Birmingham Heritage Week 2026 will take place over ten days from Friday, September 11, to Sunday, September 20, with a mix of free and paid events across the city. The annual festival celebrates Birmingham's industrial, architectural, and cultural history, supported by the Birmingham Museums Trust, the National Trust, and the University of Birmingham. Hundreds of historic venues, hidden spaces, and local landmarks will open to the public during the festival.
Event Dates and Schedule
The 2026 edition of Birmingham Heritage Week runs for ten days, starting on Friday, September 11, and concluding on Sunday, September 20. Organisers publish the full event schedule and program listings on the official event website ahead of the festival, giving visitors time to plan their days before the launch.
Ticket Prices and Free Access
The vast majority of open days, historic venue access, and guided walks across the city are completely free of charge. Access to major open days, such as the Mailbox Tunnels, Warstone Lane Cemetery Catacombs, public library archives, civic spaces, and Spaghetti Junction walks, is fully free, though pre-registered tickets are often required.
Certain specialised tours, hands-on workshops, and paid museum entries carry ticket fees. Select exclusive experiences, such as architect-led restoration tours or specialised historical factory walks, like those hosted at the Coffin Works Museum or historic railway depots, generally range from £5 to £15 per person.
Visiting partner venues during the week, such as Winterbourne House and Garden or the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, may require standard venue admission rates unless you are attending a specifically designated free Heritage Week open session.
Booking Process and Online Reservations
Because event capacity is strictly limited for underground spaces, historic houses, and guided group walks, tickets must be reserved in advance. Tickets can be reserved from the official Birmingham Heritage Week website, and they have now officially gone on sale. More details are available at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk.
