New 3,800-capacity live music and events venue to open in London

Set to open in 2026, the British Airways ARC will be located within Kensington's 138-year-old Olympia exhibition venue

Plans have been announced for a new 3,800-capacity live music and events venue in London.

Set to open in 2026, British Airways ARC will be purpose-built within the Olympia exhibition centre in Kensington, West London, as part of a £1.3 billion renovation project for the 138-year-old events space. 

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Bookings are now open for the "state-of-the-art" space, which is being launched by global entertainment giant AEG, which also owns London's O2 Arena, Greenwich and the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, and festivals such as All Points East, LIDO and BST Summer Time.

In addition to the British Airways ARC, the renovated Olympia events space will feature a “1,574-seat theatre, 30 bars and restaurants, two hotels and 550,000 sq ft of office space,” according to a press release.  

First opened in 1886, the Olympia Exhibition Centre has hosted a wide range of events, including boxing matches, fashion shows, and Christmas fairs. Music events held at the venue include shows from Bloc Party, Primal Scream, Chemical Brothers and Foals.

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Andrew Spencer, Chief Operating Officer AEG Presents Europe, said, “This is a pivotal moment as we open the diary for bookings and reveal the name of British Airways ARC.“

“We’re delighted to be working with British Airways, and as we take the next step towards opening, all the teams are very excited,” he continues.

Olympia is a place that has an incredible musical history, which we want to honour whilst creating a venue that is thoroughly modern with world-class facilities for artists and fans alike.”

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter

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