Birmingham is seeing September out in style. This weekend brings ballet at the Hippodrome, huge live shows, Chinatown celebrations, brilliant markets, family science, comedy and an emotional final opportunity to visit the city’s hugely popular Ozzy Osbourne exhibition. Here’s The Birmingham Edit’s pick of the best things to do from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September.
One Last Weekend with Ozzy
If there’s one Birmingham event not to put off any longer, it’s Ozzy Osbourne (1948–2025): Working Class Hero at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The exhibition closes this Sunday, 27th September, after attracting almost 800,000 visitors. It follows Ozzy’s journey from Aston to global superstardom through photographs, video and personal memorabilia, including Grammy Awards, platinum and gold discs, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honours and the gothic-style throne used for his final performance. No booking is required.
While you’re there, you can also see Joe Lycett’s wonderfully unconventional EVERY THING MUST GO exhibition. Friday also has a free Crafternoons session from noon until 4pm.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – HERE
Chinatown Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival
One of our top picks this weekend is the Birmingham Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, taking over The Arcadian on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September from 11am–4pm.
The free celebration features traditional lion dances, Chinese cultural performances, lanterns, children’s arts and crafts and free face painting. Look out for the spectacular four-metre illuminated moon suspended above the Arcadian fountain.
With Chinatown’s restaurants right on the doorstep, this is also a perfect excuse to turn your visit into lunch or dinner.
Mid-Autumn Festival – HERE
Swan Lake at the Hippodrome
For sheer spectacle, it’s difficult to beat Birmingham Royal Ballet performing Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome.
There’s a Friday matinee at 2pm, followed by performances at 2pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 26 September. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s sumptuous production combines Tchaikovsky’s famous score with one of ballet’s great stories of love, deception and transformation. Tickets are listed from £26, although some weekend performances already have limited availability.
Swan Lake – HERE
Eat Your Way Down New Street
Arrive hungry for New Street Eats, which runs through to Sunday and turns the heart of Birmingham into an outdoor street-food and artisan market.
Expect international food, sweet treats and independent traders, with everything from handmade gifts to jewellery. It’s free to browse and brilliantly positioned between Grand Central, New Street Station and the Bullring, making it easy to combine with a Saturday shopping trip.
Saturday Morning in Moseley
For something more local, Moseley Farmers’ Market returns on Saturday 26th September.
The award-winning market brings up to 60 stalls into Moseley Village, with seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan bread, cakes, cheeses, meat, preserves and street food — much of it sold by the people who actually produce it.
Thinktank Turns 25
Families have an extra reason to visit Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum this weekend as the museum celebrates its 25th birthday on Saturday and Sunday.
Special activities include junk modelling, interactive demonstrations from a Science Magician and plenty of birthday-themed science and creativity throughout the museum.
Thinktank’s 25th Birthday Weekend
Comedy or Metal? Your Choice…
Friday night sees comedian Paul Smith bring his new HAPPY tour to Utilita Arena Birmingham. Doors open at 6pm, with the show beginning at 7.30pm.
Paul Smith – HERE
Then on Saturday and Sunday, American metalcore favourites I Prevail bring their Violent Nature Tour to the O2 Academy Birmingham, with doors at 6pm on both nights.
I Prevail – HERE
And Finally… One Last Fiesta
There’s a little bit of Birmingham nightlife history happening in Moseley too. The Cuban Embassy closes under its current name on Sunday 27th September after ten years, before the venue is transformed and the historic Bull’s Head identity returns.
The farewell celebrations run throughout 25th – 27th September, with the music, DJs, food, cocktails and party atmosphere that have defined the venue for a decade.
The Birmingham Edit tip: This is one weekend when staying around the city centre really pays off. Start with the Ozzy exhibition, wander through New Street Eats, head into Chinatown for the Mid-Autumn Festival and finish with Swan Lake, comedy or live music. September may be ending, but Birmingham certainly isn’t slowing down.
