Festivals and Events

The city hosts many festivals including an International Jazz Festival in the summer, a Film and Television Festival, Comedy Festival and ‘ArtsFest’ in the autumn. Broad Street is regularly used as a backdrop for street parades and other lively spectacles and throughout the year the Arcadian Centre in Chinatown is the setting for a variety of street entertainment and themed weekends.

The NEC and NIA host many of the country’s major events and exhibitions including The Motor Show, Clothes Show Live, Crufts and the BBC Good Food Show. Christmas is a magical time in Birmingham, when the city centre comes alive with lights and sounds, a Frankfurt German Christmas Market (Frankfurt is twinned with Birmingham), a 60m high Big Wheel and over 6 million shoppers and visitors.

“Birmingham city centre really is a great place, packed with shops, restaurants and bars. It is a great place to make new friends and spend some important years of your life. Living so close to Birmingham city centre is so convenient. You are only a 10-minute walk to excellent nightlife and shopping or just a short taxi ride. You can easily take a break from uni life without travelling expenses or long walks�
Gemma Kyte, 2nd Year