The Getty Museum will be renovated in time for the 2028 Olympics. (photo courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Trust)

The Getty Museum will be sunsetting – for a year at least – in March 2027, as it prepares to reinvent itself for the world.

“Getty is embarking on an exciting new chapter,” said Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, in a statement. “Our mission has always been to make art accessible to our Los Angeles community and visitors from around the world. In the coming years, guided by our commitment to All for Art, we will enhance the visitor experience across the Getty Center campus through reimagined spaces and new offerings, while prioritizing sustainability. We look forward to welcoming visitors back in spring 2028, in time to celebrate the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and experience our more accessible, resilient and dynamic campus.”

“The Getty Center is incredibly meaningful for many Angelenos,” assistant director of news and media relations Alexandria Sivak said. “We recognize that it will be missed during closure, but we are looking forward to finding many ways to remain active and relevant in Los Angeles during this time. We also look forward to reopening celebrations when the work is completed, and welcoming visitors back to see all that we have accomplished during closure.”

Some closures are already in effect, although the center remains open for the remainder of the year.

“The east and a portion of our south pavilion are already closed as part of this project. The north pavilion will close this summer, and the south pavilion will have a full closure towards the end of this year,” Sivak said.

The center revealed the additions and improvements include “new ways to connect with art” through “revitalized galleries” and experiences, as well as improved accessibility and visitor orientation, a renovated welcome area and building improvements.

“Visitors will be able to ride on a brand-new tram system, enjoy a new welcome hall that will include a renovated bookstore and a new café, and experience our renovated galleries as well. There are other projects around campus, but those represent some of the larger projects that we have planned,” Sivak said.

The Olympics served as an impetus, but the plans for renovations have been years in the making.

“The Olympics was just one of several factors that went into this into this decision-making. The Getty Center is almost 30 years old and needs the necessary updates and improvements that any complex at that age would require,” Sivak said.

There is still a year to go, however, before the Getty completely shutters its doors, and Angelenos and visitors are still welcome in the interim. In 2027, Getty Center programs, including the concert series “Off the 405,” the “Garden Concert for Kids” series and other events will be ongoing in various locations and the Getty Villa will remain open during the main campus’s renovations.

“The Getty Villa will continue to be open for business and have a robust schedule of events and exhibitions. We are also exploring ways that we can activate Getty programming off the hill during this closure, and more information will be available soon. Getty also has a suite of podcasts and an active YouTube channel where visitors can learn more about our work,” Sivak said.

The Getty is not the only museum making moves ahead of the Olympics. LACMA will open its new galleries to members on April 19 and the general public on May 4, while the La Brea Tar Pits is planning to close for a massive renovation starting in July.

For information about The Getty, visit getty.edu. The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive. The Getty Villa is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades.