The Undercroft site under the Queen Elizabeth Hall was never planned as a skating space, but since the mid-1970s it has been continuously shaped by those who chose to use it, turning a public concrete structure into one of the most recognised skate spots in the world.
With Skate 50, that story is brought into focus through a multimedia exhibition running from 30 April to 21 June 2026 at Southbank Centre. Developed alongside active members from the Southbank skate community, this exhibition looks at how the space has evolved over fifty years without losing what made it work in the first place.
A space built through use
Originally left open when the Queen Elizabeth Hall was completed in the 1960s, the Undercroft was gradually adopted by skateboarders who redefined its ledges, ramps and pillars through repetition and practice. And, best of all, this space remained in constant use ever since, supporting a community that now spans multiple generations.
Artists working from within the culture
The exhibition brings together photography, moving image like hand held skate videos and sound, combining early archive material with contemporary depictions of the space we know today. Developed through workshops with the skate community, the project draws directly from those who have used the space not as observers, but as participants.
Contributors include Winstan Whitter, Dan Magee and Jack Brooks, Lev Tanju of Palace, animator Sofia Negri, the Keep Rolling Project collective and sound artist Beatrice Dillon. Their work reflects different ways of documenting and interpreting skateboarding, without separating it from the environment it belongs to.
Extending the conversation
Alongside the exhibition, a parallel programme expands the focus beyond the Undercroft itself. PUSH PLAY (19–21 June 2026), presented with the BFI, brings together screenings, premieres, workshops and talks that explore skateboarding through film and moving image.
Taking place at BFI Southbank and online via BFI Player, the programme connects established filmmakers with emerging voices, positioning skate cinema as an active space for exchange between cities, generations and creative practices.
Our highlights: what not to miss
Begin with the early archive material to understand how the Undercroft first took shape as a skate space. Then move through the newer commissions, particularly where film and sound intersect; these works capture the rhythm of skating in a way that feels immediate.
And before leaving, step back outside. The Undercroft is still in use, and seeing it in motion brings everything into focus.
Skate 50 is at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall from 30 April to 21 June 2026, as part of the venue’s 75th anniversary programme. This is a “pay what you can” event.
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