Barbican Centre to close in 2028 for £240 million refurbishment

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January 16, 2026
3 min read

Barbican Centre to close in 2028 for £240 million refurbishment

Brutalist landmark, the Barbican Centre, will close for a year from June 2028 for a £280 million refurbishment. The venue’s foyers, lakeside terraces, and conservatory will all be renovated as part of the first phase of the Barbican Renewal Programme which runs until 2030. It will also open up public spaces, create new experience, and upgrade vital infrastructure.

The City of London Corporation has contributed £191 million, or around 80% of the needed funding for the first five-year phase. The rest will come from a fundraising campaign.

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“The City of London Corporation has approved a concentrated period of works which will mean that the majority of our spaces will be under construction and not accessible for roughly one year, between the end of June 2028 and the end of June 2029. This approach ensures that Renewal will be delivered safely, on time and on budget,” a spokesperson for the Barbican said.

“Now we have the green light on the delivery plan for the Renewal programme, we’re looking at how we collaborate with partners differently and go beyond our walls, across art forms, during construction and beyond,” they added.

The centre’s cinemas on Beech Street will continue to open during the closure, while adjoining residential estates will still be publicly accessible.

The Barbican Centre is home to the Barbican Art Gallery, the Curve, and the Level 2 gallery. It was opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II who described it as “one of the wonders of the modern world.” In 2032, it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.

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