Birmingham events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Birmingham Back to Backs, Library of Birmingham, plus Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. December in Birmingham averages 7°C / 45°F highs, 3°C / 37°F nights, and about 17 rainy days.
Expect 7°C/45°F days and about 17 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Birmingham Back to Backs★ 4.8 · 1.7k reviewsNational Trust preserved court of working-class houses showing urban life from the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Library of Birmingham★ 4.6 · 2.2k reviewsLandmark public library with terraces, archives, architecture, and views over Centenary Square.
- Kevin Bridges: Here If You Need MeDec 2Utilita Arena Birmingham · Source: Ticketmaster
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Birmingham in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
45°F / 37°F
7.1°C / 2.7°C
RainPrecipitation
17d
2.5in · 64.6mm
LightDaylight
8h
Cold holiday month built around markets, shopping, pubs, and indoor culture.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Winter in Southside Festival
A month-long celebration of winter with food, drink, music, and arts events in Birmingham's Southside district.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery: Christmas Exhibition
Special Christmas-themed exhibition showcasing festive art and historical displays.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 2
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5 – Dec 6
The NEC Christmas Craft Fair
A festive craft fair at the National Exhibition Centre featuring handmade gifts and seasonal products.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 8 – Dec 9
Disney's Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert - Film with Live Orchestra
Arts & Theatre · Theatre.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 27
Birmingham Royal Ballet Christmas Season
Annual Christmas performances by Birmingham Royal Ballet, including classics like The Nutcracker at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 12 – Dec 30
Birmingham Hippodrome Christmas Pantomime
Traditional family pantomime performances during the Christmas season at Birmingham Hippodrome.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 13
- Dec 15
The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong
Arts & Theatre · Classical.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 15
- Dec 16
- Dec 17
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring In Concert
Arts & Theatre · Classical.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 20
- Dec 21
- Dec 22
- Dec 23
- Dec 23
- Dec 27
- Dec 28
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 28Boxing Day (substitute day)Public holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 28Long weekend
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
- Dec 26-Dec 28Long weekend
About Birmingham
City overview
Birmingham is England's second-city metro core, with canals, industrial heritage, concert halls, major shopping, universities, curry houses, and creative quarters wrapped around a dense rail-connected center. Its month-to-month appeal is less about beach weather and more about indoor culture, Christmas-market demand, concert calendars, and useful rail day trips.
Food & drink
Birmingham is one of Britain's strongest food cities, from Balti Triangle curry houses and Michelin dining to Chinatown, pub food, Digbeth food halls, and canal-side restaurants. Book destination restaurants early, and treat Moseley, Kings Heath, and the Jewellery Quarter as better evening neighborhoods than the shopping core.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
- 2Symphony Hall & ICC
- 3Bullring & Grand Central
- 4Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
- 5Cadbury World
- 6Jewellery Quarter
1Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
4.5★ · 10,380indoorClosed Mon/TueCivic museum and gallery collection, best treated as a weatherproof city-center anchor when galleries are open.
Wikipedia
2Symphony Hall & ICC
4.5★ · 4,969indoorOpen dailyConcert and conference complex around Centenary Square, key for evening plans and event-driven hotel demand.
3Bullring & Grand Central
4.4★ · 56,954indoorOpen dailyLarge shopping and rail-linked retail district beside New Street station and the Selfridges landmark.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
- 5Cadbury World
- 6Jewellery Quarter
Neighborhoods
1City Centre
Rail stations, shopping, museums, theatres, canals, and the easiest base for a short stay.
2Jewellery Quarter
Historic workshops, independent bars, boutique hotels, museums, and a quieter evening scene.
3Digbeth
Street art, warehouses, music venues, food halls, clubs, and creative businesses east of the core.
Day trips
55km / 45-60 min by train
Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare sites, river walks, theatres, and a compact historic center.
45km / 40 min by train plus walk
Warwick Castle
Large medieval castle attraction with seasonal shows and family programming.
30km / 40 min by train
Lichfield
Cathedral city with historic streets, Samuel Johnson links, and an easy half-day scale.
Getting around
Birmingham is best reached and explored by train, tram, bus, and walking in the center. New Street, Moor Street, and Snow Hill make regional day trips simple; use taxis or rideshare for late-night Digbeth, Edgbaston, Moseley, and Kings Heath hops.
Planning a Birmingham trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Birmingham in December
- Best rainy-day things to do in Birmingham in December
December averages 17 rainy days in Birmingham, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- Birmingham Back to Backs — National Trust preserved court of working-class houses showing urban life from the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Library of Birmingham — Landmark public library with terraces, archives, architecture, and views over Centenary Square.
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery — Civic museum and gallery collection, best treated as a weatherproof city-center anchor when galleries are open.
- Symphony Hall & ICC — Concert and conference complex around Centenary Square, key for evening plans and event-driven hotel demand.
- Bullring & Grand Central — Large shopping and rail-linked retail district beside New Street station and the Selfridges landmark.
- What to pack for Birmingham in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Birmingham checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 7°C / 45°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 3°C / 37°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 17 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Birmingham
- 3 days covers the main Birmingham highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Ready to plan Birmingham?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Birmingham plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.