Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that its Conference Center in Salt Lake City will be mostly closed from March 30, 2026 to March 1, 2027 to facilitate construction, infrastructure upgrades, and exhibit development in preparation for the upcoming Salt Lake Temple open house celebration. Church officials estimate 3 million to 5 million people will attend the free event, which is expected to bring an additional 18,000 to 25,000 visitors to downtown Salt Lake City each day during the 6-month open house, resulting in a 25% increase in daily customer volume.
Why it matters
The Salt Lake Temple open house is anticipated to be the biggest event in Utah since the 2002 Winter Olympics, providing a major economic opportunity for downtown Salt Lake City businesses and the state’s tourism industry. However, it also presents significant logistical challenges in terms of transportation, parking, and crowd management that city and church officials are working to address.
The details
The closure of the Conference Center will allow project teams to execute a significantly expanded scope of work to prepare the facility for the elevated guest experience planned for 2027. While the closure won’t affect major scheduled events like general conferences, church officials are exploring a shuttle service with park-and-ride facilities, urging people to use public transit, and adding more parking spaces. Downtown business leaders are also investing in strategies to keep visitors in the area longer before or after their Temple Square visits, such as producing daily outdoor performances and working with the church on accommodating families.
- The Conference Center will be mostly closed from March 30, 2026 to March 1, 2027.
- The Salt Lake Temple open house celebration is planned to run from April to October 2027.
The players
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The religious organization that owns the Conference Center and Salt Lake Temple, and is planning the open house celebration.
Salt Lake City
The city that is preparing for the influx of visitors and working with the church on transportation and logistics.
Utah Office of Tourism and Film
The state agency that is working with the tourism industry to leverage the opportunities presented by the open house event.
Dee Brewer
The director of the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance, who is presenting updates on visitation expectations and strategies to accommodate the increased traffic.
Natalie Randall
The managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film, who has described the open house as a “trial run” for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
What they’re saying
“This flow of visitors really presents a tremendous economic opportunity for downtown, for the merchants who are downtown, and frankly, for the tax revenue opportunities as well.”
— Dee Brewer, Director, Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance (KSL)
“It’s kind of this trial run for the Olympics that lasts for six months. We’re working with the industry to have them lean into that opportunity as well, so that other quarters of the state can find ways to leverage those opportunities that are happening in our capital city.”
— Natalie Randall, Managing Director, Utah Office of Tourism and Film (KSL)
What’s next
Salt Lake City is considering a temporary closure of some roads next to Temple Square to accommodate safety needs due to the expected traffic, and a public hearing on that proposal will be held on March 10.
The takeaway
The Salt Lake Temple open house in 2027 presents a significant economic opportunity for downtown Salt Lake City and the state of Utah, but also requires extensive planning and coordination between church, city, and state officials to manage the influx of millions of visitors and ensure a smooth and safe experience.
