Get Ready! The Salt Lake Temple Open House is Coming in 2027

Well, folks, buckle up—Salt Lake City is about to experience something truly extraordinary. After more than 130 years of keeping its doors closed to the general public, the iconic Salt Lake Temple is finally opening up, and it’s going to be massive.

The Big Picture

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the City of Salt Lake are teaming up to welcome an absolutely staggering number of visitors: between 3 and 5 million people are expected to tour the beautifully renovated Temple between April 5 and October 1, 2027. That’s roughly 20,000 to 29,000 visitors per day for six whole months. To put that in perspective, that’s equivalent to fitting an entire church general conference session into Temple Square every single day.

For context, the 2002 Winter Olympics—one of the most heavily attended events in the city’s history—drew about 70,000 visitors daily, but that was only for 17 days. This open house is going to dwarf that experience in sheer volume.

Why All the Excitement?

The Temple closed its doors on January 1, 2020, for much-needed seismic upgrades and comprehensive renovations. After seven years of reconstruction work, the building will be completely refreshed and ready to dazzle visitors. Once the public tours wrap up on October 1, 2027, the Temple will return to member-only access for those with active Temple recommends.

This is genuinely historic. It’s the largest Temple open house the church has ever attempted, and organizers are pulling out all the stops to make it unforgettable.

How to Tour the Temple

Tickets and Booking:
In late August or early September 2027, the church will launch a dedicated app where you can reserve your tour time. This is smart planning—it’ll help manage the flow of people and prevent chaotic bottlenecks.

Getting There:
Not driving? No problem. The church has partnered with UTA to offer free or discounted rides on TRAX, Frontrunner, and buses heading downtown. If you prefer to drive, there’s also a brand-new park-and-ride lot at South Temple and Redwood Road with lighted, secure parking and regular shuttle service straight to Temple Square. Church employees will even receive complimentary UTA passes throughout the entire six-month period to help ease downtown traffic.

What to Expect Inside

The tour experience is thoughtfully designed:

• Starting Point: Tours begin at the Church’s Conference Center, just north of Temple Square
• Underground Route: You’ll head underground from the Conference Center into the Temple itself
• Inside the Temple: Plan for 60 to 80 minutes exploring the building’s interior
• Full Experience: Once you’re inside the Temple Square perimeter, you’ll have access to beautiful new statues, other church buildings, and the grounds themselves—the whole experience could easily stretch into several hours

The church is calling special missionaries to serve as knowledgeable docents throughout the open house period, so you’ll have plenty of informed guides answering questions and sharing the Temple’s story.

Early Access

Want to avoid the spring and summer crowds? The church is inviting nearby businesses and residents to tour the Temple in March 2027, before opening to the general public. That’s a nice touch for those in the immediate area.

What’s Happening Now?

While preparations are underway for the 2027 open house, the church has already set up festive Easter displays for visitors to Temple Square, and they’re gearing up for their semi-annual general conference meetings scheduled for April and October each year.

Bottom Line

If you’ve ever wanted to see inside the Salt Lake Temple, 2027 is your year. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that won’t come around again for generations. Mark your calendars, download that booking app when it launches, and prepare for one of the most significant events Salt Lake City has ever hosted.

April through October 2027 is going to be absolutely unforgettable.