What's On in Birmingham

Highlights

Events

Birmingham International Tattoo

Birmingham International Tattoo will return with ‘three hours of pomp, pageantry and spectacle’ in the new year.
Gigs

Oslo Twins

The Bristolian dream pop/trip-hop group stop off in Birmingham late this month as part of a short UK tour.
Gigs

Kaia Kater

Kaia's lush songwriting sees her draw on influences rooted in Quebec, Appalachia and the Caribbean.
Theatre

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

Adapted from Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel.
Dance

Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals

Enjoy an evening of world-class dance, stunning choreography and glamorous costumes.
Events

Derren Brown: Only Human Live

The multi award-winning master of mind control and psychological illusion comes to the Midlands with his brand new live show, Only Human.
Comedy

Josh Widdicombe: Not My Cup of Tea

Expect it to be shorter and with lower production values than Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, but funnier and with more references to tea.
Dance

The Red Shoes

Return of Matthew Bourne's award-winning smash hit show.
Dance

Strictly Come Dancing Live

Get your score cards ready and your dancing shoes on!
Theatre

Dear England

The National Theatre’s Olivier Award-winning smash hit comes to Birmingham in a highly anticipated tour.
Events

Brainiac Live

More mischievous than ever before, the UK’s original and favourite family science show explodes on stage and takes audiences on a breathless ride through the wild world of the weird and wonderful.
Theatre

The Woman In Black

Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the same-named Susan Hill novel, The Woman In Black is a classic ghost story first performed in 1989.

Latest...

Half-season tickets now on sale for Aston Villa Women

Six games. Six events. One unmatched half-season ticket.
Chaka Khan musical stops off at The Belgrade next spring

Starring musical theatre favourite Alexandra Burke.
The Heath Bookshop Literature and Music Festival returns for 2026

A celebration of the relationship between literature and music.
Moseley Folk & Arts Festival announces first artists for 2026 line-up

Including The Dead South, Johnny & Lillie Flynn and Joshua Burnside.
Alan Carr brings Have I Said Too Much? tour to the Midlands in 2027

Alan Carr's back on tour and his lips are unsealed!
Evanescence bring 2026 tour to Birmingham

They play Utilita Arena Birmingham on Friday 11 September.
Forum Digbeth unveils The Annexe in bold expansion doubling venue capacity to 4000

The expansion shows their commitment to pushing Birmingham’s nightlife forward.
Stage premiere of The Silence of the Lambs comes to the Midlands

A new chapter in the legacy of The Silence of the Lambs begins.
Birmingham Hippodrome announces spectacular new shows on sale for 2026

Including: Miss Saigon, Blood Brothers, Sylvia and more.

Half-season tickets now on sale for Aston Villa Women

Six games. Six events. One unmatched half-season ticket.
Chaka Khan musical stops off at The Belgrade next spring

Starring musical theatre favourite Alexandra Burke.
The Heath Bookshop Literature and Music Festival returns for 2026

A celebration of the relationship between literature and music.
Moseley Folk & Arts Festival announces first artists for 2026 line-up

Including The Dead South, Johnny & Lillie Flynn and Joshua Burnside.
Alan Carr brings Have I Said Too Much? tour to the Midlands in 2027

Alan Carr's back on tour and his lips are unsealed!
Evanescence bring 2026 tour to Birmingham

They play Utilita Arena Birmingham on Friday 11 September.
Forum Digbeth unveils The Annexe in bold expansion doubling venue capacity to 4000

The expansion shows their commitment to pushing Birmingham’s nightlife forward.
Stage premiere of The Silence of the Lambs comes to the Midlands

A new chapter in the legacy of The Silence of the Lambs begins.
Birmingham Hippodrome announces spectacular new shows on sale for 2026

Including: Miss Saigon, Blood Brothers, Sylvia and more.

Tweets by @WhatsOnBrum

Festive Shows

The Wicked Wizard of Oz

With a cast of 40, spectacular aerial stunts and special effects.
Robin Hood

The ultimate sheriff-busting pantomime extravaganza.
Sleeping Beauty

Showing at Wolverhampton Grand this festive season.
Cinderella

Have a ball at the Old Rep this Christmas.
Treasure Island

Jim Hawkins heads off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Aladdin

Journey to the town of Shangri-La this Christmas.
Aladdin

Go on a magic carpet ride at the Palace Theatre, Redditch.
Sleeping Beauty

The Belgrade's Christmas show, written by Iain Lauchlan
The BFG

Roald Dahl’s unforgettable story come to life this winter.
It's A Wonderful Knife: Christmas Dundee

Expect big songs and a tap-dancing croc wearing Crocs.
Pinocchio: A Christmas Tale

The show has been created by Holly Mallett.
The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert

Performed by The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Fiddler On The Roof

Critically acclaimed production direct from the West End.
No Such Thing As Wolves

The second of the Hippodrome’s My First Musical commissions.
The Owl Who Came for Christmas

Join Rosie the Owl on her festive feathered adventures.
Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas

Featuring Victorian villains, medieval monks and more.
Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas

A brand-new comedy whodunnit from Birmingham Rep.

