King George’s Hall gets bold new look ahead of autumn reopening

King George’s Hall has unveiled a bold new look ahead of its grand reopening this autumn, as the Blackburn venue prepares to reopen after £13.5million of investment.

The new branding marks the launch of the venue’s reopening campaign, The King Is Back!, and will roll out across social media, the website, advertising and promotional materials in the coming weeks.

According to Blackburn with Darwen Council, the rebrand has been inspired by the range of live events audiences can expect from September, including music, comedy, theatre, family shows and other live performances.

It also nods to the venue’s history, with acts including Queen, The Beatles and David Bowie having played there over the years.

The campaign will feature upcoming names such as astronaut Tim Peake, Gabrielle, Jason Donovan, Paul Smith, Tez Ilyas and the new 2026 pantomime, The Wizard of Oz. The council says more announcements are expected in the coming weeks.

The branding was developed by the BwD Venues Team with Source Creative, with new artwork by artist Alexandra Gallagher.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said the campaign was “another significant milestone” as the hall moves towards reopening this autumn.

He said the venue has had £13.5million of improvements, including a new roof, more comfortable seating, bigger bars, additional toilets, new lifts, and improved heating and air conditioning.

He added that the campaign is part of the council’s aim to attract audiences from across Lancashire and beyond and support Blackburn town centre.

Among the latest additions to the programme is James B Partridge and his Primary School Bangers tour. Other acts already announced include The Proclaimers, Shed Seven, Lucy Beaumont, Rachel Parris and Simon Brodkin, with tickets on sale for more than 40 live shows.

Councillor Mahmood said King George’s Hall has been at the heart of the region’s cultural life for more than 100 years, welcoming artists from Queen, The Beatles and David Bowie to Liam Gallagher and Florence + The Machine.

He said the reopening will strengthen Blackburn’s reputation as a destination for arts, culture and live entertainment, and play a key role in the regeneration of the Cultural Quarter.

More announcements and behind-the-scenes updates are due over the coming weeks as the countdown to September continues. More details are available at www.bwdvenues.com.