Next year’s Shrine Directors Association (SDA) convention will be hosted by Al Malaikah Shrine in Los Angeles, California, April 9-12, 2026. Aladdin’s own 1st Ceremonial Master Clay Jones is 2nd Vice President of SDA this year. Clay and I (his lady Jill) just returned home on Sunday from the pre-con meeting in Los Angeles with plenty of pictures of Al Malaikah’s beautiful building and the view from the Griffith Observatory overlooking LA.
Al Malaikah’s 2025 Potentate Dario Gamboa graciously gave the SDA Officers and their ladies a grand tour of their history-rich facility, which has been home to the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Miss Universe Pageant, and SAG Awards, among many others. It seats approximately 6,300 people, and its stage is big enough–measuring in at 194′ wide and 69′ deep–that the LA Lakers have played some of their playoff games on it. In the world of movie premiers (it’s Hollywood, after all), Star Wars: The Last Jedi and, more recently, Barbie have had their world premiers in this architecturally stunning Shrine venue. Also within their building, you will find a large collection of both Shrine and Masonic treasures in two museum spaces.
Enjoy these pictures of the Al Malaikah Shrine, the view from the Griffith Observatory, and a few of the CityWalk at Universal Studios. If you ever get a chance to make it to LA, don’t miss an opportunity to tour this building. Pictures don’t do it justice.
If you are interested in attending SDA 2026, visit the convention’s website for details. There will be plenty to do in LA and, if this past weekend was any indication, Al Malaikah will definitely be rolling out the red carpet for everyone!
