Birmingham Awards return on Saturday to celebrate the city's people and businesses

The people, businesses and charities who make Birmingham tick will be celebrated on Saturday 7 November, when the Birmingham Awards return for their 11th year at the Eastside Rooms on Woodcock Street.

The awards, run by B Events, set out to showcase "the talent, dedication and heroes that make Birmingham a remarkable place to live, work, and thrive". Winners will be announced at the ceremony, under the hashtags #BrumAwards26 and #OneBrum.

Free to enter, free to attend

One thing sets the Birmingham Awards apart from many others: they cost nothing. Nominations are free, and every finalist receives a complimentary ticket to the ceremony.

The organisers say: "Many awards charge nomination fees and even charge finalists to attend, but our approach ensures that recognition remains accessible and inclusive for all." By removing fees, they say, individuals, small businesses and larger organisations can all take part on an equal footing.

How winners are chosen

A panel of independent judges assesses the nominations in each category, and a public vote is held at the shortlist stage. Some categories include a face-to-face interview with the judges.

Categories range across the life of the city. The Arts and Culture Award recognises an organisation that fosters arts and culture in Birmingham, with "creative flair" and good practice. There is a charity award for an organisation that has had "a significant and positive impact on the wider community or society", an Independent Retailer of the Year award, and business awards for firms that can show commercial success, new products and services, and strong support for their staff.

A landmark year in 2025

Last year's ceremony marked the awards' 10th anniversary. Its most memorable moment was Kelly Osbourne's moving tribute to her father, Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath frontman and one of Birmingham's most famous sons, who was honoured posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Eastside's big night

The Eastside Rooms sit in the heart of Birmingham's Eastside, close to Millennium Point, Eastside City Park and the site of the new HS2 station at Curzon Street, an area that has itself been transformed over the past decade.

Award ceremonies like this are a chance to shine a light on people who rarely seek it: the volunteers, shopkeepers, carers and entrepreneurs who quietly keep the city going. Whoever takes home a trophy, every finalist has already been recognised by the people who nominated them. We will report on the winners after Saturday's ceremony.

More information about the awards and their categories is on the Birmingham Awards website.