Story Ideas: Utah - New Openings and Re-Openings in 2026/27
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Salt Lake Temple Welcomes the World in 2027:
On 1 September 2026, tickets will be released for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the public to tour the iconic Salt Lake Temple. The temple is located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, where the worldwide headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also located.
The temple has been undergoing a multi-year seismic renovation which will be completed next year with the public open house scheduled from 5 April - 1 October 2027. Walking tours of the temple and surrounding buildings on Temple Square will be offered daily, Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 12-8pm (last tour one hour before closure). Tours will be free, but all visitors must have a ticket.
The temple has not been open to the public since the 1890s and is expected to draw daily crowds of over 20,000 visitors from around the world before it is rededicated and sealed. Tickets available on a first come, first served basis at www.templesquare.org.
Utah Challenges Visitors to Walk 250 Miles for America's Birthday:
As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, the milestone is being marked in Utah by the Walk250 challenge – encouraging every resident and visitor to harness the power of the state’s stunning red rock and mountain landscapes and move 250 miles (just over 400km). Walk, run, hike, cycle, ski – participants can choose any outdoor activity to complete the challenge and log their adventures on the Walk250 website or at any one of Utah’s 46 state parks, where information can be found at visitor centres and entrance booths. Participants can further connect to history by tracing the steps of the Dominguez-Escalante expedition which was a five-month, nearly 1,700-mile (2,735km) journey through Utah which mapped large areas of the American West in 1776 (250 years ago).
From Airport to Alpine:
Salt Lake City is fast becoming one of the most effortlessly accessible destinations for Canadian leisure travellers, with the New SLC Airport — a Delta hub — making connections smoother than ever. Once on the ground, downtown Salt Lake City is just a 10-minute ride away, putting visitors steps from world-class dining, culture and exploration, while the legendary mountain resorts are only 40 minutes from the terminal. A wave of fresh accommodation options means there's never been a better time to visit: recent renovations have elevated the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown and Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City. For those drawn to the mountains, two exciting new properties are slated to open in 2026 — The Ascent Park City, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and the Canopy by Hilton at Deer Valley, a 180-room luxury alpine retreat in the new Deer Valley East Village in the Heber Valley — marking the first Canopy brand hotel in Utah.
About the Utah Office of Tourism:
The Utah Office of Tourism's (UOT) mission is to elevate life in Utah through responsible tourism stewardship. We do this through marketing, stewardship and development. Marketing: UOT curates messaging that inspires visitation, supports local businesses and builds the Utah economy. Stewardship: UOT manages visitation statewide and supports the responsible discovery of Utah. Development: UOT partners with local communities to enhance and develop their visitor economies to benefit residents and visitors. Learn more at visitutah.com
Issued by the Utah Office of Tourism Australian/New Zealand Press Office.
Trade: For more information and/or high-resolution images please contact: Corey Marshall at Canuckiwi on +64 21 555 463 or email corey@canuckiwi.com
Media: For more information and/or high-resolution images please contact: Joanne Motta at Canuckiwi on +61 403 180751or email joanne@canuckiwi.com
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