The British Airways ARC officially opens on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, though for Metal fans, July will be more interesting with three nights with Sammy Hagar, which follow a show with Joan Jett And The Blackhearts.
For Lucy Noble, senior vice president of UK venues for AEG Presents, the opening of this 3,800 capacity purpose-built music venue is very special, and MetalTalk were delighted to be offered a tour.
British Airways ARC is the first venue of its size to be built in London from the ground up in over a decade and, as Noble told us, features a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system.
You can sense how special this will be when it is alive with quality live music blasting out. “The audience will feel close to the artist even if they are at the back,” Noble says.
The stage is quite high at 1.7 metres. With 37 spaces for wheelchairs, accessible dressing rooms care has been taken to make this a venue for all. Accessibility has been built in rather than bolted on.
The British Airways Wing, a VIP premium viewing area on the first floor, offers an alternative experience, but it is just one part of British Airways ARC’s aim to deliver an unparalleled live event experience.
This new world-class venue is part of the £1.3 billion transformation of London’s iconic Olympia. There is a 1,575-seat theatre, a host of bars, restaurants and eateries, two hotels and 550,000 sq ft of office space.
The move marks a strategy for AEG’s long-term investment in UK live music. The British Airways ARC has been designed as an artist and fan-first building, boasting the very best audio and employing cutting-edge technical innovation.
Noble says the partnership with British Airways “is very special” and is part of the aims for AEG to deliver a vibrant cultural hub where music, nightlife and dining all meet in one place.
There are cross-genre ambitions, with a five-night Van Morrison run and The London Jazz Festival sitting alongside dates that will interest MetalTalk readers more directly. MetalTalk will cover Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in July, and one of the three nights with Sammy Hagar.
MetalTalk cannot wait to test this out with the venue full and keen to report back. The British Airways ARC opens on 16 June. See you at the bar.
