5 Iconic Nightclubs Getting a 2026 Makeover
If you’ve been going out long enough, you know the feeling: a room that used to be everything starts slipping. The sound isn’t hitting, the layout feels cramped, the lights are tired, and the magic that made it legendary starts fading. But 2026 is shaping up to be a real turning point — because some of the most talked-about venues on the planet aren’t just doing “updates”… they’re fully rebuilding what the experience is supposed to feel like.
From full shutdown renovations to complete ownership takeovers and ground-up reworks, these spaces are betting on the future of nightlife — louder systems, smarter layouts, sharper production, and more room to actually move. We put together five clubs getting major renovations for 2026 — and why each one is worth keeping on your radar.
1. Ministry of Sound (London)
Ministry isn’t playing around with this one. The iconic London institution is undergoing what it calls its biggest transformation since opening in 1991, timed with its 35th anniversary — and the main room is coming back at the end of January looking (and sounding) completely refreshed.
The biggest change: they’re retiring the legendary Martin Audio system and bringing in a custom four-point KV2 sound setup. Add in a lowered DJ booth that’s closer to the crowd, a layout built for different stage formats (including 360 setups), and an upgraded lighting/video design — and “The Box” is basically getting rebuilt for the next generation of nights.
Rendering of the redesigned Box, the main dance floor at Ministry of Sound in London. Courtesy of Lucid Creates.
2. Brooklyn Mirage (New York)
Brooklyn Mirage is entering its “new era” phase — and not subtly. The venue was bought by FIVE Holdings (the Dubai-based group behind Pacha), and sources say it’s aiming for a summer 2026 return with multiple shows already in motion.
What’s interesting is the direction: instead of going straight into the mega-futuristic rebuild people expected, Mirage may be scaling back for 2026 and returning to a more stripped, open-air vibe closer to the original 2015 concept. The bigger, flashier rebuild — with wraparound LED madness — looks more like a 2027 move. Either way, this isn’t just a refresh… it’s Mirage deciding what it wants to be again.
A render from Brooklyn Mirage’s earlier redesign plans, released before Pacha took over A.G. — it’s unclear if this layout will still move forward.
3. XOYO (London)
XOYO is officially back in action. After a full refurbishment under new ownership, the Shoreditch staple is ready to reopen its doors with its first party in the revamped space on January 31st, featuring Fleur Shore, Kiidoo, and St David.
The club has been rebuilt with brand-new sound, new lighting, upgraded production, and refreshed walls, floors, and stage structures — a real top-to-bottom renovation instead of a quick facelift.
The goal feels obvious: bring XOYO back to the kind of room where the best DJs actually want to play again. If you’ve missed that proper gritty, late-night London club energy, this renovation reads like a statement — they’re rebuilding the experience, not just fixing the paint and calling it a relaunch.
4. Borgata (Atlantic City)
Atlantic City nightlife is getting a serious upgrade in summer 2026. Borgata is transforming the former Premier Nightclub space into a brand-new 18,000-square-foot entertainment venue, built in partnership with Big Night (the group behind Big Night Live, The Grand, and Memoire).
Premier had a strong run, but this is bigger than a rename — it’s a total reinvention of the space, designed for concerts, DJs, special events, and year-round programming. With Big Night involved, expect high production and big-booking energy. Borgata’s basically trying to level up from “casino club night” to a legit destination venue.
5. Zouk (Singapore)
Zouk Singapore is doing a full shutdown renovation across all three of its Clarke Quay venues — Zouk Mainroom, Capital, and Phuture — starting in early 2026, with the full project expected to wrap by June 2026. It’s a bold move, but the upgrades make it make sense.
A render of the new Zouk Mainroom via Zouk Group
They’re upgrading all speaker systems to concert-grade tech, expanding capacity from 3,000 to 3,500 people total, and adding huge visual upgrades like a 12-meter-wide high-resolution LED wall in the Mainroom. The Mainroom is also getting a modular layout with movable acoustic walls, so the space can shift depending on the night — from intimate shows to full-scale event mode. It’s Zouk betting hard on what nightlife looks like next.
