West Midland's Anniversaries to Celebrate in 2026
Join us as we celebrate the milestone moments of the attractions, festivals and events that have helped shape Birmingham and the West Midlands into the vibrant, creative place we know and love today.
Together, we’re raising a toast to the stories, successes, and lasting impact that continue to define our region. These anniversaries aren’t just dates on a calendar — they’re part of what makes our cultural scene so rich and inspiring.
Here’s to where we’ve been, where we are now, and the exciting future ahead for the West Midlands.
Flatpack Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary
Flatpack is a festival which takes over venues across Birmingham every spring. Expect a mix of films, performances, contraptions and surprises
https://flatpackfestival.org.uk/
Birmingham Pen Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary
The museum was opened on April 28th 2001 to celebrate the city’s status as the home of steel pen nib manufacturing. Historians say that back in the 19th century, 75 per cent of everything written in the world would have been with a Birmingham-made pen.
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary
Birmingham’s award-winning science museum teaches visitors about the city’s industrial past (Birmingham played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution) with steam engines, trains, cars and planes from yesteryear. Plus there’s a 4K Planetarium, child-sized mini city and an interactive outdoor science garden
https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank/visit
Wolverhampton celebrates 25 years as a city
Wolverhampton in the West Midlands was granted city status in 2001. It is known for its rich cultural diversity and is a thriving centre for arts and live entertainment, with the long-established Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, one of the finest collections of Pop Art outside of London at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, the iconic Wolverhampton Halls concert venue and Premier League football at Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers
https://enjoywolverhampton.com/
The National Exhibition Centre is 50 years old
The venue is one of Europe’s leading exhibition centres, hosting recurring events such as BBC Good Food Show, Spring Fair and Crufts. The NEC campus also features the Resorts World entertainment complex and bp pulse LIVE concert arena, which hosts events including Nashville In Concert: The Encore Tour, Rick Astley and Andre Rieu in 2026
Birmingham Royal Ballet – Centenary of founder Sir Peter Wright
The Birmingham Royal Ballet will celebrate the 100th birthday of its founder and former artistic director, Sir Peter Wright, with special performances in February and June 2026 at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
The Archers is 75 years old
The Archers is the world’s longest running radio drama, first broadcast on 1 January 1951. Recorded in Birmingham at the city’s Mailbox studios, the series is “a contemporary drama in a rural setting”, with more than 20,000 episodes airing on BBC radio.
Lord of the Dance is celebrating its 30th Anniversary
The Irish dance show created by Michael Flatley will have a special performance at The Alexandra in September to celebrate three decades since it transformed Irish dance into a global phenomenon.
J.R.R. Tolkien Novel 70th Anniversary
2026 is the 70th anniversary of the publication of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, novels inspired by the author's childhood in Birmingham.
