Bill Kramer, Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, today announced that the new institution’s much-anticipated opening will be moved from Spring to Fall 2021 due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With rising virus infection rates, museums remaining closed, and continued restrictions on public gatherings in Los Angeles, the museum has decided to push back its opening to protect the health and safety of its visitors and staff.

The Academy Museum will open to the public on September 30, 2021 and will be preceded by a suite of opening events, including a gala on September 25, 2021.

Ted Sarandos, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Academy Museum, said, “Despite the many challenges of 2020, the museum has accomplished a great deal this year: completing its pre-opening fundraising campaign, obtaining LEED Gold certification, and the installation of exceptional exhibitions. We are fortunate to have one of the world’s most exciting new cultural institutions ready to go. Now it’s just a matter of patience, for all of us, as we look ahead to opening our doors on September 30.”

Bill Kramer said, “We are putting the final touches on our stunning exhibitions and public spaces, and while we were ready and eager to welcome visitors in the spring, with the current surge of COVID-19, it would be irresponsible to maintain an April opening. We know a new day is coming for us all, and when it does, the Academy Museum will be ready to offer our visitors the remarkable experience we have all been wanting.”

About the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 
The Academy Museum will be the world’s premier institution dedicated to the art and science of movies. Opening on September 30, 2021, the museum will be simultaneously immersive, experimental, educational, and entertaining. More than a museum, this dynamic film center will offer unparalleled experiences and insights into movies and moviemaking. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, the museum is restoring and revitalizing the historic Saban Building—formerly known as the May Company building (1939)—at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. The Saban Building will feature six floors, including exhibition spaces, the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater, the Shirley Temple Education Studio, the Debbie Reynolds Conservation Studio, special event spaces, a café, and store. The new spherical addition will connect to the Saban Building via glass bridges and will feature the state-of-the-art 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and the rooftop Dolby Family Terrace with its sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills.