What's On in Birmingham

Pulse 6th Birthday in Aid of The Terrence Higgins Trust — Six years of Pulse, and this one counts for something beyond a great night out — every ticket supports the vital work of the Terrence Higgins Trust. Missing Bar is one of Birmingham's most beloved LGBTQ+ spaces, and a birthday party here carries real warmth and community spirit alongside the dancing. Doors open at 1:00pm, so get in early and make a full afternoon of it — check the website for ticket details.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton — This is a genuine full-stop moment on Birmingham's summer calendar: one of British music's most enduring and brilliantly contrary songwriters, backed by The Imposters and joined by the supremely talented Charlie Sexton, taking the stage at Symphony Hall at 7:30pm. The acoustics alone are worth the price of admission, but the prospect of Costello in this room, in this form, is the kind of thing you'll be telling people about for years. Check the website for tickets before they're gone.

MOHO x NCAPPED : Second City Sessions Summer Day Party — For just £7–£8, The Rainbow Pub in Digbeth throws open its doors at 2:00pm for what promises to be one of the most unpretentious and joyful afternoon parties in the city. MOHO and NCAPPED have built a serious reputation for championing local talent, and the Second City Sessions series has a habit of throwing up the kind of spontaneous, buzzing afternoons you can't manufacture. Digbeth on a summer Saturday — there really is no better backdrop.

Lola Young — Lola Young has had a meteoric rise, and catching her at the O2 Academy Birmingham at 7:00pm feels like one of those shows you'll look back on as the moment you knew. Her voice carries the weight of someone far beyond her years, and her songwriting cuts straight to the chest in the best possible way. Check the website for tickets, and do it soon.

Bruk Up 2026 — Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath is already home to one of the city's best live music nights earlier in the evening, and then at 9:00pm the room transforms for Bruk Up — a night that has quietly become essential for anyone who loves dancehall, bashment, and the infectious energy that comes with them. Tickets are £5–£12, which for the quality of the vibes on offer is an absolute steal.

Desivibe presents Bhangra Saturdays — Portrait Birmingham lights up at 10:30pm with Desivibe's Bhangra Saturdays, a night that brings the full, euphoric energy of Bhangra and South Asian club culture to one of the city's most stylish spaces. At just £7 on the door, it is one of the best-value late-night options in Birmingham, and the dancefloor has a reputation for being genuinely, infectiously joyful from start to finish.