Calling all Brummies, honorary Brummies, and anyone who loves Birmingham! Grab a glass of local tap water, belt out “Alright Bab!” at full volume, and join the fun—International Day of Birmingham (IDOB) returns on Wednesday, 24 September 2025. Everyone is invited to celebrate this annual tribute to the historic alliance of Birminghams, championed by award-winning Brummie comedian Joe Lycett.
IDOB celebrations take place at different venues and locations across the city. This year’s programme features Joe Lycett, Prof Carl Chinn MBE, Trevor Beattie, Marc Silk, Janice Connolly, Mr Egg, Tat Vision & Bam Bam plus plenty more lined up! The celebrations will close with a headline event at The Old Rep with Professor Carl Chinn MBE hosting a Brummie double bill with Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham and Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham, followed by a Q&A with Joe Lycett, director Nicola Silk, and historian Randell H Spackman.
What else is happening across the city on Wednesday 24th September?
9:00 – 21:00 – Photography exhibition: ‘United States of Birmingham – Images from a Road Trip’
Location: Zellig, Custard Factory
Free to attend
An exhibition featuring photographs of all the Birminghams visited for the TV series, taken by Joe Lycett and the crew. Open from Sept 24th – Oct 31st 2025.
13:00 – 13:45 – Flashbab
Location: Colmore Square
Free to attend
- Join us at the iconic Alright Bab sign for some unmissable surprises. Collect your Joe Lycett’s ‘10 things you need to do in Birmingham, UK’ alternative itinerary and pick up a free Curly Wurly!
- 13.00 – The fun begins
- 13.30 – Collective ‘Alright bab’ chant led by the Lord Mayor followed by a procession down Colmore Row with special guests.
- 13.45 – United States Of Birmingham flag raising in Victoria Square with the USB anthem and balcony appearance by the President of the USB himself, Joe Lycett.
15:00 – 20:00 – Brummie Bazaar
Location: The Custard Factory
Free to attend
Birmingham Artisan Markets showcases local traders and creatives, including Punks & Chancers, Spirit of Birmingham, The Crackpottery, Breaking Bread, Milan Illustrator, and Pip’s Hot Sauce.
17:00 – 18:30 – Industry Chinwag; the making of Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham – supported by Create Central and Reel Brum
Location: The Old Rep Theatre
Tickets: https://www.idob.co.uk/
Join the production team for a peak behind the curtain of this popular 4 part series (Sky/NOW) which saw Joe Lycett create an official Treaty of Friendship with the other Birminghams of the world. Find out how it was commissioned, how it was filmed and how they survived 2000 miles in a tour bus.
17:00 – 23:00 – Bab’s Big Blowout
Location: The Old Crown
Tickets: https://www.idob.co.uk/
Join us for a night of entertainment with Barbara Nice, Tat Vision and more special guests to celebrate IDOB at the oldest pub in Brum. Make sure to check out Tat Vision’s Mr Egg-decorating workshop!
18:30 – 20:00 – International Day of Birmingham 6KM Run
Location: The Goodsyard JQ
Free but booking required: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-goodsyard-run-club-international-day-of-birmingham-run-tickets-1665567991699
The Lord Mayor will cut the ribbon to kick off the ultimate run through Brum. Experience a 6K guided running tour of Brum’s quirkiest landmarks, all set to the United States of Birmingham playlist. Finish at The Jeweller’s Arms for a cob and optional social.
17:00 – 22:00 – Mr Eggshibition, + egg scavenger hunt
Location: The Nest + around The Custard Factory + Zellig estates
Free entry
In honour of local legend and the unofficial mascot of Birmingham, Mr Egg, we’re calling on crafty Brummies to contribute to the world’s biggest collection of papier mache Mr Eggs!
19:00 – Landmark Lighting
Landmarks of Birmingham including The Library of Birmingham, Paradise, and Kings Heath High Street will be illuminated in the IDOB colours.
19:00 – Thunderbirds 60th Anniversary Double Bill
Location: The Mockingbird, Digbeth
Tickets: https://www.idob.co.uk/
Celebrate 60 years of Thunderbirds with a special double bill. Local creative legend Trevor Beattie will introduce two newly restored episodes in 4K. Rooted in Birmingham, the series became a global phenomenon. Afterwards, join a Q&A with Marc Silk, the city’s own voice actor for Thunderbirds, Star Wars, and Scooby-Doo.
20:00 – 22:30 Who Loves Ya Bab?
Location: The Old Rep Theatre
Tickets: https://www.idob.co.uk/
The headline event features Professor Carl Chinn MBE hosting a Brummie double bill, including a rare screening of ‘Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham’ and the first episode of ‘Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham.’ Following the screenings, enjoy a Q&A with Joe Lycett, director Nicola Silk, and Brummie historian Randell H Spackman from Birmingham, Pennsylvania.
Hospitality Highlights
- Medicine Bakery has created two bespoke treats: a Curly Wurly Salted Caramel Brownie and a Custard Factory Donut. These will be exclusively available for 1 week from IDOB at all Medicine venues.
- Guests visiting any Medicine venue on the day itself can say, “I’m here to honour Mr Egg” to enjoy any egg dish on the menu for just £5.
Keep an eye out for more exciting announcements from the city’s hospitality scene!
Want to join in the celebrations? Upload your own event here – https://visitbirmingham.com/the-international-day-of-birmingham/
Background about the event
In 2024, as the Lord Mayor’s chosen ambassador, Joe Lycett, formed an official Treaty of Friendship with the world’s many Birminghams, thus creating the United States of Birmingham. On his travels (immortalised in the Sky series ‘Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham’) Joe discovered a shared Brummie spirit and introduced the Birminghams of North America to some cultural highlights from the Mother Brum, including custard, cobs and a Curly Wurly or two. The bringing together of the Birminghams was a chance to shout about Brum and culminated in the inaugural International Day of Birmingham.
Credit: Khuram Mizra – Just Brum UK
Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE said “Last year, we made history with the inaugural International Day of Birmingham.From the brass band parade to the hoisting of the United States of Birmingham flag, it was a joyful celebration of Brummie pride. I am very proud that the event is returning for a second year, and this year is set to be another wonderful celebration of everything brilliant about Birmingham. I know it will be a great showcase of the spirit and humour of our city not only in the UK but also Birminghams across the world. I hope as many people as possible can get involved with a great programme of Brum-based events and activities and celebrate the second International Day of Birmingham.”
Joe Lycett said “‘I am looking forward to once more celebrating this incredibly precious day in the global calendar by shouting ‘alright bab’ aggressively at the Lord Mayor before sinking 6-8 pints and inhaling a King Kebab at 3am.”
Thanks to all of our supporters for helping make International Day of Birmingham 2025 possible.
Access to Music, Action Graphics, BAM BAM, Birmingham Artisan Market, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City FC, Bread Birmingham, Branded Clothing UK, City Curator, Colmore BID, College of Medicine & Dentistry, Create Central, Dervish and Co, Flatpack Festival, GuardSafe, MB Quizzes, Mockingbird Cinema, North One, The Old Rep, Oval, Reel Brum, RTS, The Baim Collection, The Old Crown, Visit Birmingham, Walk Through Walls, Zellig.
