George Square revamp begins as Christmas events cancelled amid 18-month closure

Work to transform George Square has officially begun with the boarding up of the city landmark.

Panels displaying Glasgow’s past and present and the future vision for George Square and the city are being erected around the perimeter.

Once the hoardings have been completed, the square’s bronze statues will be removed in May for restoration and storage.

The main restoration works will then begin in June, with the full project expected to take 18 months.

Pedestrian access will be maintained around its outer pavements while viewing spaces on the east and west sides of the hoarding will give the public the opportunity to watch the development of the works.

The transformation forms part of the City Deal programme, a billion-pound project funded by the UK and Scottish Governments to transform the city centre.

The transformation of George Square has begun GCC

Plans include a water feature, a raised lawn, sheltered seating, feature lighting, and play areas for children.

As the redevelopment of one of the city’s busiest locations gets under way, locals and visitors alike are being braced for disruption.

The annual Christmas lights switch-on has already been axed, along with the traditional fairground, ice rink and market stalls over the festive season.

Organisers Glasgow Life have said that a Christmas lights trail along Argyle Street, Buchanan Street, and Sauchiehall Street will take place instead.

The square will also be closed throughout the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The council has said it is “committed” to ensuring businesses and residents are kept informed about any disruption, with progress reports to be made publicly available.

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, said Glaswegians will be excited to see the George Square transformation get under way.

“George Square’s restoration is a huge and historic project, and so much work has already gone into its planning and design,” he said.

“Once complete next year, Glasgow will have a modern Square with more greenery, improved lighting and drainage infrastructure and a high-quality stone finish to replace the current tarmac.

“This will be a momentous month for the city, with the erection of the hoardings in less than a fortnight’s time firing the starting pistol on a real acceleration of the works.

“George Square is built into the DNA of this city, and Glaswegians have wanted to see its restoration for decades. In just a couple of weeks, they’ll see that start to happen.

“Of course, that means the Square will be closed to the public once the hoardings start going up and that will be an inconvenience. But by next autumn, Glaswegians will have a new Square on a par with many of our international peers, one they can be proud of and one which is fitting of a city of our standing.”