Get Ready for the Biggest Temple Open House Ever: What You Need to Know About Salt Lake’s Upcoming Celebration

If you’ve ever wondered what the inside of the historic Salt Lake Temple looks like, next year is your chance. After more than 130 years of being off-limits to the general public, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is throwing open the doors to one of its most iconic buildings—and it’s going to be absolutely massive.

Here Comes the Crowd

Picture this: between 3 to 5 million people descending on Salt Lake City over six months. That’s roughly 20,000 to 29,000 visitors every single day from April 5 through October 1, 2027. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of hosting one full general conference session daily for half a year straight.

For context, the 2002 Winter Olympics brought about 70,000 people to Salt Lake City each day—but that was only for 17 days. This open house will be the church’s largest public Temple tour event in its entire history. City officials and church leaders are clearly taking this seriously, planning for the larger number of visitors rather than undershooting expectations.

What to Expect on Your Visit

The tour experience has been carefully designed to accommodate the expected influx. You’ll start at the Church’s Conference Center, just north of Temple Square, then head underground directly into the Temple itself. The actual tour of the building will take between 60 to 80 minutes, but plan for several hours if you want to explore everything Temple Square has to offer, including newly installed statues and other church buildings.

The church is calling special missionaries to serve as docents throughout the six-month event, ensuring visitors get knowledgeable guides as they walk through the recently renovated spaces.

Getting There Without the Headache

The church isn’t leaving transportation to chance. Here’s the good news if you’re worried about parking nightmares:

Free and Easy Transit Options:

• A partnership with UTA means ticket holders can use TRAX, Frontrunner, and bus services to get downtown
• A brand new, lighted, secure park-and-ride lot will operate at South Temple and Redwood Road with regular shuttle service directly to Temple Square
• Church employees are getting free UTA passes for the entire six months to help reduce downtown traffic congestion

How to Book Your Spot

Tickets will be available through a dedicated app launching in late August or early September 2027. This digital-first approach should streamline the booking process and help manage the flow of visitors throughout the day.

Early access will be given to nearby businesses and residents in March 2027, right before the general public is invited in April.

What’s New Inside?

The Temple has undergone extensive seismic upgrades and comprehensive renovations since closing on January 1, 2020. All reconstruction work will be complete by the end of 2026, giving the church time to prepare for what promises to be one of Salt Lake City’s biggest events in recent memory.

Plan Ahead

If you’re thinking about joining the millions expected to tour the Temple, start planning now. Mark your calendar for the app launch in late August/early September, and consider visiting in the spring or fall months when crowds might be slightly more manageable than peak summer season.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see inside a building that’s been closed to public access for 13 decades. Whether you’re a church member, a curious history buff, or someone who appreciates beautiful architecture, the Salt Lake Temple open house is shaping up to be the event of 2027.