The Salt Lake Temple will open to the public for the first time since 1893, starting in April 2027.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Dallin H. Oaks made the announcement Sunday, Oct. 4, during his closing remarks at General Conference in Salt Lake City. Free tours of the renovated temple will run from Monday, April 5 through Friday, Oct. 1, 2027, according to the Church's newsroom.

"We are welcoming the world, in person or virtually, to the Salt Lake Temple Celebration," Oaks said during the Sunday afternoon session.

The announcement caps a nearly seven-year renovation that included a seismic retrofit, system updates and interior restorations, Fox 13 reported. Construction barriers surrounding Temple Square were removed ahead of the October General Conference.

Demand has been intense

Reservations opened Sept. 1, and ABC4 reported 1 million spots were claimed within 24 hours. The Church has since released additional batches of tickets to meet demand, with more expected.

The Church News projected that 5 million people will tour the temple during the six-month celebration before its rededication.

Tours are free but require a reservation through TempleSquare.org or the Temple Square app. Each person may reserve up to six tickets. Tour times run from 8:40 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Accessibility accommodations will include language support, assistive listening and services for guests with mobility, vision, hearing and other needs.

Many celebration activities on Temple Square will not require reservations. The event will also feature exhibits, performances, films and service opportunities.

'Rejoice in Christ' theme

The celebration's theme, "Rejoice in Christ," was announced Sept. 1 by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox attended that announcement and said the state expects millions of visitors in 2027.

Oaks introduced a new video series, "Dedicate," that premiered worldwide in multiple languages after the Sunday afternoon session. The series follows seven young adults from Brazil, France, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines and the United States as they explore the temple and meet with Church leaders.

Four more episodes will air Sundays at 8 a.m. MDT through Nov. 1. A final episode is set for spring 2027, along with a virtual tour of the temple.

For South Davis County residents planning a visit, Temple Square is roughly a 20-minute drive south on I-15.