Giant inflatable bubbles will soon be explorable at Battersea Power Station, where visitors will be able to step inside a luminous, soft-walled maze of chambers and corridors. The installation, called Luxart, is a site-specific Luminarium created by Alan Parkinson for the iconic London venue and will run from Saturday 23rd to Sunday 31st May 2026.
A Journey Through Light and Colour
The experience begins at the “Green Dome”, a soaring 6.5-metre-high chamber designed as a gentle introduction to the sensory world beyond. From there, visitors wander into interconnected domes, each offering a distinct atmosphere — including the “Red Tree chamber” and the “Blue Helix Dome” — before reaching the “Cupola” centrepiece. The route takes around 30 minutes and is designed to be both calming and stimulating at once, inviting guests to rest, wander or meditate as natural light filters through coloured membranes to create shifting, saturated hues.
Parkinson, who began experimenting with pneumatic sculptures in the 1980s and founded Architects of Air in 1992, describes a Luminarium as “somewhere between a womb and a cathedral”. The temporary architecture is intended to inspire wonder, reflection and creativity, offering a brief escape from the outside world. His designs draw on natural forms, geometric solids, and Islamic and Gothic architecture. Every Luminarium is handcrafted in Nottingham, and Architects of Air has toured in more than 40 countries across five continents, welcoming over three million visitors since its founding.
Planning Your Visit
Tickets for Luxart cost £10 per person and must be booked in advance. Shoes are not permitted inside — visitors are advised to wear their best socks. Food, drinks and pets are also not allowed, though arrangements can be made for assistance dogs. The Luminarium is part of Battersea Power Station’s May Half-Term programme, which also includes A Line Florist by Anna Bruder (previously shown at MoMA in New York), the Chimney Lift Experience, the Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold exhibition, plus markets such as the River Walk Market and a Curated Makers Pop-Up Market.
The venue has outlined a wide range of accessibility provisions. Sensory Packs containing headphones and fidget toys are available to borrow, along with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards. Wheelchair users will find step-free access, ramps and lifts, and complimentary wheelchair and mobility scooter loans can be reserved. Accessible toilets require a RADAR key. British Sign Language support and sighted guide assistance are on offer, and Quiet Hours — with reduced music, dimmed lighting and fewer announcements — are scheduled regularly. Guests can use the WelcoMe platform to share their accessibility needs in advance. Battersea Power Station is also hosting a year-long celebration of storytelling in 2026 called A Station of Stories, aligned with the National Year of Reading, alongside other events such as The Elephant Trail (March–April) and Planetarium Go! (January–March).
The site is easily reached via the Zone 1 Underground station, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, buses, bikes and car — and each Luminarium, built from handcrafted pneumatic chambers in Nottingham, continues a three-decade tradition of bringing immersive sculpture to public spaces around the world.
