The O2 Arena

The O2 Arena is a 20,000-capacity indoor arena located inside the former Millennium Dome on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London. Opened in 2007, it is the third-busiest music arena in the world by ticket sales, behind only the AO Arena in Manchester and Madison Square Garden in New York. The venue is operated by AEG Europe and welcomes over 10 million visitors per year across the entire O2 entertainment complex. It is best suited for arena-scale touring artists, major sporting events, and large-scale corporate productions.

History and Architecture

The Millennium Dome was constructed in 1999 to house the Millennium Experience, a government-backed exhibition that ran throughout 2000. After the exhibition closed, the dome was leased to Meridian Delta Ltd. in December 2001 for redevelopment as an entertainment complex. Construction of the arena inside the dome began in 2003 and finished in 2007.

Because cranes could not operate inside the dome structure, the arena's roof was built on the ground within the dome and then lifted into position. The arena building itself occupies 40% of the total dome structure and operates independently from the surrounding entertainment district. The seating configuration can be modified for concerts, sports, exhibitions, and conferences, similar to the AO Arena in Manchester.

On February 18, 2022, Storm Eunice shredded large sections of the dome's fabric roof, forcing the evacuation of 1,000 people and closing the venue. Repairs were completed and the arena reopened on February 25, 2022.

Notable Events and Performances

Michael Jackson was scheduled to perform a 50-show residency titled This Is It beginning in July 2009. He died on June 25, 2009, eighteen days before the first show.

During the 2012 Summer Olympics, the venue was called the North Greenwich Arena due to corporate sponsorship rules. It hosted gymnastics and basketball events. The arena also hosted the ATP World Tour Finals from 2009 to 2020.

Since March 2013, the O2 has hosted C2C: Country to Country, Europe's largest country music festival, which attracts over 20,000 fans annually. On February 18, 2025, the arena hosted F1 75 Live, the first collective season launch in Formula 1 history, featuring all 10 competing teams and performances by MGK, Kane Brown, and Take That. On August 24, 2025, AEW Forbidden Door set the arena's wrestling attendance record with 18,992 fans.

The complex also includes indigo at The O2, a 2,750-capacity live music club that hosts smaller touring acts and emerging artists.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The O2 Arena is not a realistic booking target for independent artists. The main arena books established headliners and major touring productions. However, indigo at The O2 (2,750 capacity) is a practical target for independent artists who have built a substantial UK following. Many mid-tier acts play indigo instead of the main arena.

The O2's location on the Greenwich Peninsula is accessible via the Jubilee Line tube and Thames Clippers river bus, which means shows here draw from the entire Greater London area and beyond. Opening for a headliner at the O2 exposes your music to 20,000 people in a single night.

Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to model what different venue tiers contribute to your tour income. Read our guide on how to book your first tour for a framework on progressing from clubs to theaters to arenas. The complete guide to making money as a musician in 2026 covers live revenue at every scale.

Related Resources

• Tour Revenue Calculator - Estimate earnings from live shows
• How to Book Your First Tour: Step-by-Step Guide
• Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026
• The O2 Arena Official Website