This article explains the roof structure at Wembley Stadium, one of the most famous sports venues in the UK.
Updated 16 October 2026. Earlier versions of this article said Wembley’s roof covers the pitch. It does not: the roof covers the seats, and the pitch is always open to the sky. The answers below are corrected against the stadium’s own stats and facts page.
With a partially retractable design to aid pitch growth, the roof provides additional light and air while sheltering spectators.
Does Wembley Have a Roof?
Wembley Stadium has a roof over the stands, not over the pitch. The roof covers more than 11 acres, and four of those acres are movable panels that slide in to cover every seat in about 15 minutes. The pitch itself is never covered.
The roof rises 52 metres above the pitch. When people talk about Wembley’s roof being closed for a wet match or a concert, it means the movable panels have been pulled in over the seating bowl.
However, it is not a full roof that would make Wembley an indoor venue.
The pitch, and anyone standing on it at a concert, stays open to the weather.
Can Wembley’s roof close? Is Wembley open air?
Wembley’s roof can close over the seats but not over the pitch, so yes, Wembley is an open-air stadium. When the roof is closed, every one of the 90,000 seats is under cover and the rectangle of sky above the grass stays open. That is deliberate: the stadium describes its sliding roof as a design “which allows the pitch to be exposed to direct sunlight and ventilation”.
- Roof closed: movable panels pulled in over the seating bowl, every seat covered. Takes about 15 minutes.
- Roof open: panels retracted towards the south so direct sunlight reaches all of the pitch. This is how it is left between events.
- Pitch: never covered in either position.
Figures: Wembley Stadium stats and facts (52-metre roof, 11 acres of which four retract, 133-metre arch, 315-metre span) and World Construction Network’s project record (15 minutes to cover every seat, roof weight, arch weight).
Key Points
- Wembley’s roof covers the seats; the pitch is always open to the sky
- Four of the roof’s 11-plus acres are movable and can cover every seat in about 15 minutes
- The roof sits 52 metres above the pitch, hung from a 133-metre arch
- It provides some rain coverage but does not fully enclose the stadium
Our Opinion
In my expert opinion, while Wembley Stadium has an iconic partial roof, it should not be considered a fully enclosed or indoor arena.
The roof shelters the seating bowl, not the pitch, so it protects the crowd in the stands from rain but not the players or a standing concert crowd on the pitch.
However, it does not completely close off Wembley as an indoor venue.
Fans should be prepared for typical outdoor stadium conditions when attending events there.
Interesting Facts About the Wembley Stadium Roof
Yes, Wembley Stadium has a partially retractable roof that sits 52 metres above the pitch. The roof is designed to allow maximum sunlight onto the playing surface to aid grass growth. However, it does not completely close or cover the entire stadium.
The purpose of the roof is to provide additional light and air onto the pitch to help maintain it. The movable panels retract towards the south, and they can be positioned so direct sunlight reaches every part of the grass.
When closed, the roof shelters the majority of spectators from the elements during events. With the movable sections pulled in, every seat in the stadium is under cover. Between events the roof is left fully open so the turf gets direct sunlight and ventilation.
Wembley’s partially retractable roof structure is similar to other modern stadiums like Johan Cruyff Arena, Stadion Narodowy, and Veltins Arena. The design reflects the belief that sunlight exposure helps create excellent pitch conditions in covered stadiums.
The Unique Partially Retractable Roof Design
Wembley’s partially retractable roof showcases an engineering feat. The movable panels slide back towards the south when open, which lets sunlight, air and rain reach the pitch.
The roof hangs from a single steel arch, 133 metres tall with a span of 315 metres, which the stadium describes as the longest single-span roof structure in the world. The arch carries all of the weight of the north roof and 60 per cent of the south roof, so no pillars block anyone’s view. The roof weighs about 7,000 tonnes in total and the arch about 1,750 tonnes.
When designing the roof, engineers faced a dilemma. They needed to balance letting in sunlight while also sheltering spectators. The solution was a partially retractable design never built before on this scale.
Now, Wembley’s roof provides the best of both worlds. Sunlight for grass growth when open, and shelter for spectators when closed. The design reflects modern stadium engineering focused on pitch quality and visitor comfort.
How The Roof Opens and Closes
Wembley’s retractable roof relies on an intricate system to slide open and closed. Engineers integrated mechanical, hydraulic and computer controls seamlessly to enable smooth operation.
To open the roof, motors activate to slowly move the northern and southern sections along the arch. Hydraulic jacks on bogies below the roof sections gently guide the movement. Moving the panels to cover every seat takes approximately 15 minutes.
The arch leans at 68 degrees from the horizontal and supports about 5,000 tonnes of the roof structure. It is 7.4 metres in diameter at its base, wide enough for a Channel Tunnel train to run through.
When closing, the panels move out over the seats. They do not meet in the middle: there is always an opening above the pitch.
The arch stands on 70-tonne hinges on concrete bases, founded on piles 35 metres deep.
The coordination of mechanical, hydraulic and computer systems enables Wembley’s roof to open and close smoothly. This technological symphony makes the partially retractable design possible.
Benefits of The Roof for Fans and Players
Wembley’s sliding roof provides important benefits for both fans and players.
For fans, the roof ensures more events can go ahead regardless of the weather. Rain or shine, the stands stay dry so the audience can enjoy the action.
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The roof also focuses crowd noise back onto the pitch. The enclosed stadium design means cheering and chanting reverberates around the bowl, creating an electric atmosphere.
Players get no shelter from it: the pitch is open to the sky, so if it rains during a match, it rains on the pitch.
The pitch benefits from the opening, not from cover. Leaving the roof open between events gives the grass sunlight and ventilation, and the stadium’s facts page describes the pitch as a Desso system combining natural and synthetic grass.
Between events the roof is left fully open.
Ultimately, the retractable roof improves the experience for both fans and players. Protection from the elements and focused acoustics allow Wembley to deliver iconic events rain or shine.
FAQ
Does Wembley have a roof for concerts?
Yes, but only over the seats. The movable panels can cover every seat, while the pitch, where the standing crowd is at a concert, stays open to the sky. Bring a coat if you have a pitch standing ticket.
Does Wembley have a full roof?
No. The roof covers the stands and can be extended over every seat, but it never covers the pitch.
Is Wembley Stadium covered for rain?
Every seat can be covered when the movable panels are pulled in. The pitch is not covered, so rain falls on the playing area and on anyone standing on the pitch at a concert.
Has Wembley Stadium got a closed roof?
No. Even fully closed, the roof leaves the area above the pitch open. Wembley cannot be made into an indoor venue.
Can Wembley Stadium’s roof close?
Partly. The movable sections can be pulled in to cover every seat in about 15 minutes, but there is always an opening over the pitch. Wembley cannot close its roof completely.
Does it rain on the pitch at Wembley?
Yes. The pitch is open to the sky whatever position the roof is in, so rain reaches the playing area and anyone standing on it at a concert. Seated fans can all be kept dry.
How high is Wembley’s roof?
The roof rises 52 metres above the pitch. The arch that holds it up is 133 metres tall.
Conclusion
In summary, Wembley Stadium has a roof 52 metres above the pitch, hung from a 133-metre arch, with four acres of movable panels that can cover all 90,000 seats in about 15 minutes. It never covers the pitch, so Wembley is always an open-air stadium.