Birmingham Weekender is back with three days of free performances, installations, pop-up experiences and new commissions from a host of regional, national and international companies this month.
Produced by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Bullring, Birmingham Weekender will spread across the city’s streets, squares, shopping centres and even skies over the bank holiday.
Weekender Carnival will get things going with a colourful dance and music extravaganza delivered by ACE Dance and Music from Edgbaston Street to Rotunda Square.
Birmingham’s Poet Laureate Ayan Aden will be at New Street, transforming public responses to What Are You Waiting For? into powerful daily spoken word performances, while Jham!, an upbeat, playful and energetic Indian dance and music collaboration, highlights the rhythmic play between the ancient and the modern at the Bullring.
The Brum in Colour mural, designed by local illustrator Layla Sadiq, invites all to grab a pen and contribute to the piece by adding the places that matter most to them.
Carnival craft workshops offer the chance to create something spectacular to wear for the festival, there’ll be free face painting all weekend and even a series of dance flashmobs at New Street.
Committed to being open to all, there will be British Sign Language (BSL)-interpreted and audio-described performances, accessible viewing areas and a team of dedicated access hosts working across the festival and at the festival access hub.
Matt Evans, head of festivals and sites at Birmingham Hippodrome, said, “Birmingham Weekender is a celebration of who we are as a city and this year’s festival will once again bring people together to share unforgettable moments in our streets and public spaces. Stay tuned – we can’t wait to reveal the full programme – there’s so much to look forward to!”
Birmingham Weekender runs from Sat 23 Aug – Mon 25 Aug. For more information and the full programme, click here.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 20 Aug 2025