The inaugural International Day of Birmingham will take place on Tuesday 24 September, spearheaded by renowned comedian and proud Brummie, Joe Lycett.

To unite Birminghams worldwide, "Friendship Agreements" have been built, linking Birmingham, UK, with various other cities, towns and villages named Birmingham across North America, forming the ‘United States of Birmingham’.

To commemorate this historic occasion, Joe, with support from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, has officially designated 24 September as International Day of Birmingham, a day when Birminghams worldwide will celebrate their shared Brummie heritage with a collective chant of “Alright Bab.”

The inaugural celebration will be marked by a civic reception at Birmingham Council House, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. In attendance will be Joe Lycett, along with a delegation of his American counterparts from other Birminghams, local dignitaries, and notable figures from Birmingham’s rich cultural history, including members of Black Sabbath, UB40, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

Festivities will also take place in Victoria Square from around 3pm for a grand Brummie celebration – which everyone is invited to! Joe Lycett, joined by his international Brummie guests, will parade through the crowd, led by a brass band performing their own rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” The parade will also feature dhol drummers, cheerleaders, stilt walkers, a giant Chinese dragon-style bull, and a surprise papier-mâché tribute.

The event will culminate with the hoisting of the United States of Birmingham flag, designed by Joe himself, accompanied by buglers playing the specially composed United States of Birmingham Fanfare, symbolising the new bond uniting the Birminghams of the world.