Culture and Leisure at Risk, Glasgow 2026

I have compiled a list of closures and proposed closures of venues in Glasgow so far in 2026. Drivers of closure seem to be a combination of factors, some relevant ones being Outerspaces residents being given short periods of notice to vacate their temporary spaces and City Property (arms length org of Glasgow City Council) forcing 'market' rent increases on tenants who previously paid low rates or peppercorn rent or giving notice to vacate within 28 days.

I am concerned about the pace of closures happening in Glasgow in 2026. We are expecting Glasgow International to happen in June, and to host the Commonwealth Games for the second time between 23 July – 2 August. Usually funders would expect venues to open during these periods and record high levels of both footfall and financial turnover. To say that it is shortsighted to close venues in advance of such a boom period would be a massive understatement.

As a Glaswegian, I find it deeply upsetting to see arts and culture being tossed aside so readily and I hope that others will also try to bring to light the sharp practices being employed against organisations who bring so much to our city.

Please message me on Instagram @eblknd if you have any updates to this information!

Thanks for reading :)

Emma Balkind

Wing Hong Chinese Elderly Centre - Announced Jan 9

Landlord City Property (Glasgow CC arms length) requested change of rent from peppercorn amount of £1 a year to £18k per year. Garnethill site will close if agreement not made.

Chinese Elderly Centre

For more than three decades, the centre has offered food, friendship and cultural connection — but now rising rents threaten to close one of the city’s last Chinese community hubs

Charity for elderly facing closure after council scraps 'peppercorn' rent agreement

The Wing Hong Centre is one of a number of charities that has to raise thousands of pounds or face closure.

CCA Glasgow - Closed Jan 30

Filed for Liquidation. All businesses and tenants affected including Third Eye bar (CCA-owned), Woom Room, The Slow Chai, Cryptic, Take Me Somewhere, Scottish Writers Centre, Playwrights' Studio, SQIFF, Tricky Hat, Body Remedy, Project X, Ando Glaso, Glasgow Seed Library, Common Ground, Intermedia Gallery.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/25878655.glasgows-cca-boarded-closure-jobs-lost/

CCA to be investigated over financial governance concerns

The Scottish charity regulator has announced it will investigate Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts, which folded last month, due to concerns raised about its "historic financial management".

16 Collective - Closed Feb 7, currently relocating

Gallery was forced to close at short notice due to change of ownership at Granite House, 173 Trongate. They are in the process of moving to 5 Florence Street.

16 Collective | 🔴 Announcement ◇ 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒚 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 — 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅 & 𝑷𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒂 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔 We are so sad to say that we are forced to close our exhibition earlier... | Instagram

141 likes, 0 comments - 16_collective on February 4, 2026: "🔴 Announcement ◇ 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒚 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 — 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅 & 𝑷𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒂 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔 We are so sad to say that we are forced to close our exhibition earlier...

Theatre 118 - Announced Feb 11, closed Feb 18

Theatre group given 7 days notice to vacate their premises in an empty office block. Seeking new premises.

Broadway Baby: Glasgow's Theatre 118 abruptly shut down

Check out our feature on Broadway Baby: Glasgow's Theatre 118 abruptly shut down

People’s Palace - Announced Feb 20, indefinite closure

Indefinite delay of reopening announced, after closure in April 2024 for £36m refurbishment.

Reopening of Glasgow's People's Palace delayed indefinitely

The People's Palace on Glasgow Green shut in April 2024 for refurbishment work costing just under £36m.

On Peoples’ Palaces by Hailey Maxwell

On Peoples’ Palaces by Hailey Maxwell TheDrouth Having quietly endured almost twenty years of managed decline, writes Hailey Maxwell, it is crucial that we consider the possibility that the Peoples’ Palace on Glasgow Green – a valuable civic asset and monument to Scottish history and working-class life may presently be at real risk ...

Listen Gallery - Due to close Mar 4

Landlord taking back York Street space which they have been in for under a year. Actively seeking new premises. Final gig will be on March 4th for Counterflows.

Fundraiser for a new space:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/donation-form/help-listen-gallery-find-their-next-home

Love is serving the ears now | The dreaded news has come, we’re being forced to leave @outerspaces.scotland York Street. I’ve lost so much sleep from the anxiety and... | Instagram

1,182 likes, 112 comments - listengallery on February 21, 2026: "The dreaded news has come, we’re being forced to leave @outerspaces.scotland York Street. I’ve lost so much sleep from the anxiety and...

Trongate 103 - Announced Mar 2, will close 27 Mar

Landlord City Property (Glasgow CC arms length) requested x4 rent increase or termination within 28 days

Businesses affected: GMAC Film, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, Glasgow Print Studio, Street Level Photoworks, Project Ability, Project Rooms and Transmission Gallery.

Importantly, this site was specifically designed for these orgs and they were given a 25 year lease which is not being honoured.

Petition to save Trongate 103: https://www.change.org/p/save-trongate103-from-closure

Trongate 103: Glasgow arts organisations face eviction - The Skinny

A host of Glasgow arts organisations have had their leases ended at the Trongate 103 arts hub in Merchant City.

Queens Park Glasshouses - Announced 26 Feb, to close by June

Announcement made to SRUC students that horticultural course which rents from Glasgow City Council will end and the building will close.

All personnel, including greenhouse workers, teaching, and support staff, have been dismissed and must vacate by June 2026. Building dome was removed in 2020 for repair.

Glasgow Queen's Park Glasshouse SRUC Quits Uncertain Future 2026

Glasgow's Queen's Park glasshouse faces closure after SRUC quits lease. Uncertain future amid feasibility study & community dismay. Local impact explored.

At risk and/or anticipated closure in 2026

The Flying Duck - Announced in Jan, potential closure 31 May

Vegan venue owned and operated by Craig Tannock which opened in 2007. This basement space is used for a mix of club nights, gigs and theatre productions. An email to events promoters in January noted that a combination of issues meant they were seeking a new operator for the space, and would cease operations in May.

Adrian's Bar - Announced 7 March

LGBTQ bar and venue on Victoria Road opened in June 2025. As of March, they have announced a new membership scheme as a fundraiser in order to try and stay open.

Donations and subscriptions here: https://ko-fi.com/adriansbar

Adrian's Bar | We need your help!! 💘 We are fundraising to stay open by opening a membership scheme. Via Ko-Fi (link is in our bio or on... | Instagram

984 likes, 10 comments - adriansbarglasgow on March 7, 2026: "We need your help!! 💘 We are fundraising to stay open by opening a membership scheme. Via Ko-Fi (link is in our bio or on...

Existing closures since before 2026

Scotland Street School

Few updates since 2020 apart from a proposal in 2021 to reopen as a nursery.

The Space / The Dream Machine (near the Barras)

Crowdfunded around a year ago to try to open a new space, remains closed.

Save The Dream Machine

Help Dream Machine Productions C.I.C. reach their goal by donating or sharing with your friends.

St Andrew's In the Square
Previously used as a venue and restaurant, closed since 2019 and put up for sale the same year.

St Andrew's in the Square is up for Sale - Glasgowist

Glasgow Building Preservation Trust is to sell the famous St Andrew’s in the Square, which is considered one of the finest classical churches in Scotland. Alan Creevy, the Director in charge of the sale at Chartered Surveyors CDLH, commented, “We are delighted to have been instructed to market such a prestigious building at the heart […]

Whitehill Pool
Shut indefinitely since 2019. In December 2023 RAAC was discovered in its roof (a type of bubbly concrete prone to failure past its lifespan of 30 years). Living Rent and Save Whitehill Pool have been supporting the case for this pool to be refurbished and reopened but as of Feb 2026 it was noted that Capital Funding is not likely to support this until 2028/29 financial year.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/25883929.whitehill-pool-protesters-left-waiting-cash-reopen/

Non-renewed Meanwhile Spaces
Meanwhile Spaces is a scheme run by Glasgow City Council to encourage the use of vacant properties. It seems that some tenants were unable to renew when rents were put up. The Library of Olfactive Material closed but has since moved to become the commercial shop Scented, and Sogo Arts also closed.

Closed but with plans to reopen

The Lighthouse

Sustainable Ventures given 99 year lease in November 2025 for tech growth generator.

Long-term lease granted for climate tech start-up centre at the Lighthouse - Glasgow City Council

A Glasgow City Council committee today (6 November) granted a long-term (99 years) lease to Sustainable Ventures for the use of the Lighthouse in Glasgow city centre as a location to help climate tech firms grow. This long-term lease will bring new life to the council-owned building, which has not been in full productive use for several years.

McLellan Galleries

Included in £7m Sauchiehall Street heritage funding.
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/7-million-investment-to-transform-scottish-town-and-city-centres-through-heritage

Langside Halls

Closed since 2017, but has recently been allocated over £300k of funding towards its refurbishment. Large metal fences have been put up around the building as of 2026.