London’s Olympia has announced a wave of new venue openings beginning 15 June 2026, including a rooftop food hall, a 3,800-capacity live music venue, and two hotels, as part of its £1.3 billion transformation into a fully integrated entertainment and events destination.
The openings mark a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the 140-year-old West London landmark, which is being reimagined to attract 3.5 million visitors annually to its new hotels, events spaces and performance venues, with a projected total footfall of 10 million per year.
Rooftop dining and bars
Opening on 15 June beneath Olympia’s new rooftop Canopy is a collection of bars and restaurants exclusive to the destination. Bar Arriba will serve Mexican-inspired small bites and cocktails, while Wolves of Tokyo brings a Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar concept inspired by Tokyo nightlife. Lillie’s will pair seasonal British small plates with English sparkling wines and champagne.
The Canopy will also house Arbour, a multi-concept food hall featuring four eateries: Fry Baby, The Rambler, Whammy Burger and Café Modo, serving gourmet fried chicken, farm-to-fork dishes, smashed burgers and artisan coffee.
The new dining venues join Pillar Hall, a Grade-II*-listed building dating to 1886, which is already home to Idalia, an all-day restaurant; Pepperbird, a speakeasy-style bar; and Upstairs at Pillar Hall, a 500-capacity live music and events venue due to open in autumn 2026.
Olympia says the expanded food and drink offering is designed to increase dwell time and create networking opportunities for event organisers, exhibitors and visitors beyond the show floor. Select venues will also host live performances throughout the year.
Live music venue launches in June
British Airways ARC, a 3,800-capacity live music and entertainment venue operated by AEG Presents, opens on 16 June. Mercury Prize-nominated artist Self Esteem will headline two opening nights, followed by McFly on 18 June and the Zac Brown Band on 25 June.
Later in the year, Van Morrison will perform a five-night residency from 23 to 29 September, and global artist Khalid is scheduled for 24 October. The venue features cutting-edge audio technology and is positioned as a major addition to London’s live music circuit ahead of the summer festival season.
A second performance venue, British Airways Theatre, is set to open at Olympia in 2027. The 1,575-capacity theatre, operated by Trafalgar Entertainment and Broadway’s The Shubert Organization, will be the largest permanent new theatre to open in London in 50 years.
Two new hotels open this summer
The 204-room Hyatt Regency London Olympia opens on 6 July, offering five-star accommodation for both leisure and business travellers attending Olympia’s conferences, exhibitions and live events. The hotel combines contemporary design with what the company describes as seamless service.
The 146-room citizenM London Olympia is also expected to open in early summer. Located within the Grade-II-listed National Hall, the hotel integrates original architectural features with the brand’s signature contemporary design and smart technology.
Public spaces and digital installations
The transformation includes 2.5 acres of new public space. The Canopy and the Square sit on Olympia’s second-level rooftop, accessible via a new public staircase. Olympia Way, a 250-metre pedestrianised street leading from Kensington (Olympia) station, is due to be completed later in 2026.
An 83-metre-long digital screen called the Canvas will launch later this summer above Emberton Walk, an internal public street. The installation will serve as a platform for digital art, live content and large-scale activations.
Economic impact and events programme
Once fully operational, Olympia is forecast to inject more than £600 million into the UK economy each year and directly generate 7,000 jobs.
This summer’s events programme includes the London Wine Fair, Hyper Japan, and the London Premier Padel P1 tournament from 4 to 9 August. One Olympia, a new 550,000 sq ft office building, will also begin welcoming tenants later this year, including Premier League Studios and a new International Convention Centre.
Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia Estates, 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.”
Andy O’Sullivan, CEO of Olympia Events, said: “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.”
Photo is courtesy of Olympia
