Green light for landmark Barbican transformation plan

• £191m investment to transform one of the world’s leading multi-arts and conference venues

• Renewal will reignite an architectural icon and elevate the Barbican Centre’s global status

• Plans backed by more than 90% of respondents in public consultation

The City of London Corporation yesterday (11 December) approved the delivery plan for the Barbican Renewal Programme – a major investment that will secure the future of the internationally renowned creative and business event powerhouse for the next 50 years.

The £191 million City Corporation funding package – announced in December last year - will revitalise the Centre’s creative, performance, conference and event spaces to expand opportunities for formal and informal use.  It will bring people together, enabling creative programming, learning, business events and community engagement - reaffirming the Barbican’s role as a platform for artists, educators, corporates, associations and the public to debate, collaborate, and drive social change.

The Barbican’s distinctive brutalist foyers, lakeside terrace and renowned Conservatory will be sensitively restored and enhanced in this first phase of Renewal which opens-up public spaces, creates new experiences and upgrades vital infrastructure.

A retrofit-first approach will boost sustainability and protect the Grade II-listed estate, reusing materials such as Conservatory glass and pavers to reduce carbon emissions. Essential safety and security works will ensure the Centre remains a world-class public venue for decades to come.

Opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II, who hailed it as “one of the wonders of the modern world”, the Barbican now attracts millions of visitors and delegates annually. As its 50th anniversary approaches, the Renewal will build on this legacy by making the Centre more inclusive and accessible, including a new multi-faith room, increased bathroom provision, improved wayfinding, and full accessibility in the Conservatory.

To deliver the upgrades safely and efficiently, most Barbican programmes within the Centre will pause for one year from the end of June 2028 to June 2029. Cinemas on Beech Street will remain open, and the Barbican will programme differently with partners including residents the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Shakespeare Company, associate companies and festivals during this period.

The Business Events team will be working closely with long-standing clients over the coming months to minimise disruption to their event programmes, with commercial events delivered up to June 2028.  New commercial opportunities for summer 2029 and beyond, making the most of the renewed infrastructure and spaces, will be revealed as the renewal progresses, allowing clients to develop their long term event plans.

Jackie Boughton, Barbican Director of Commercial said:

“This decision ensures the Barbican will continue to be a leading player in the international conference and events sector.  As the global business event landscape changes, the renewal allows us to keep pace and provide the infrastructure to continue delivering the world leading commercial events we are renowned for.  We look forward to working with clients old and new as we enter this next phase and start to develop the next generation of business events in one of London’s most iconic buildings.”

Chris Hayward, City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, 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.”

Sir William Russell, Chair of the Barbican Board, 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.”

Philippa Simpson, Barbican Director for Buildings & Renewal, said:

“This is a defining moment for the Barbican. Today’s approval gives us the confidence and certainty we need to deliver essential upgrades for generations to come. The Barbican rose from the ruins of a bombsite nearly 50 years ago, and in summer 2029 we will embrace that same spirit of optimism – renewed, revitalised, and ready for the future.”

Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, Resident Orchestra at the Barbican, said:

“The LSO welcomes this vital investment in the modernisation and improvement of the Barbican Centre, which will deliver significant benefits for all our audiences. We remain fully committed to presenting a full programme of performances for the 2028/29 Season across a range of venues in London, as well as on tour across the UK and internationally.”

**The City Corporation’s £191m contribution represents around 80% of the funding needed for the first five-year phase, with the remainder to be raised through a Barbican fundraising campaign. The Renewal is anchored in four core design principles – designing for all, repairing and conserving, reactivating spaces, and boosting sustainability – and has secured overwhelming public support, with the plans backed by more than 90% of respondents in a public consultation.