Passengers traveling through Birmingham Airport will now be greeted by the likeness of the late Ozzy Osbourne. The iconic heavy metal vocalist is a prominent feature on the facility’s newly unveiled Icons Wall, a massive art installation designed to celebrate the most significant cultural exports from the West Midlands.
The mural officially debuted on Wednesday, March 25. Alongside the legendary singer, the artwork pays tribute to a diverse group of regional figures spanning music, sports, and entertainment. The featured icons include reggae group UB40, comedian Jasper Carrott, poet Benjamin Zephaniah, chef Glynn Purnell, athletes Hannah Hampton and Ellie Symonds, and television creator Steven Knight.
Several of the honored individuals and their representatives attended the unveiling ceremony, including members of UB40, Glynn Purnell, Jasper Carrott, and Benjamin Zephaniah‘s widow, Qian Zephaniah. Speaking to the BBC at the event, the 81-year-old Jasper Carrott expressed his gratitude for the recognition.
“If people go past and they recognise you and they start talking about you, then it’s good for your career, but I’m 81 now, for crying out loud! It’s wonderful being a part of the West Midlands history, particularly with all these people here who are incredibly talented.”
Birmingham Airport Terminal Operations Director Al Titterington explained the vision behind the project, noting that the portraits are interspersed with recognizable local landmarks, such as the Library of Birmingham and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
“When planning the Icons Wall, we wanted to give a sense of place but also a local feel that our passengers can resonate with. This specially selected group of icons represent the diverse sport, arts and culture heritage across the region. Ozzy Osbourne is one of the first to be seen as part of the artwork, followed by the remaining icons, interspersed by familiar sights of the Birmingham skyline including the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Library of Birmingham. BHX is proud to be part of the heritage of the West Midlands as well, as a critical piece of national infrastructure and a key transport Gateway, however we know that the best bit of the West Midlands is its people and today showcases some of our region’s best.”
This permanent tribute arrives months after a massive fan campaign attempted to rename the entire transportation hub in honor of the singer. Following the passing of Ozzy Osbourne in July 2025 at the age of 76, former radio presenter Dan Hudson launched a petition to rebrand the facility as Ozzy Osbourne International.
Despite gathering nearly 80,000 signatures, Birmingham Airport CEO Nick Barton formally rejected the proposal last December. While acknowledging the region’s extraordinary list of influential figures, specifically citing Robert Plant, Lenny Henry, and Charles Darwin, the executive confirmed that retaining the “Birmingham” name remains essential for the airport’s future commercial growth and development.
In other related news, organizers of Hellfest, one of Europe’s premier open-air heavy metal festivals held in Clisson, are preparing to unveil a massive, six-meter-tall statue of Ozzy Osbourne during the event, which runs from June 18 to June 21.
The exciting news was first shared by Ozzy Osbourne‘s widow and longtime manager, Sharon Osbourne, during the MIDEM 2026 conference in Cannes on February 6. While showing off the first photo of the towering sculpture that will greet fans near the festival entrance, she expressed her deep gratitude to the organizers.
“Oh, there he is. Look at him, a rock god. That is going to debut at Hellfest, and that is June 18th. And the whole family will be there to see it. And it’s such a great tribute. It’s amazing. So, I can only thank [Hellfest director] Ben [Barbaud]. Just bless you. It’s an amazing piece of art.”
