What’s on

All events

Sun 18 May

Photo of concrete flytower surrounded by trees and plants in the Barbican Conservatory
Event
Tours & public spaces

Visit the Conservatory

Free

Visit the second biggest Conservatory in London and explore our hidden tropical oasis.

Huma Bhabha standing in a studio with two tall sculptures, one carved out and one with markings ready to be carved.
Event
Art & design

Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha

Within a new, intimate gallery in the Barbican, contemporary artist Huma Bhabha's monumental sculptures forge new dialogues with works by 20th century sculptor Alberto Giacometti.

A naked man lies in a cave, holding a sword that stabs him in the side.
Event
Cinema

RBO Live 24-25: Die Walkure

Gods and mortals battle in the second chapter of Wagner’s Ring cycle. 

Leila Josefowicz
Event
Classical music

London Symphony Orchestra/Susanna Mälkki

Showpieces for the orchestra meet a dazzling concerto, brimming with characteristic Stravinsky flair and melody.

Quatuor Diotima holding broken instruments.
Event
Classical music

Quatuor Diotima: Boulez Anniversary Concert

Performed by one of its outstanding interpreters, Boulez’s uncompromising Livre pour quatuor is at the heart of a centenary tribute to the composer referencing Webern, Bach, and impassioned Debussy. 

Mon 19 May

Black Sound moving image display
Event
Library

Black Sound: The Story of British Black Music

Free

This spring, the Barbican Music Library hosts Black Sound London, a groundbreaking exhibition that demonstrates the outsized impact British Black music has had on the world stage.

Architecture Tour
Event
Tours & public spaces

Architecture Tours

Step into the heart of London’s Brutalist legacy.

Pablo Ferrandez holding his cello
Event
Classical music

Elgar's Cello Concerto & Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances

A Russian in exile, an Englishman in despair, and a Puerto Rican take on fantastical fandangoes: a welcome visit from the RLPO under its charismatic Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan.

Tue 20 May

Black Sound moving image display
Event
Library

Black Sound: The Story of British Black Music

Free

This spring, the Barbican Music Library hosts Black Sound London, a groundbreaking exhibition that demonstrates the outsized impact British Black music has had on the world stage.

Architecture Tour
Event
Tours & public spaces

Architecture Tours

Step into the heart of London’s Brutalist legacy.

Huma Bhabha standing in a studio with two tall sculptures, one carved out and one with markings ready to be carved.
Event
Art & design

Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha

Within a new, intimate gallery in the Barbican, contemporary artist Huma Bhabha's monumental sculptures forge new dialogues with works by 20th century sculptor Alberto Giacometti.

Wed 21 May

Black Sound moving image display
Event
Library

Black Sound: The Story of British Black Music

Free

This spring, the Barbican Music Library hosts Black Sound London, a groundbreaking exhibition that demonstrates the outsized impact British Black music has had on the world stage.

Architecture Tour
Event
Tours & public spaces

Architecture Tours

Step into the heart of London’s Brutalist legacy.

Huma Bhabha standing in a studio with two tall sculptures, one carved out and one with markings ready to be carved.
Event
Art & design

Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha

Within a new, intimate gallery in the Barbican, contemporary artist Huma Bhabha's monumental sculptures forge new dialogues with works by 20th century sculptor Alberto Giacometti.

Sir Antonio Pappano conducting
Event
Classical music

London Symphony Orchestra/ Half Six Fix – Berlioz

Kick-start your evening with a 60-minute Half Six Fix concert. Introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.

Guildhall jazz singers
Event
Contemporary music

Guildhall Jazz Voices

Join us for a celebratory showcase of the talents of Guildhall Jazz department's sensational vocal groups.

Desert Cloud
Event
Art & design Talks & events

Architecture on Stage: Graham Stevens

Artist and architectural designer Graham Stevens presents his pioneering work in the development of pneumatic structures.

Thu 22 May

Black Sound moving image display
Event
Library

Black Sound: The Story of British Black Music

Free

This spring, the Barbican Music Library hosts Black Sound London, a groundbreaking exhibition that demonstrates the outsized impact British Black music has had on the world stage.

green blue background w/ are you listening call to action
Event
Contemporary music Immersive

Feel the Sound

Imagine experiencing sound for the very first time.

acid house smiley in sky
Event
Contemporary music Immersive Theatre & dance

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats

It's 1989 and finding the party is the only thing that matters. 

Architecture Tour
Event
Tours & public spaces

Architecture Tours

Step into the heart of London’s Brutalist legacy.

Huma Bhabha standing in a studio with two tall sculptures, one carved out and one with markings ready to be carved.
Event
Art & design

Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha

Within a new, intimate gallery in the Barbican, contemporary artist Huma Bhabha's monumental sculptures forge new dialogues with works by 20th century sculptor Alberto Giacometti.

Lisa Batiashvili holding her violin and wearing a black dress standing in front of a black background.
Event
Classical music

London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano

Dreams and fantasies from enigmatic Szymanowski to Berlioz’s most rock’n’roll work, the Symphonie fantastique. 

A black and white photograph of a man sitting in a rubber tree, wearing white
Event
Cinema

Fashion in Film Festival: Artist Films - Colonial Threads

Three contemporary artist films explore how textiles and dress are directly implicated in histories of land, colonialism, migration and trade.

Fri 23 May

Black Sound moving image display
Event
Library

Black Sound: The Story of British Black Music

Free

This spring, the Barbican Music Library hosts Black Sound London, a groundbreaking exhibition that demonstrates the outsized impact British Black music has had on the world stage.

green blue background w/ are you listening call to action
Event
Contemporary music Immersive

Feel the Sound

Imagine experiencing sound for the very first time.

acid house smiley in sky
Event
Contemporary music Immersive Theatre & dance

In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats

It's 1989 and finding the party is the only thing that matters. 

Architecture Tour
Event
Tours & public spaces

Architecture Tours

Step into the heart of London’s Brutalist legacy.

Huma Bhabha standing in a studio with two tall sculptures, one carved out and one with markings ready to be carved.
Event
Art & design

Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha

Within a new, intimate gallery in the Barbican, contemporary artist Huma Bhabha's monumental sculptures forge new dialogues with works by 20th century sculptor Alberto Giacometti.

A photo of Mark Elder with pink circular swirls around him
Event
Classical music

BBC Symphony Orchestra: Elder conducts Mahler

Goodnight, Vienna: Sir Mark Elder conducts Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, as the BBC Symphony Orchestra brings its season to an unforgettable close.