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Calling all Brummies, non-Brummies and those who identify as Brummies! All are welcome to join in this annual day of celebration marking the creation of the historic alliance of Birminghams by Brummie comedian, Joe Lycett.

In 2024, as the Lord Mayor’s chosen ambassador, Joe formed an official Treaty of Friendship with the world’s many Birminghams, thus creating the United States of Birmingham. On his travels (immortalised in the Sky series ‘Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham’) Joe discovered a shared Brummie spirit and introduced the Birminghams of North America to some cultural highlights from the Mother Brum, including custard, cobs and a Curly Wurly or two. The bringing together of the Birminghams was a chance to shout about Brum and culminated in the inaugural International Day of Birmingham.
 

This year’s IDOB will be a city-wide celebration of all things Brum; unapologetically silly fun which kicks off with a ‘FlashBab’ at 1300 and a collective chant of Alright Bab in Colmore Square. Expect surprises and special guests on the procession to Victoria Square to witness the raising of the United States of Birmingham flag at the Council House, with a balcony appearance by the president of the USB himself, Joe Lycett.
 

The city will be oozing Brummie pride as the day continues in Digbeth with the launch of an exhibition featuring photographs of all the Birminghams visited for the TV series, taken by Joe and the crew.
 

Artist Tat Vision is calling upon crafty Brummies for their papier mache tributes to local icon Mr Egg, which will be displayed as part of the world’s largest installation of Mr Eggs, in The Nest. Over at Birmingham’s oldest pub, the Old Crown, you can drop in to Tat’s Mr Egg- decorating workshop, with a special appearance by Mr Egg himself, amidst a whole load of other Brum-based entertainment.
 

Thunderbirds are go at the Mockingbird Cinema with a special 60th anniversary 4k screening of ‘Trapped in the Sky’ + ‘Terror in New York City’ starring Brum’s most famous puppet, Parker and featuring original sound effects recorded in Handsworth.
 

Who Loves you Bab? The headline event takes place at The Old Rep where Professor Carl Chinn hosts a Brummie double bill with a rare screening of ‘Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham’ and the first episode of ‘Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham’. This will be followed by a Q&A with Joe Lycett, director Nicola Silk and another Brummie historian, Randell H Spackman from Birmingham, Pennsylvania.
 

Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE said “Last year, we made history with the inaugural International Day of Birmingham. From the brass band parade to the hoisting of the United States of Birmingham flag, it was a joyful celebration of Brummie pride. I am very proud that the event is returning for a second year, and this year is set to be another wonderful celebration of everything brilliant about Birmingham. I know it will be a great showcase of the spirit and humour of our city, not just in the UK but also Birminghams across the world. I hope as many people as possible can get involved with a great programme of Brum-based events and activities and celebrate the second International Day of Birmingham.”

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Joe Lycett said  ''I am looking forward to once more celebrating this incredibly precious day in the global calendar by shouting ‘alright bab’ aggressively at the Lord Mayor before sinking 6-8 pints and inhaling a King Kebab at 3am.''