The City of London Corporation has approved a £191 million investment towards the Barbican Centre’s five-year renovation plan, the Barbican has announced. The investment, which represents 80% of the total funding, will allow the Barbican to restore and upgrade its main sites including the foyers, terrace and conservatory.
Construction will begin in 2027, and the centre will close for one year from June 2028. This first phase of construction is expected to be completed by 2030, ahead of the Barbican’s 50-year anniversary in 2032. This renovation is the Barbican’s first major renewal work.
The Centre announced it will aim to programme ‘differently with partners… associate companies and festivals’ during its site closure, while the London Symphony Orchestra, based in the Barbican, is committed to delivering a full 2028/29 season across London and on tour.
‘This is a defining moment for the Barbican’, said Philippa Simpson, the Barbican’s director for buildings and renewal.
‘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.’
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