Independent Birmingham bar and grassroots music venue Nortons Digbeth has announced its annual St Patrick’s programme will take place between 11 and 18 March 2026.

The leading city hospitality business will host it’s St Patrick’s Sunday special on 15 March, headlined by internationally acclaimed five-piece Irish folk rockers All Folk’d Up, along with a line-up featuring seven of the city’s best Irish bands and musicians and displays from Scanlon’s School of Irish Dance over 14 hours.

Events at the popular Birmingham Irish Quarter destination celebrates Ireland’s culture, people, and heritage and marks a deep and historic bond between the UK city and the Republic of Ireland, sits at the heart of the community and has become a regular meeting point for the city’s Irish diaspora.

The Irish community has long been an important part of Birmingham’s residents and labour force, with generations of Irish emigrating to Birmingham; escaping the famine between 1820 and 1840, and again in the 1940s and 1960s during the post World War II boom.

Some estimates number the current Irish community in the city, including those born in Ireland as well as second and third generation Irish, at 100,000 - making up just under one-tenth of its population.

Social historian Professor Carl Chinn MBE will open the week-long St Patrick’s programme at Nortons with the illustrated talk ‘Making Our Mark - The Irish in Victorian Birmingham’ on Wednesday 11 March.

In the evening event, Professor Chinn will explore the effects that Irish migrants had on the city in the 19th century - a tribute to their impact and that of the Irish in general.

On Thursday 12 March, the Digbeth venue is set to host its St Patrick’s Green Tie Ball, a special evening bringing the Irish businesses and cultural community together for a night of traditional music, dancing and dining.

Birmingham Irish musicians Dan Roberts and Jack Banting will appear live on stage at the Meriden Street nightspot on Friday 13 March, whilst Saturday will see performances from firm favourites On The Sesh, Rosie O'Sullivan Band, The Hurling Boys, Dan Roberts, and DJ sets from Kieran Corcoran.

Sunday 15 March - which has traditionally seen the St Patrick’s Day Parade day take place in the city’s Irish Quarter - is the feature day for Nortons, and will see the venue taken over by musicians, revellers, and dancers.

Artists and bands from the Birmingham Irish music scene confirmed to play at the special event are All Folk’d Up, The Father Teds, Heed, The Hurling Boys, and Ire-Ish, Jack Banting, LAMPA, and On The Sesh.

Those celebrating St Patrick’s Day festivities on the day will also be treated to performances by dancers from multi all-Ireland producers Scanlon’s School of Irish Dance; a city institution dedicated to preserving and developing the traditional artform.

Irish whiskey fans will have the opportunity to be part of an exclusive masterclass exploring the history of 'Uisce Beatha' (Gaelic for 'water of life') in the venue’s traditional snug space on Monday 16 March. This event, delivered by a leading expert, will be limited in capacity, therefore advance booking is required.

St Patrick’s Day - on Tuesday 17 March - will see Nortons present a full menu of Irish dining specialities along with a return from singer-songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and bands Jack Banting, Heed, and The Father Teds.

Acclaimed Irish folk musician Barry Kerr will close the St Patrick’s Week programme, with an intimate performance on the Norton’s main stage.

The Armagh native, now living and writing music in Connemara, has been recording and performing for twenty years, and collaborated with artists including Cara Dillon and Lúnasa’s Donogh Hennessy.

Nominated for Best Album at BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards 2026, the singer and songwriter has seen renowned folk acts such as Karan Casey, Flook, Jiggy, Beoga, Brian Finnegan, Damian O'Kane and Kate Rusby include his compositions in their tour repertoires.

Visit Nortons Digbeth for information and to book tickets for the full St Patrick’s Festival 2026 programme.