4 WEEKS TO GO until astronauts, artists, poets, politicians, pints and Mr Egg takeover Birmingham Council House for IDOB round 3!

Birmingham’s Council House is getting a very Brummie makeover for two days of celebrations in just 1 month...

Alright bab, we’ve got some news.

The first events for International Day of Birmingham 2026 have officially been revealed... and this year we’re taking over Birmingham’s Council House and filling it with as much Brummie brilliance as we possibly can.

On Thursday 24 September, followed by a second day of festivities on Friday 25 September, ten rooms inside the Council House will become The House That Brum Built - a cultural palace celebrating the people, places and creativity that make Birmingham Birmingham.

And everyone’s invited!

So, who’s coming?

Quite the bunch.

Brum's finest poets, artists, astronauts, chefs, comedians, historians, authors, musicians and politicians are all getting involved, with names including Poet Laureate Ayan Aden, Bradley Taylor, Trevor Beattie, Professor Carl Chinn MBE, Catherine O’Flynn, Mike Gayle, Kit de Waal, Barbara Nice, Jess Phillips and Glynn Purnell.

Artists Bam! Bam!, Cold War Steve, Dion Kitson, Fokawolf, Goldship, Molly Cleaver and Tat Vision are joining the party too.

Welcome to The House That Brum Built

Expect a Brummie bazaar, exhibitions, interactive murals, a botanical garden, community cinema, theatre, creative workshops and even a pop-up Irish pub.

Everyone who pops by can also grab a free Brummie Passport, designed by Colour Palette Company and Draw My City artist Stacey Barnfield, collecting stamps as they explore the building.

Cinema, plants and pints

The Mockingbird Cinema will put Brum on the big screen with films, shorts, archive gems and filmmaker Q&As, including Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham, United States of Birmingham, Made in Birmingham: Reggae Punk Bhangra, Joe Lycett shorts, Moon and the wonderfully bonkers I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle.

Meanwhile, Birmingham Botanical Gardens will transform the Glass Corridor with tropical and native British plants, horticultural experts and a Birmingham Soundscape. There’ll even be a secret door leading into Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and its current Ozzy Osbourne and Joe Lycett exhibitions.

And because no Brummie celebration would be complete without a pint, Nortons Digbeth will install its very own pop-up Irish pub, serving Guinness and classic Brummie cobs throughout both days.

Bingo in the Council House? Obviously.

The Chamber will host a mix of free and ticketed events, including a tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah with Ayan Aden and Bradley Taylor, Bingo with Barbara Nice, and From Balsall Heath to Outer Space (and Back) with Brummie astronaut Trevor Beattie.

The Heath Bookshop will also bring Cold War Steve’s Benny’s Babbies to life, with Cold War Steve joined by Birmingham authors Kit de Waal, Mike Gayle and Catherine O’Flynn.

Elsewhere, expect music from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Heavy Beat Brass Band, performances from Birmingham Royal Ballet, more bingo from Bing0121, and plenty more Brummie surprises along the way.

Everybody say Alright Bab!

Before the Council House doors even open, International Day of Birmingham will kick off with a FlashBab in Victoria Square, bringing everyone together for one enormous communal ALRIGHT BAB!

That’ll be followed by the official flag-raising ceremony with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, city legend Mr Egg, dignitaries and representatives of Birminghams from around the world.

There’ll even be free Curly Wurlys and goody bags for those who get there first.

International Day of Birmingham 2026 takes place on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September.

And this is only the beginning.

More announcements coming soon, bab.