International Day of Birmingham ‘a roaring show of unity and celebration’

International Day of Birmingham was hailed “a roaring show of unity and celebration” as organisers celebrated the busiest annual celebration to date.

Residents from Birmingham, UK and international tourists filled the city’s Council House and Victoria Square for the now established international event.

The event, which celebrates the city of Birmingham and its namesakes, welcomed 4,000 people and hosted 100 performers, speakers and traders across 10 rooms.

Brummie Passports - designed by Colour Palette and Draw My City artist Stacey Barnfield - proved popular, with all 4,000 passports issued to visitors on both days.

Figures from the city who spoke or presented at the event included Ayan Aden, Trevor Beattie, Cold War Steve, Professor Carl Chinn, PJ Ellis, Catherine O’Flynn, Ed James, Hijab Shah, Mike Gayle, Dan Lee, Jess Phillips MP, Kath Stanczyszyn, Bradley Taylor, and Kit de Waal.

International Day of Birmingham featured performances from The Heavy Beat Brass Band, renowned arts organisations City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Birmingham Royal Ballet, alongside live stand-up comedy from city stars Lindsey Santoro and Tal Davies.

Exhibitions and interactive art sessions from The Archers, Bam Bam, Black Sabbath, Molly Cleaver, Foka Wolf, Matt Peers, Goldship’s Re-Union Jack, Sally Chidlow, and Tat Vision also featured in the programme.

An independent ‘Brummie Bazaar’ market, featuring independent businesses and brands from across the city was organised by Birmingham Artisan Markets, with a full two days of film screenings provided by Mockingbird Cinema.

International Day of Birmingham, which took place on Thursday 24 September and continued on Friday 25 September, saw the first time Birmingham’s Council House was open to the public on this scale in its 147-year history.

Spaces across the building including the grand Council Chamber, Banqueting and Drawing Rooms, and the Lord Mayor’s Suite, were filled with Brummie ephemera and experiences including a mini Birmingham Botanical Gardens installation in the building’s Glass Corridor.

Opening with a FlashBab (a play on flashmob) and a ceremonial raising of the International Day of Birmingham flag by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Mr Egg, and dignitaries including a representative of Birminghams in the USA, the first day saw attendance and engagement from 1,800 people.

Nicola Silk, executive producer of International Day of Birmingham, said: “The Brummie spirit was very much in evidence and to feel the love for Birminghams near and far at the ultimate Council House Party was very special indeed.

“As the Mother Brum, we are fiercely proud of our city, our cultures, and our communities, and it was incredible to see all that celebrated by so many top babs.”

Visitors spoke live with representatives of Birminghams in Michigan, Iowa, and Toledo in the USA via ‘the Brum Hole’ - a video relay at the event, as well as meeting Randell H. Spackman from Birmingham in Pennsylvania in person - after the star of Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham made the trip to be part of the proceedings in the UK city for the third year running.

Randell H. Spackman said: “I’m proud to be a part in this amazing get together, which brings such pride and much-needed silliness to the city of Birmingham.

“IDOB 2026 truly was a roaring show of unity and celebration.

“It's my fellow Brummies that truly make it feel like home for me - so much so that I want to start bringing bricks back from the city to create my own little piece of Birmingham, UK back home in Birmingham, Pennsylvania.”

International Day of Birmingham returns next year on Friday 24 September 2027. 

Pictured: Mr Egg holds a Curly Wurly during the IDOB celebrations