Philadelphia’s ‘portal’ is leaving City Hall, searching for a new home

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Organizers say an art installation connecting cities around the world through a live video feed is preparing to leave Philadelphia’s City Hall.

The final day to see the “portal” at City Hall will be Oct. 31 after the city was unable to extend the permit for the project.

“The city is unfortunately not able to extend the permit, that’s why we need to relocate,” said the Portals Organization in an email response.

The tourist attraction connects Philadelphia with cities around the world through a continuous livestream, allowing people to see and interact with others thousands of miles away. Since arriving at City Hall in 2024, Philadelphia’s Portal — the only Portal in North America — has become both a public attraction and an unexpected meeting point for residents and visitors passing through Center City.

While leaving City Hall is certain, leaving Philadelphia is not.

“Our preference is to preserve the Portal in Philadelphia, which we feel is where it belongs,” a spokesperson for the Portal team said. However, that will depend on securing a new host by the end of September.

No potential locations have been announced. Instead, organizers are “inviting expressions of interest from any suitable non-profit, cultural organizations or private company.”

The installation’s next location will need to be publicly accessible and representative of Philadelphia, along with having access to electricity and internet. Portal organizers are also searching for funding to support its continued upkeep.

The move could mark a significant change for an installation built around spontaneous public interaction. Organizers hoped to create a third space where strangers can interact in person and virtually with people in Philadelphia and across the world.

The work is located outside in the City Hall Courtyard. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.