The International Day of Birmingham

On Tuesday 24 September 2025, Birmingham invites the world to join in a one-of-a-kind celebration of its global spirit, rich heritage, and vibrant future. The International Day of Birmingham is a festival that brings together the city’s many cultures, communities, and connections to countries across the world.
 
Birmingham has always been a city of makers, dreamers, and doers. It’s a city built on connections – a place where people from across the world have come to share their cultures. International Day of Birmingham celebrates this spirit of openness and creativity, inviting visitors to feel part of Birmingham’s story.
 
Whether you’re a local in the area, flying in for a weekend or adding Birmingham to your UK itinerary, International Day of Birmingham is the perfect moment to discover the city. Stay a little longer and explore Birmingham’s canals, try a Balti, sit on the Black Sabbath bench, and visit nearby attractions like Cadbury World, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the wider West Midlands.
 
It was created by local favourite comedian Joe Lycett to unite Birmingham in the UK with other cities and towns named Birmingham across North America. 
 
Don't forget to chant "Alright Bab" when you're walking around the city.

Celebrate Birmingham by partaking in one of these events

The Origins of the International Day of Birmingham...

United States of Birmingham was a TV show broadcast on Sky TV and streaming service NOW TV that featured everyone’s favourite comedy activist Joe Lycett. It’s no secret that Joe adores his home town and in his self-appointed role as the second city’s ambassador and with the blessing of the actual Lord Mayor of Birmingham, his mission was to put Birmingham back on the map.

To do that, Joe headed to North America, the global destination for multiple Brums and home to no fewer than eighteen Birminghams stretching from Canada’s Saskatchewan province, down the East Coast, through the Midwest and into the Deep South. Throughout the episodes, Joe explores their history, their collective Brummie cultural commonalities and forms official ‘Friendship Agreements’ with as many US Birminghams as he can.

Work your way through the itinerary for an alternative experience of Birmingham, UK. Each item on the check list is inspired by an iconic moment in the show and, of course, by the city’s vast and vibrant heritage.

For locals the list will be self explanatory but incase you don’t have a Brummie to guide you when you visit, City Curator, Alex Nicholson-Evans, has given us the inside track here

Share your checklist progress on social media and inspire others to explore the city too. Whether you’ve visited a few places or ticked every box, you can use our free downloadable assets to let your friends in on the journey.

Don’t forget to tag @VisitBirmingham or use the hashtag #VisitBirmingham