Olympia, a London landmark opened in 1886, has completed a significant phase of its £1.3bn regeneration project. The 14-acre site now features 2.5 acres of new public streets, walkways, and terraces, alongside its Grade II-listed halls.
The redevelopment includes the addition of two new hotels and the newly opened British Airways ARC. A 3,800-capacity music venue, operated with AEG Presents, is also part of the new offerings, with a 1,575-seat theatre scheduled to open in 2027, which will be London's largest new theatre in nearly 50 years.
Michael Volkert, CEO of Olympia, described the project as "one of London's largest regeneration projects," aiming to transform the historic Victorian building into a modern, mixed-use estate. The site now includes 550,000 sq ft of office space situated above the historic halls.
Olympia Events' COO Alex Lewis is focusing on diversifying the venue's calendar beyond exhibition season, citing a major Padel tournament in August as an example of attracting different types of business. The ambition is for the site to function as a connected, estate-wide destination for various events.
Once fully complete, the revitalised Olympia expects to draw approximately 10 million visitors each year, projected to contribute more than £600 million annually to the UK economy.