CBSO launches 20 free public concerts across Birmingham for Bank Holiday weekend – with £1 Golden Tickets available for the new CBSO season

CBSO in the City returns this coming weekend (27-31 August), as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) goes beyond its home at Symphony Hall for five days to deliver 20 free performances in public spaces in and around the city.

Tens of thousands of Birmingham residents will encounter the orchestra for performances in unexpected places – from New Street Station and the Bullring to Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the city’s Children’s Hospital. CBSO Music Director, Kazuki Yamada, will also be performing piano on a CBSO-branded tram – and members of the public will even get the chance to conduct the orchestra.

All public performances are free (except for admission fees for some host venues) and residents that experience a CBSO performance will have to chance to pick up a golden ticket – which means that for just £1, they will be able to book a CBSO concert of their choice in the 2026-27 Season at Symphony Hall, which starts in September.

Emma Stenning, CBSO Chief Executive, commented: “CBSO in the City is about us doing something special to celebrate our home city and sharing the gift of free music to people of all ages and from all walks of life. Thousands of people will experience live orchestral music for the first time, and the range of music programming and exciting locations will both play a part in making the performances exciting, fun and accessible. We also appreciate that the cost-of-living crisis has been a worry for so many people, and our £1 golden tickets will give many people that see us this coming weekend the bonus of a great night out to look forward to in the autumn. Music is for everyone and there should never be barriers to this. CBSO in the City fully opens up the world of orchestral music – removing all barriers, bringing people together and reminding us that music should ultimately be about having fun.”