Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and other city museums are set to extend their opening hours starting July 2026, following a £289,000 funding boost approved by the city council. The funding was part of a Liberal Democrat amendment to the council's most recent budget, and the changes are timed to coincide with the school summer holidays.
Extended Opening Days Across Multiple Venues
From July 7, 2026, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) and Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum will increase their opening to six days a week during term time, and will be open every day during school holidays. Blakesley Hall will open on Saturdays and Sundays from July 18, bringing its weekly opening to five days. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter will add Sunday opening from July 19, increasing to four days a week. The Museum Collection Centre, which holds over 80 per cent of the city’s collection of around one million items, will offer selected weekend tours, with plans to expand.
Funding Secured Until March 2027
The extended programme is currently funded until the end of March 2027. The changes were announced shortly after the throne used by Ozzy Osbourne during his final live performance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park went on display at BMAG as part of the Working Class Hero exhibition.
Council Leader Emphasises Cultural Importance
Liberal Democrat Councillor Deborah Harries, cabinet member for culture, said: “Giving greater access to our nine museums and our precious collections, for residents and visitors, has to be a priority. I’m delighted that our budget amendment earlier this year has translated into additional opening days at more than half of the museums across the city.” She added: “I’m also really pleased that this means new and extra weekend openings at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Blakesley Hall and the Museum Collection Centre, providing greater visitor choice, particularly for children and families.” Harries said she would consider with Birmingham Museums Trust options to further extend opening days across all museums.
Museums Trust Welcomes Investment
Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “We are delighted that Birmingham City Council has provided additional funding to help us extend the opening days across a number of our sites. This investment will enable more people to enjoy Birmingham’s outstanding museums and historic properties. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors from July 2026 and throughout the summer holidays and beyond.”
Culture as a City Asset
Liberal Democrat Councillor Roger Harmer, now leader of Birmingham Council, previously described arts and culture as a “real asset that the city should be actively promoting”. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “One of our priorities is to get all of our museums open much longer – that would be a gradual process. It’s crazy you’ve got places like Blakesley Hall and it’s hardly open at all. That may mean working with the community so it’s partly volunteers, partly paid staff.” He added: “We need to look at the range of our different arts and culture and really see it as something that attracts people into the city.”
