One year before the Salt Lake Temple reopens, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invited media for a first look at a transformed Temple Square Visitors’ Center — and announced when tickets for the temple open house will be available.

The newly renovated visitors’ center opens to the public May 18, 2026, and will welcome guests daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Salt Lake Temple open house and celebration will run April 5, 2027, through October 1, 2027, with reservations for open-house tickets available beginning September 1, 2026.

Church leaders called the visitors’ center unveiling a milestone. “This visitors’ center sits in the shadow of the Salt Lake City Temple,” said President Emily Belle Freeman of the Young Women General Presidency. “You may think you have been to a visitors’ center before, but this is not that.” Acting President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles added: “Here, guests can discover how temple teachings connect to everyday life and uncover the greater context of Latter-day Saint beliefs and commitment to family and Christ.”

At just under 40,000 square feet, the center blends art, story, and immersive technology. A replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s beloved Christus graces the west wing, while the lower level’s central point features a new marble sculpture by Swiss artist Christian Bolt titled “Come Unto Me,” depicting the Savior offering an invitation of peace and compassion. “They didn’t want another standing Christ, but a sitting one — turned toward humankind,” Bolt said of his design.

Visitors will find interactive experiences and full-scale replicas of sacred temple rooms (not replicas of rooms in the Salt Lake Temple), including a sequence that begins with a video wall explaining temple purpose; the wall opens to reveal a replica of a temple lobby and adjacent rooms such as the baptistry, instruction rooms, a celestial room, and sealing rooms. Other highlights include a scale model of the Salt Lake Temple, a display of 11 built-to-scale miniature temples with a nearby temple globe, and a narrative presentation designed to be accessible to everyone.

Outside, bronze statues in landscaped gardens include two new works depicting Jesus carrying the cross and Christ in Gethsemane positioned near the east and west wings. “It really is one of the most exciting points in this period in the history of the Church,” said Elder Matthew S. Holland of the General Authority Seventy. “One of our leaders talked about days never to be forgotten — I think that’s what we’re in right now.”

Admission to the visitors’ center is free. While general entry requires no ticket, reservations are required for the 30-minute “Inside a Temple” tour and can be made through the Temple Square app or online. Free parking is available at the Conference Center with validation; City Creek parking is available south of Temple Square with the first two hours free. The Temple Square TRAX station provides direct access.

Reservations for the Salt Lake Temple open house begin September 1, 2026. “It came about much better than we ever thought,” Uchtdorf said. “We’re very proud that it’s on time, on budget, and that it looks good, and we are looking forward to a wonderful celebration online and in person. We can only say thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has accomplished this process.”