May 3, 2026
Cone if by night
How did Banksy erect a statue in Central London?
Banksy pulled off a midnight London statue stunt and the comments instantly went feral
TLDR: Banksy secretly installed a new statue in central London overnight using a professional crew, and even the council admits it had no warning. Online, people are split between marveling at his untouchable fame and arguing fiercely over whether the piece is about Brexit or today’s flag-waving politics.
Banksy has done it again: under the cover of darkness, a full-on statue suddenly appeared in central London, and the internet is less focused on how he did it than on the delicious chaos of what it means. The official story is already wild enough — a truck, cones, hi-vis jackets and a crew described as basically the kind of people who could build a Metallica concert overnight. Westminster Council says it didn’t approve it, but also sounds oddly thrilled, which only adds to the "how is he getting away with this?" mystique.
But the real show is in the comment section, where admiration, confusion and political debate are all elbowing for the spotlight. One camp is in total awe, shrugging that this is Banksy, the rare street artist with global superstar status, so of course the rules somehow bend around him. Another camp is already arguing over the statue’s message: is it about Brexit, or is that take hopelessly late? One commenter bluntly swatted that idea away, saying the "blinded by a flag" imagery feels much more tied to the recent far-right mood than to a vote from nearly a decade ago. And then came the classic internet snap-back energy: "What are you talking about?" and the icy corrective, "That doesn't mean it was coordinated."
So yes, there’s a new Banksy statue in London — but online, the bigger artwork might be the comment thread itself: part art criticism, part political brawl, part fan club meltdown.
Key Points
- •Banksy installed a large statue on a plinth in Waterloo Place, central London, during the early hours of Wednesday.
- •Banksy confirmed the work on Instagram, where video showed traffic cones, a large vehicle, stabilisers, hi-vis crew members and the statue being lifted into place.
- •James Peak said the installation was likely carried out quickly by a highly experienced crew after surveying the area and choosing a quiet time.
- •The statue is in Waterloo Place in Westminster, near Pall Mall, Carlton House Terrace, other memorials, government buildings and embassies.
- •Westminster City Council said it had not granted permission because it received no advance warning, but said it was excited to see the sculpture in Westminster.