Festive Events

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

See the film theatrically recreated onboard.
Winter Funland

Back at the NEC from 6 December - 3 January.
Magical festive experiences at Severn Valley Railway

Offering two festive-themed attractions this Christmas.

Coming soon to the Midlands

Things to do in the Midlands

Check out our selection of things to do in the Midlands during the next few weeks.
Let's go to the theatre…

Check out our selection of shows coming to venues across the region during the next few weeks...
Great gigs coming soon

A selection of gigs worth grabbing a ticket for in the coming weeks...
Get looking! Visual arts across the Midlands

Check out some of the fantastic exhibitions showing across the region this month.
Havin' a laugh!

Get your ribs well and truly tickled over the next few weeks...
Let's get classical

concerts to check out across the Midlands this month...

Features, interviews & blogs...

Family Ties

New exhibition illuminates the life of a South Asian family.
Catch The Thief

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical visits Birmingham Hippodrome.
Viva España

Birmingham Royal Ballet presents Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote.
Chart Attack

A new musical tells the story of the battle of Britpop.
Latest

Wind of Change

The RSC is set to stage the world premiere of a bold new musical.

Latest Reviews

Review: Sleeping Beauty at the Wolverhampton Grand

"stunning spectacle and healthy dose of holiday hilarity"
Review: Fiddler On The Roof at The Alexandra

"surely the ‘must see’ of the season"
Review: The BFG at the Royal Shakespeare Company

"superb, supersized puppetry, immersive projection and a cinematic score"
Review: No Such Thing As Wolves at the Patrick Studio

"clever writing, entertaining visuals and catchy tunes... come and join the party!"

What's On theatres

Birmingham Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the country’s biggest theatres, staging top West End shows all year...
The Alexandra

The Alexandra is situated in the heart of Birmingham and originally opened in 1901. The theatre host...
The Old Rep Theatre

The Old Rep is a young people driven theatre situated on Station Street in the centre of Birmingham,...
Old Joint Stock Theatre

Originally a library, then the Birmingham Joint Stock Bank, the Old Joint Stock was purchased in 188...

Eat & Drink in Birmingham

New pub and vinyl bar The Diggers Arms opens in Birmingham in 2026

"An old school english boozer, crossed with a Japanese Hifi listening bar"
African restaurant Empress opens in former Dogpool Hotel in Stirchley

Blending Brum's industrious spirit with the rich flavours of Nigeria.
SushiDog officially opens in Birmingham in January

Bringing fully customisable sushi to the Midlands for the first time.
Glynn Purnell and Phil Innes' new restaurant Trillium is now open

Combining bold, seasonal cuisine with a carefully curated wine list.

The Twelve Wins of Christmas

Two weekend tickets to Bearded Theory

Returning to Catton Park, Derbyshire from 20 - 24 May.
Two tickets to Strictly Come Dancing Live

Showing at Utilita Arena Birmingham from 23 - 25 January.
Family ticket to see Robin Hood

Showing at Birmingham Hippodrome from 20 December - 1 February.
A pair of tickets to see Don Quixote

BRB's production returns to the Hippodrome this February.
A pair of tickets to see Don Quixote

BRB's production returns to the Hippodrome this February.
An overnight stay at The Belfry

A one night stay in a Deluxe Room at the hotel.
Four tickets to Birmingham International Tattoo

At bp Pulse LIVE on 14 & 15 February.
Four tickets to see The BFG

Showing at Royal Shakespeare Theatre until 7 February.
Freedom of the Line ticket to Severn Valley Railway

Running through 16-miles of beautiful countryside.
Two tickets to see Legally Blonde

Showing at The Alexandra, Birmingham from 31 March - 4 April.
Two tickets to see Sherlock Holmes

Showing at The Rep, Birmingham until 18 January.
Two weekend camping tickets to Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Returning from 28 - 31 August 2026.

Places To Visit

Thinktank Science Museum

Located in Birmingham city centre, Thinktank offers a great day out for visitors of all ages....
The Roundhouse

The Roundhouse was built in 1874 and was originally stables and stores for the Birmingham Corporatio...
West Midlands Police Museum

Discover stories about some of Birmingham’s most notorious criminals, including the real Peaky Blind...
Cotswold Farm Park

An award-winning visitor attraction on the outskirts of Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. Cotsw...
British Motor Museum

The British Motor Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars. Take a...
Royal Air Force Museum Midlands

Telling the story of aviation history and housing one of the UK's largest collections of its kind....
Severn Valley Railway

Beautiful railway operating mainly steam-hauled passenger trains between Bridgnorth, Bewdley & Kidde...