This weekend Birmingham isn’t just the UK’s second city. It’s the capital of culture, community and cool. With over 250,000 people expected to descend on the city between July 4 and 5, Brum is delivering an entertainment masterclass that no other city in Britain – and, frankly, few in Europe – can match.
Cricket royalty and rock legends
Forget ordinary. Birmingham’s pulling in global heavyweights. At Edgbaston, England and India are locked in one of cricket’s most iconic rivalries. The crowd? Electric. The stakes? Massive. It’s the kind of sporting theatre cities dream of. And Birmingham delivers it with confidence and style.
Then on Saturday night, Villa Park hosts a moment of music history: Black Sabbath, the original gods of metal, led by the iconic Ozzy O, return to their home town for a sold-out celebration of legacy, love and decibel-shattering power. This isn’t just a concert. It’s a coronation. Brum, the birthplace of metal, honours its kings.
Double nights of ELO magic
Meanwhile, over at the Utilita Arena, Electric Light Orchestra take centre stage for two consecutive nights of symphonic rock. Jeff Lynne’s legendary band reminds the world why Birmingham isn’t just a stage – it’s the source of the soundtrack.
Billy Ocean brings the groove
Across at Resorts World, global soul icon Billy Ocean is in action, showing that Brum doesn’t just do loud and proud – it also does smooth, slick and stylish.
Food fit for a festival city
Victoria Square transforms into a tasting room for the city’s finest flavours as the Colmore Food Festival brings Birmingham’s gastronomic greatness to the streets. From award-winning chefs to street food black belts, it’s a menu that says: “We’ve arrived. Why go anywhere else?”
This is Birmingham at its brash best
This isn’t just a weekend of events. It’s a cultural crescendo. A showcase of a city underestimated for too long. Birmingham doesn’t just host it. It owns it. Sport, music, food. No city mixes it up like Brum.
So if you’re still asking why visit Birmingham, here’s your answer: no place moves like this. No place grooves like this. And this weekend, Birmingham isn’t playing second to anyone.
