Things to do
Visit Birmingham is the official tourism website for the city and West Midlands region. It showcases diverse attractions and major events, promoting Birmingham as a top UK destination for culture, food, shopping, and entertainment.
- Visit our Tourist Information Service located in the Library of Birmingham
Art and exhibitions
Birmingham has a large number of impressive collections and art exhibitions housed and presented at spaces such as Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Ikon Gallery and smaller galleries such as the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) and Eastside Projects.
Crafts
Birmingham has a strong tradition in craft. It has officially been recognised as a World Craft City, making it 1 of just 8 in Europe to receive this prestigious designation from the World Crafts Council.
Dance
The city’s multicultural identity has fostered a vibrant blend of dance traditions, including South Asian dance forms such as Kathak and Bharatanatyam, and contemporary African and Caribbean.
Birmingham is also home to dance companies like Fabric, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and 1 of 2 national hubs for dance outside of London, Dance Hub Birmingham.
Find out about:
- Sampad - South Asian arts and heritage
- Sonia Sabri Company - South Asian dance and music
- ACE Dance and Music - Contemporary African and Caribbean dance
- dance schools and groups in Birmingham
Festivals
Birmingham has a yearlong programme of fantastic festivals and events.
Immersive, digital and media art
Developing technologies has seen the growth of art made or presented using digital technology.
Find out about:
- immersive arts organisation BOM Birmingham Open Media
- media practice-based arts organisation Vivid Projects
Music concerts and gigs
Birmingham has a rich and diverse musical heritage. Its contribution to the UK music scene includes many genres, from classical and heavy metal to reggae and electronic music.
Birmingham is still very much a musical city. The world class Royal Birmingham Conservatoire provides exceptional training for musicians, actors, stage managers and performers. The Live Music Mapping Project captures around 348 music venues, with over 190 venues located in the centre of the city.
Performance and theatre
Birmingham has many theatres, including major venues such as the Birmingham Hippodrome and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The Rep), as well as smaller amateur theatres spaces like Hall Green Little Theatre and Highbury Theatre.
Reading, writing and poetry
The Library of Birmingham is a striking modern building providing a showcase for Birmingham's internationally important collections of archives, photography and rare books. This includes one of the world’s most significant Shakespeare collections.
Writing West Midlands is the literature development agency for the region fostering talent and collaboration through events, workshops, and mentoring programmes.
You can also get information about:
- Birmingham libraries
- reading groups in Birmingham libraries
- writing groups that meet in Birmingham
- Birmingham’s Poet Laureate
Arts, creativity and culture in our communities
Birmingham benefits from a network of local arts forums located in each of the city’s ten district areas. The forums are set up by passionate local arts connectors and made up of local places and spaces for cultural activity, local creatives and community groups. They are supported by Number 11 Arts.
Other things to experience in Birmingham
Find out about our:
Page last updated: 11 March 2026
