Beatles Story Museum Expansion Confirmed for Central Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• The Beatles Story, a museum exhibition said to be the largest interactive and dedicated only to The Beatles in the whole world, is going to move from its current Albert Dock site to the former St Johns Market site in Liverpool city centre in 2028.
• The new venue will occupy 100,000 square feet, more than four times the size of the existing museum, located right opposite to Liverpool Lime Street Station.
• The Apple Corps Ltd, the company set up in 1968 to deal with the creative and commercial side of The Beatles’ affairs, will take over the attraction in 2027 before moving it in 2028.
• The St Johns Beacon, which used to house Radio City, will feature an additional Yellow Submarine panoramic viewing experience.
• The plan also features interactive technology, original artefacts, and reconstructed sets and locations related to The Beatles’ history, which includes The Cavern, Abbey Road, Shea Stadium, and Savile Row.
• Some sets and props from the soon-to-be-released Sam Mendes’ four film Beatles movie series will be included in the new exhibition.
• All the income from the tickets to The Beatles Story will help the Apple Corps Liverpool Trust to support young and developing Liverpool artists and cultural.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 21, 2026 — The Beatles Story museum will relocate in 2028 from Liverpool’s Albert Dock to the former St Johns Market site in St Johns Shopping Centre, directly opposite Liverpool Lime Street station, Apple Corps Ltd announced on 20 October 2026. The move will place the attraction in the city centre and expand it to a 100,000-square-foot site.

The museum has operated at Albert Dock since 1990. Its new home, the former St Johns Market Hall, has been vacant since the market closed in 2024, according to BBC News.

As reported by The Beatles Story, the redevelopment will more than quadruple the current attraction’s footprint. The organisation described the plan as a “spectacular city centre redevelopment” and said the new version of The Beatles Story will open in 2028.

What will the new Beatles attraction include?

The expanded attraction will use immersive technology, original artefacts and reconstructed environments to trace The Beatles’ development from post-war Liverpool through Hamburg, Beatlemania and international fame.

Visitors will be able to enter recreated spaces associated with the band’s history, including The Cavern, Abbey Road, Shea Stadium and Savile Row. Apple Corps said some immersive locations will be created using sets and props from Sam Mendes’s upcoming The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event, which Sony plans to release in cinemas in April 2028.

As reported by NME, Apple Corps and Universal Music Group’s partnership was announced ahead of Mendes’s Beatles films. NME described the planned Liverpool experience as an “epic immersive experience” for fans from around the world.

What is planned for St Johns Beacon?

St Johns Beacon, Liverpool’s second-tallest building and formerly known as Radio City Tower, will host a separate Yellow Submarine-themed viewing experience.

The Beacon experience will offer a 360-degree panoramic view of Liverpool, allowing visitors to see landmarks and locations linked to the city’s pop history. It will operate as a standalone attraction, although visitors will be able to buy a combined ticket for both The Beatles Story and the Beacon experience.

ITV News reported that the development will involve both the former St Johns Market and St Johns Beacon, formerly Radio City Tower.

Who will run The Beatles Story?

Apple Corps Ltd will take over the running of The Beatles Story at its existing Albert Dock location in 2027, before moving it to the new St Johns site in 2028.

Apple Corps was founded in 1968 by The Beatles Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to oversee their creative and business interests. The Liverpool attraction will become the company’s first official fan experience operated in Liverpool and only its second permanent Beatles experience worldwide.

The first is planned for 3 Savile Row in London, the site of The Beatles’ final public performance in 1969. That attraction is due to open at the end of 2027.

What did Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr say?

Sir Paul McCartney said he found it “incredible and humbling” that people remained interested in The Beatles’ story. He said Liverpool was part of his identity and part of the band’s identity, adding that he looked forward to people being able to “step into our story”.

Sir Ringo Starr said Liverpool “was, and still is, music city”. He welcomed the expansion of The Beatles Story and said he supported the plan for ticket proceeds to help new Liverpool artists.

As reported by BBC News, McCartney said he “can’t wait” for fans to “step into our story”, while Starr said, “Liverpool was and still, Music.”

What have Liverpool leaders said?

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said The Beatles belonged to the world, but Liverpool would always be their home. He said the plans would create a world-class destination and give more fans a reason to visit the city.

Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said the announcement could help regenerate an important gateway into the city centre, attract international visitors and create opportunities for the city and the wider UK economy.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said The Beatles were one of Britain’s greatest cultural exports and described the project as an example of turning a global reputation into jobs, opportunity and growth.

How will the project support local artists?

Every ticket sold for The Beatles Story will contribute to the Apple Corps Liverpool Trust. The charitable initiative is intended to provide financial support and opportunities for emerging Liverpool artists and local cultural endeavours.

Apple Corps said further details about the trust would be announced later. The Beatles Story’s general manager, Mary Chadwick, said the move to become an official Beatles experience under Apple Corps presented an opportunity to build on the attraction’s heritage while creating a new experience for future fans.

Background of the development

The Beatles Story opened at Albert Dock in 1990 and has been part of Liverpool’s cultural and tourism offer for more than 35 years. The museum has presented the story of the band’s rise from Liverpool to worldwide fame, and its current site has welcomed visitors from across the world.

The former St Johns Market closed in 2024, leaving the site vacant before the new Beatles project was announced. The redevelopment forms part of a Liverpool-led partnership involving Apple Corps Ltd, Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, with support from central government.

The announcement also follows Apple Corps’s plans for a permanent Beatles attraction at 3 Savile Row in London, expected to open in late 2027.

Prediction: How will this affect Liverpool visitors?

The relocation is likely to make The Beatles Story more accessible for visitors arriving by train, because the new site will be directly opposite Liverpool Lime Street station. The larger venue and separate Beacon attraction may also encourage longer visits and combined tickets, changing how tourists plan a Beatles-focused day in the city.

For Liverpool’s tourism and hospitality sector, the 2028 opening could bring more visitors to the city centre, particularly around Lime Street, St Johns Shopping Centre and the surrounding public realm. For local musicians and creative workers, the Apple Corps Liverpool Trust may provide new funding and opportunities, although the trust’s detailed operations have not yet been announced.