London is getting a new mid-sized live music venue. AEG Presents have confirmed the opening of British Airways ARC, a 3,800-capacity space being built above the west exhibition hall at Olympia, set to open in 2026.
The room is designed specifically for live shows and events, filling a gap between theatre-sized gigs and arenas. Fans can already register for updates and future announcements at britishairwaysarc.co.uk, or follow @britishairwaysarc on social media.
The venue is part of the ongoing £1.3bn redevelopment of Olympia, which will also include a new theatre, restaurants, bars, hotels and office space. While the complex itself is changing, the site has long been tied to live music — artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Cure, Primal Scream, Rod Stewart and The Chemical Brothers have played at Olympia over the decades.
ARC will be operated by AEG Presents UK, who also run venues such as indigo at The O2, Eventim Apollo and Watford Colosseum. Ticketing will go through AXS.Olympia’s historic Grand Hall will return to hosting regular live music and events, with ASM Global confirmed to run operations at the venue. The first announced show is a co-headline from Bloc Party and Interpol, promoted by SJM Concerts, with more dates expected to follow.
Meanwhile, ticketing for the new 3,800-capacity space British Airways ARC, also at Olympia, will be handled by AXS, the ticketing company owned by AEG.
Andrew Spencer, COO of AEG Presents Europe, said the opening of ARC’s booking diary marks the next step in bringing live music back to the site. He added that the ambition is to respect Olympia’s history while developing a venue built for current touring needs, both for audiences and artists.
More show announcements for both spaces are due soOlympia’s historic Grand Hall will return to hosting regular live music and events, with ASM Global confirmed to run operations at the venue. The first announced show is a co-headline from Bloc Party and Interpol, promoted by SJM Concerts, with more dates expected to follow.
Meanwhile, ticketing for the new 3,800-capacity space British Airways ARC, also at Olympia, will be handled by AXS, the ticketing company owned by AEG.
Andrew Spencer, COO of AEG Presents Europe, has 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 BA and as we take the next step towards opening all the teams are very excited. 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.”
There are no artist announcements yet — the venue has only just opened bookings — but the expectation is clear: this is another room for touring artists on the rise, and a new stop on London’s live circuit.
More details are coming soon. For now, the space is built, the name is confirmed, and the stage is waiting.
