A number of top Glasgow tourist attractions will close during COP26, Glasgow City Council has confirmed.
Riverside Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) will shut for punters for the whole duration of the climate change conference.
A further three tourist attractions will also close for at least part of the summit.
Glasgow Life, which oversees the operations of the venues, decided to close attractions as it ‘supports the delivery’ of COP26 activity.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: “To support the delivery of COP26 activity, a small number of Glasgow Life venues will temporarily close to the public, either for part of or the duration of the conference.
“All dates are inclusive and subject to change as requirements around COP26 and the security operation for the event continue to evolve.”
They add: “While COP26 will inevitably impact on city operations and businesses continuity during the event, it is our intention across the wider venues they have reopened to minimise disruption and operate business as usual.”
COP26 has been described as the ‘biggest and most significant event’ Glasgow is ever likely to stage, with world leaders and leading climate change activists set to visit Scotland’s largest city for the event.
US President Joe Biden, Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg are among the names that will visit the event, which will take place from October 31 to November 12.
Nicola Sturgeon said COP26 could be world’s ‘last chance’ to tackle climate change during a visit to Iceland yesterday.
But the event is expected to be blighted by a crippled public transport system, after union bosses confirmed ScotRail workers will go on strike during the event.
The move comes after furious workers were reportedly offered a ‘lousy’ wage increase of nearly 5%, which the RMT has branded as unacceptable.
Glasgow Life venues which will temporarily close to the public during COP26 include:
- Riverside Museum - October 23 to November 15
- Kelvin Hall - October 28 to November 1
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - October 28 to November 14
- Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls and Tennis Centre - October 31 to November 2
- Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) - October 31 to November 14
- People’s Palace - will remain closed in the lead up to and during COP26 for essential maintenance.
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