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London arts complex the Barbican Centre has had the green light for a major £191m transformation.

Announced today by the Barbican and the City of London Corporation, the transformation plans, known as the Barbican Renewal Programme, aim to secure the future of the Barbican for the next 50 years.

Most Barbican programmes within the Centre will pause for one year from the end of June 2028 to June 2029 for the refurbishment, including the centre’s flagship Barbican Theatre.

Its cinemas on Beech Street will remain open, and the Barbican will programme with its partners, including residents the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Shakespeare Company, associate companies and festivals during this period.

The £191 million City Corporation funding package, announced in December last year, promises to revitalise the Centre’s creative and performance spaces.

The first phase of the renewal will see the Barbican’s distinctive brutalist foyers, lakeside terrace and Conservatory restored and enhanced, aiming to open-up public spaces and upgrade infrastructure.

A retrofit-first approach is planned to boost sustainability and protect the Grade II-listed estate, reusing materials such as Conservatory glass and pavers to reduce carbon emissions.

Opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Barbican now attracts millions of visitors 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.

Shows at the Barbican

Currently playing at the Barbican Theatre in the RSC’s acclaimed production of Twelfth Night until 17 January, starring Samuel West and Freema Agyeman.

Earlier this week it was announced that a new production of Cole Porter musical High Society is opening at the Barbican Theatre in July 2026, starring Helen George and Felicity Kendal.

What They Said

Chris Hayward, City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, said in a statement: “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 modernising the Barbican Centre, which will bring significant benefits to all our audiences. We remain fully committed to delivering a full 2028/29 Season across London and on tour, with our 2026/27 and 2027/28 Seasons at the Barbican proceeding as planned. LSO St Luke’s will stay open throughout the Barbican’s closure, becoming the hub of our operations with an expanded schedule of concerts, recordings and broadcasts supported by enhanced digital facilities. Our LSO Discovery learning and community programme will continue uninterrupted.”

High Society
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High Society
Main photo: Barbican Centre. Render of the renewal plans. Image by Kin Creatives

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