Birmingham Open Studios (BOS) will return this September, bringing a city-wide arts trail that offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at some of the city’s best artists, makers, studios and creative spaces.

Now in its ninth year, this year’s event is the biggest event to date geographically, with artists taking part from Cradley Heath to Shirley, Erdington to Barnt Green, and everywhere in between.

From painting, jewellery and sculpture to glass, textiles, doll-making and traditional blacksmithing, the 2026 trail offers an extraordinary range of creative practices. Many participating artists will be demonstrating their work, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see techniques and processes that would normally remain behind closed doors.

As well as inviting the public in, BOS also gives artists and makers a platform to showcase and sell their work, develop their creative businesses, learn professional and art-business skills, build networks and discover new opportunities.

Founder Owen de Visser says: “Birmingham Open Studios is about changing the way we see and experience art in our city. There are no red velvet ropes and no expectation that art can only be experienced in galleries or traditional exhibition spaces. We open the doors to the places where art is actually made, and we open doors for artists to develop their practices and businesses too.”

Local comedian and artist Joe Lycett is an ambassador for BOS, and says: “I’ve been a proud ambassador of Birmingham Open Studios for years now, and think it’s a brilliant and unique way of seeing the incredible art our city has to offer. It’s the best opportunity to nosey round people’s studios, homes, print presses, sheds and more to see what incredible (and sometimes quite weird) things they’ve made. By supporting the art trail you’re supporting local artists, so join me in grabbing a guidebook (or downloading their superb app!) and treat yourself to a gander at Birmingham’s extraordinary talent.”

This year, BOS says it is particularly proud to welcome more disabled artists and artists from low-income households. Thanks to financial support from West Midlands Combined Authority, this funding helps artists who might otherwise have been unable to participate.

New artists taking part in 2026 will also have access to help from more experienced BOS artists through the ‘BOS Buddy Mentorship Scheme’. The Scheme helps support them as they navigate their first Open Studios experience and develop their professional practice.

The 2026 event also sees BOS continuing to expand the range of organisations and groups involved. For the first time, educational facilities are participating in the trail, including a group exhibition courtesy of Coventry University Fine Art, and the Royal Photographic Society’s Central Region.

A refugee women’s craft group, Shelanu, will also be taking part, adding another perspective to the diverse creative community represented across this year’s trail.

Birmingham Open Studios 2026 will run across two weekends: Sat 26 & Sun 27 Sep, and Sat 3 & Sun 4 Oct, from 11am-5pm each day. Free guidebooks can be accessed via the BOS website or app, with physical guidebooks also available. Find out more here.