Birmingham’s place as an international centre of culture and community for the Caribbean diaspora will be celebrated during a special event hosted in the city.

Up to 50 leading creatives from across dance, food and music will come together at Hockley Social Club (HSC) for Birmingham Reggae Carnival on Sunday 25 May 2025.

Presented by HSC together with New Vision Events, the day-long celebration will feature tastes and sounds from across the 13 countries that make up the Caribbean region.

The event will both underline Birmingham’s place as home to many cultural and culinary professionals - from carnival dancers to DJs, and steel pannists to chefs - and celebrate the city’s credentials as a landmark city for reggae.

Building on its vibrant programme of live events embracing sound system culture, along with a strong roster of food traders with Jamaican, Trinidadian and Tobagonian, Bajan and other West Indian island heritage, HSC will also mark the event by expanding its footprint for the day with a road closure of St George’s St.

Live music as part of the special day will come from Birmingham reggae veterans Friendly Fire Band, eight-piece Midlands-based outfit The Marley Experience who pay tribute to Jamaica’s most famous son, UK reggae pioneer and dancehall artist Solo Banton, and UB40 tour support and rising reggae royalty Young Culture.

HSC has confirmed food traders for the all-day celebration as Bad Boy Wings, Esmie's Caribbean Fusion, Flavours on Fire, and West Midlands Jerk Centre (WMJC).

Birmingham Reggae Carnival will also be an additional moment of celebration for WMJC, who have extended their residency at the Jewellery Quarter venue by another six months, owing to popular demand, taking them up to the end of 2025.

Authentic ‘backayard’ flavours will be on offer from renowned ‘jerkman’ Adrian Alexander and team, including jerk chicken and pork belly with hard dough bread outside, and classics like curried mutton, brown stew chicken, rice and peas inside.

DJs at the event include Birmingham mainstays Jam Jah Sound, in demand selecter Milo Sadler, international disc jockey Neeko, and godfathers of sound system culture in the Midlands, Wassifa Sound.

Tickets for Birmingham Reggae Carnival at HSC on Sunday 25 May, priced from £15, are available from the HSC website here.