made Easy

The Church has partnered with UTA to make getting downtown convenient. If you’re using public transportation, you can ride TRAX, FrontRunner, or the bus directly to Temple Square. Not a public transit person? No problem. The Church is leasing property at South Temple and Redwood Road for a secure, lighted park-and-ride lot with regular shuttle service to Temple Square.

Church employees will even get free UTA passes for the entire six-month period to help reduce downtown traffic congestion.

What’s the Actual Tour Like?

Here’s how it works: You’ll start your journey at the Church’s Conference Center, just north of Temple Square. From there, you’ll head underground—yes, underground—directly into the Temple itself. The interior tour takes about 60 to 80 minutes, but plan for several hours total if you want to explore Temple Square and check out the new statues and other Church buildings nearby.

The Church is calling special missionaries to serve as docents during the open house, so you’ll have knowledgeable guides walking you through every room and explaining the building’s history and features.

VIP Preview

Want first dibs on seeing the Temple before the crowds arrive? The Church is inviting nearby residents and businesses to tour the Temple in March 2027, ahead of the general public opening. It’s a nice gesture to the community that’s been living with construction and renovation for years.

Why This Matters

This is genuinely historic. The last time the general public could walk through the Salt Lake Temple was in 1889—over 130 years ago. For people in Salt Lake City and visitors from around the world, this represents a rare opportunity to step inside one of America’s most recognizable religious buildings and experience its beauty firsthand.

Whether you’re a church member, a curious tourist, an architecture enthusiast, or someone who simply wants to be part of a major cultural moment in Salt Lake City, the Temple open house in 2027 is shaping up to be the event of the decade.

Start planning now. Book your tickets this fall. And get ready for one unforgettable experience.