The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art celebrated its opening in Los Angeles on Saturday night with a drone show, a long red carpet and George Lucas on stage. Oprah Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson introduced and narrated the drone display, which drew from Star Wars, Marvel and the work of Banksy.
Star Wars, Marvel, Banksy and more in a drone show for the opening of the Lucas museum of narrative art narrated by Oprah Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 20, 2026
The museum opens to the public on Tuesday, September 22, at its Exposition Park campus, eight years after the project broke ground.
Lucas On What Counts As Art
Speaking at the opening, Lucas talked about building the museum in the face of doubters and thanked his wife, Mellody Hobson, who co-founded it with him. He also made the case for the museum’s whole premise, saying he believes wholeheartedly that you get to decide what art is.
Hobson described getting Pharrell Williams to write music for the museum. Queen Latifah, who was there, said guests would not believe how much work the pair personally put into designing the building.
A night for friends and family to celebrate the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. 🧡
— Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (@lucasmuseum) September 20, 2026
The Star Wars Corner
Mark Hamill said he feels lucky the museum ended up in Los Angeles, after other cities tried to land it. Samuel L. Jackson stopped to meet a life-size figure of Mace Windu, the Jedi he played in the prequel trilogy.
The collection reaches well beyond Lucasfilm, with more than 40,000 works across 35 galleries, but the Star Wars pieces are a draw of their own. Anakin’s Podracer from The Phantom Menace is among the artifacts on display, alongside models, props and costumes from the Lucas Archives.
Who Turned Out
The guest list ran deep: Winfrey, Christopher Nolan, Robert De Niro, Kim Kardashian, Laura Dern, Katy Perry, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Spike Lee, Jon Batiste, Amanda Gorman and Justin Trudeau, who was photographed talking with Bob Iger. Perry said she was so excited for the gala that she dressed like the museum.
Deadline reported from inside the event, where the drone show closed out the night over the museum’s campus.
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