To commemorate this historic occasion, Joe, with support from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, has officially designated September 24th as International Day of Birmingham, a day when Birminghams worldwide will celebrate their shared Brummie heritage with a collective chant of “Alright Bab.”

The festivities will include a civic reception at Birmingham Council House, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. In attendance will be Joe Lycett, along with a delegation of his American counterparts from other Birminghams, local dignitaries, and notable figures from Birmingham’s rich cultural history, including members of Black Sabbath, UB40, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

There will also be celebrations taking place in Victoria Square from 3pm, with all invited to join. Lycett, joined by his international Brummie guests, will parade through the crowd, led by a brass band performing their own rendition of Black Sabbath’s Iron Man. The parade will feature dhol drummers, cheerleaders, stilt walkers, a giant Chinese dragon-style bull, and a surprise papier-mâché tribute.

The event will culminate with the hoisting of the United States of Birmingham flag, designed by Joe himself, accompanied by buglers playing the specially composed United States of Birmingham Fanfare, symbolising the new bond uniting the Birminghams of the world.

The International Day of Birmingham will feature as part of Sky’s new series Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham.

Lycett said: “International Day of Birmingham should be something we already celebrate, but I am thrilled to be joining the Lord Mayor in our inaugural celebration.

“I have travelled thousands of miles around niche and rural parts of America to help create this lasting legacy for all Birminghams, the greatest places on earth, better than dumps like London and Paris and New York, and link all Birminghams with the other Birminghams so that all Birminghams are friends with Birmingham.”