New music and entertainment venue, British Airways ARC, Hyatt Regency London Olympia, and a curated mix of bars and restaurants will open at Olympia this summer as part of its £1.3bn transformation.
Olympia, London’s newest destination for entertainment, culture, hospitality and events, has announced a wave of new venues set to open from 15 June, marking a bold new chapter in the £1.3 billion transformation of the much-loved London landmark.
Famed for its 140-year-old heritage halls, which have hosted some of the world’s most iconic events, Olympia has been reimagined as a dynamic destination designed to elevate the experience for organisers, exhibitors, and visitors alike within one fully integrated ecosystem.Bringing together a collection of new, state-of-the-art venues, including a host of new places to eat and drink, British Airways ARC, British Airways Theatre, Hyatt Regency London Olympia, citizenM London Olympia, as well as new public spaces for all to enjoy, the transformed Olympia is redefining the global events landscape in London.
London’s new hotspot for premium food and drink
Opening 15 June under Olympia’s new rooftop Canopy is a collection of “only-at-Olympia” bars and restaurants. These include Bar Arriba, a Mexican-inspired hangout serving small bites and cocktails, Wolves of Tokyo, a Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by Tokyo’s after-dark energy, and Lillie’s, pairing seasonal British small plates with English sparkling wines and champagne. The Canopy will also be home to Arbour, a multi-concept food hall which will house four eateries serving up gourmet fried chicken, farm-to-fork eats, smashed burgers, and artisan coffee; Fry Baby, The Rambler, Whammy Burger and Café Modo.
These new venues follow the opening of Pillar Hall, a Grade-II*-listed building dating back to 1886 and located right across from Kensington (Olympia) station, which is home to three distinct concepts: the recently opened Idalia, a vibrant, grand all-day restaurant; Pepperbird, an intimate speakeasy-style bar inspired by Olympia’s musical heritage; and Upstairs at Pillar Hall, a 500+ capacity live music and events venue opening in the autumn.
Combined with the elevated food and beverage offering being delivered across Olympia’s heritage halls, the new International Convention Centre and The Addison premium lounge, led by Olympia Events and Legends Global, these new bars and restaurants will enhance Olympia’s overall dining proposition.
Transforming it beyond a traditional events destination, the new collection of bespoke places to eat and drink will support extended dwell-times and create more networking opportunities for organisers, exhibitors and visitors, beyond the show floor. Select venues will also host live performances, creating a welcoming, vibrant and social environment for event goers and international visitors.
Leading destination for live entertainment
British Airways ARC, the 3,800-capacity live music and entertainment venue operated by AEG Presents, opens on 16 June with Mercury-Prize nominated Self Esteem headlining two nights. An eclectic lineup of UK and international acts will follow, including British band McFly (18 June), Zac Brown Band (25 June), a five-night residency from legendary singer-songwriter Van Morrison (23-29 September), and global superstar Khalid (24 October) to name a few. With London’s summer and festival season ahead, British Airways ARC brings multi-generational event goers a new destination to experience the best of live music with its cutting-edge audio and global talent.
In addition, London’s largest permanent new theatre in 50 years will open at Olympia in 2027. The 1,575-capacity British Airways Theatre, operated by London-based Trafalgar Entertainment and Broadway’s The Shubert Organization, will continue Olympia’s legacy as a stage for performance, poised to deliver world-class cultural shows. This venue will mark the grand finale of Olympia’s openings.
A landmark for hospitality
Olympia will also welcome two new hotels from global brands: the 204-room Hyatt Regency London Olympia, opening 6 July, and the 146-room citizenM London Olympia, also expected to open in early summer.
The five-star Hyatt Regency London Olympia offers contemporary guest rooms blending comfort, style and seamless service, catering to both leisure and business travellers attending Olympia’s conferences, exhibitions and live events.
citizenM London Olympia brings the brand’s signature mix of contemporary design and smart technology to Olympia. Located within the Grade-II-listed National Hall, the hotel carefully preserves and integrates original architectural elements, offering a stylish base for guests exploring Olympia and the wider capital.
New public space for all
The destination will be complemented by 2.5 acres of public spaces. As well as the Canopy and the Square, located on Olympia’s second-level rooftop and accessible via a new public staircase, Olympia Way, a 250-metre-long pedestrianized street, which will be completed later this year and will welcome visitors to the destination as they arrive at Kensington (Olympia) station. All of these spaces will be brought to life through a year-round programme of events and cultural activations.
In addition, soaring above Emberton Walk, a newly created internal public street, will be the Canvas, an 83-metre-long, 8-metre-wide digital screen which will launch later this summer and form an immersive, interactive platform for digital art, live content, and large-scale activations.
A blend of heritage and innovation
Opened 140 years ago, the heritage halls at Olympia are the home of remarkable events, serving as a showcase for global culture and creativity on the world stage.
This summer’s programme includes the annual London Wine Fair and Hyper Japan, alongside events taking place at Olympia for the first time, such as London Premier Padel P1, bringing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports to Olympia from 4-9 August.
As well as public venues and spaces, One Olympia, a new 550,000 sq ft state-of-the-art office building, will also start welcoming tenants later this year, and will be home to, amongst others, Premier League Studios, the Premier League’s new international content production arm; an International Convention Centre (ICC) to complement the existing heritage halls; and The Addison, a premium lounge.
Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia Estates, which manages the destination, said: “This series of incredible summer openings marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Olympia, highlighting its evolution into a dynamic new destination where our guests will be able to experience the best of London’s culture, entertainment, and hospitality. With so much to discover, we cannot wait to welcome visitors from the capital, the UK, and all over the world to explore everything that Olympia has to offer.”
Andy O’Sullivan, CEO of Olympia Events, the operator behind the destination’s event spaces, said: “Olympia’s summer openings mark a defining moment in our evolution, as we enhance our iconic event spaces with a fully integrated destination where world-class events, entertainment, hospitality and culture come together. These new venues are designed to enhance every visit, giving organisers, delegates, visitors and Londoners more reasons to spend time here, connect, and experience something exceptional before, during and after every event. As Olympia enters this exciting new chapter, we are strengthening our position as one of the world’s most dynamic event-led destinations.”
Once fully operational, Olympia is set to inject more than £600 million into the UK economy each year, directly generating 7,000 jobs and attracting 3.5 million visitors to its new hotels, events and performance venues, with a projected total annual footfall of 10 million.
The Olympia Events team will join London & Partners at IMEX Frankfurt on 19-21 May. Visit Stand B440 (Halle 8) to see how Olympia’s exciting transformation into a fully integrated destination, alongside our new and enhanced spaces are redefining what’s possible for events in London.
About Olympia
Olympia London is undergoing a £1.3 billion transformation into one of London’s largest mixed-use entertainment, events, and cultural destinations. Launching in phases across 2026 and 2027, the redevelopment will feature new live entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants, office spaces, public areas, and educational facilities alongside its historic event halls and convention spaces. Key additions include the British Airways ARC music venue, the British Airways Theatre, hotels by citizenM and Hyatt Regency, and Olympia’s new International Convention Centre. The project is being developed by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International, with design by Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC.