Barbican Centre Unveils New Late-Night Dance Programme Running Until 3am
The iconic Barbican Centre in London has officially announced an exciting new nightlife initiative, marking a significant expansion of its after-hours offerings. The brutalist multi-arts venue will host a series of late-night parties under the banner 'Anyone Can Dance', with events scheduled to run until 3am, catering exclusively to an 18+ audience.
Eastern Margins to Headline Inaugural Event
Kicking off the programme is a highly anticipated night curated by Eastern Margins, a celebrated collective known for spotlighting music from East and South East Asian artists and their diasporas. This event, scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2026, will transform the Barbican ClubStage on Level -1 into a vibrant dancefloor.
The lineup promises an eclectic mix of talent, featuring bedroom DJ nick cheo, genre-blending artist KOLLIN, rapper Jianbo, and alt-pop singer MEYY. Tickets for this inaugural party will go on general sale at 10am on Friday, January 23, 2026.
A Step Up in Late-Night Programming
This new series represents a notable increase in the Barbican's commitment to late-night entertainment. In 2025, the venue hosted only two sold-out events that extended into the early hours, organised by Rinse FM and Club Stamina. Additionally, a collaboration with Boiler Room saw one of the Barbican's car parks temporarily converted into a rave space.
For 2026, the Barbican has planned five 'Anyone Can Dance' events, with details for the remaining four parties yet to be announced. The programme aims to celebrate dance and diaspora, building on the venue's growing reputation as a nocturnal destination.
Transforming a Brutalist Icon
The Barbican's unique architecture, with its labyrinthine corridors, rugged concrete surfaces, and dramatic curves, has long inspired imaginations of how it might function as a nightclub. The 'Anyone Can Dance' series turns this vision into reality, combining earth-rumbling beats and dynamic lighting with the venue's distinctive brutalist charm.
This initiative aligns with a broader trend of cultural institutions embracing nightlife, offering Londoners and visitors alike a fresh way to experience one of the city's most iconic landmarks after dark.
