The Barbican has achieved a 22% increase in graduation ceremony bookings for the 2024 academic year. During that period, the venue hosted 33 graduations, reinforcing its status as a premier choice for academic celebrations in the heart of London and reflecting its growing appeal to the academic sector.
Over the graduation season, the Barbican will have welcomed approximately 76,000 students, their guests and other attendees, at ceremonies for a number of distinguished universities including:
- The University of Law
- City University
- St Georges Medical School
- University of London
- London Metropolitan University
- University of Wales – Trinity Saint David
- Coventry University
- Ravensbourne University
- The Courtauld Institute of Art
- The Open University
The Barbican is a world-renowned arts, conference and learning organisation. As a popular destination in the City of London, the Barbican attracts millions of people from around the world. They not only come to visit its stunning architecture and experience artistic excellence, but every year the Centre provides a striking backdrop for a range of commercial events including conferences, weddings, graduation ceremonies, filming and photo shoots, and product launches.
Charlie Smith, the Barbican’s Deputy Head of Sales, comments: “We’re so pleased that more and more universities want to host their graduation ceremonies at the Barbican. As such an iconic building in the heart of London, the Barbican offers a truly unique destination, and we’re excited to provide space for people to come together – for inspiration, connection, and joy.Graduation ceremonies are significant and symbolic for all involved and as such, they deserve an exceptional location, such as the Barbican.”
He adds: “As we partner with more universities to deliver a range of graduation events, we’re constantly innovating to utilise the full potential of our building and spacesto create even more memorable experiences for students and their families and friends.”
Scoring consistently high on Venue Verdict, and with a slew of glowing testimonials from clients, the Barbican’s popularity is growing across all parts of its business mix. Recently, 100% of respondents awarded the venue a nine or 10 out of 10 when asked how likely they would be to recommend the venue or use it again in the future – this figure is 20% above the industry average.
The Barbican’s unique combination of cultural heritage, modern facilities, a central London location, and a clear commitment to continuous improvement, makes it an ideal venue for universities seeking a distinctive and spectacular setting for their most important ceremonies.
