Max SteventonThe Barbican Centre, a live event, conference, and arts venue, will temporarily close for a year from June 2028 to June 2029 to accommodate for a £191m renewal that was approved yesterday (11 December).
The Barbican Renewal Programme was approved by the City of London Corporation, which confirmed in December 2024 that it will provide a major funding package to support the scheme.
The corporation’s £191m contribution equates for 80% of the funding required for the five-year phase with the rest to be raised through a Barbican funding raising campaign.
According to the Grade II listed venue, the renewal will see event and conference spaces upgraded “to expand opportunities for formal and informal use”.
Improvements include renewal to its foyer, conservatory and Lakeside Terrace as well as improved accessibility throughout the venue.
What the Barbican coin the retro-fit approach, the renewal programme will protect its listing and boost sustainability by reusing material such as conservatory glass – which will help reduce carbon emissions.
Opened in 1982, the Barbican has played host to a wide range of events including art exhibitions, a residency for London Symphony Orchestra, several high-profile meetings and conferences as well as housing library spaces and onsite cafés.
The Barbican said it has spoken to partners and those who regularly hold events at the London venue to ensure 2028’s closure does not disrupt their event calendars.
The Barbican Renewal Programme dates back to 2023, when the City of London Corporation committed £25 million to initial upgrade work on the centre’s conference and performing arts facilities.
The latest upgrades will mark the Barbican’s most dramatic transformation yet.
Chair of the Barbican Board Sir William Russell said, “Today marks a huge step into the Barbican’s future. We’re not just preserving the centrepiece of the UK’s largest listed site but unlocking the full potential of a cultural icon – a new dawn has begun.”
City of London Corporation policy chairman Chris Hayward said, “Today’s decision secures the Barbican Centre’s future as a world-leading cultural and economic powerhouse.
“Our major investment strengthens its role as an international destination for audiences and artists, supporting thousands of jobs and generating tens of millions for London’s economy. Delivering these works quickly will ensure the Barbican can welcome even more people into a fully accessible, future-ready Centre.”