Exactly one year after his death, Birmingham is giving one of its most famous sons a send-off worthy of a legend. Today, on Wednesday, July 22, the city hosts its first-ever Ozzy Day — a free, city-wide celebration of Ozzy Osbourne, the Black Sabbath frontman who grew up in Aston and helped invent heavy metal, who died on July 22, 2025 at the age of 76.
The day is built around Osbourne‘s lifelong bond with his hometown. Fans from across the UK and around the world are being encouraged to descend on the city to explore landmarks tied to the singer, catch live performances, take in exhibitions and share their memories of the rock icon. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening.
Bostin Brass return, a year after the funeral procession
Bostin Brass, the Birmingham band that played during Osbourne‘s funeral procession through the city last year, are back for a run of surprise pop-up performances of Black Sabbath and solo Ozzy material. The five-piece will appear at Birmingham New Street station at 08:30 BST, outside Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery at 10:00, outside Selfridges in the Bullring at 11:30, at the Black Sabbath Bench at 12:45, and finally in Martineau Place at 15:00 — turning up throughout the day to catch visitors off guard while celebrating the music that made Osbourne and Black Sabbath global stars.
Share your Ozzy memories
Fans are invited to add their own memories of Osbourne at Birmingham New Street station, where the Birmingham Music Archive will gather stories, reflections and personal tributes in a commemorative guestbook — creating a lasting record of the first Ozzy Day and the mark the singer left on Birmingham and on music fans worldwide. Visitors can also grab a free Polaroid photograph with a specially dressed Ozzy the Bull on the station concourse, between 11:00 and 14:00 BST and again from 15:00 to 18:00.
A special orchestral salute
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) will set up at the Bullring at lunchtime for an Ozzy-themed performance, taking the stage at 12:15. The acclaimed orchestra is no stranger to the material — they paid tribute to Osbourne with a hastily arranged performance at New Street station the day after his death last year, with help from the Birmingham Royal Ballet, playing to hundreds of commuters.
Exhibitions of a working-class hero
Hundreds of thousands have already visited the “Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero” exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery — and the anniversary makes it an especially poignant day to go. It now includes Osbourne‘s iconic throne from Black Sabbath‘s final show at Villa Park last year, where he was joined by a pantheon of rock stars who owe him their careers. The exhibition is open from 10:00 to 17:00 and remains in place until September. There’s also the “Back To The Beginning” photo exhibition in Grand Central, above New Street station and next to Foyles bookshop, running across the summer.
The Black Sabbath trail — and an Ozzy walk
Those wanting to stretch their legs can take on the Black Sabbath trail, hitting spots all around the city, with maps available at Birmingham Library and handed out at New Street station. The trail takes in the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street, the museum exhibition, the mural on Navigation Street, Ozzy the Bull, and The Crown pub — where the pre-Sabbath unknowns Earth played their first gig in 1969 — plus the Aston Villa store and Selfridges, both stocking special merchandise. A limited-edition t-shirt goes on sale at Selfridges in the Bullring from July 22 while stocks last, its reverse listing all 52 gigs Osbourne played in Birmingham across his career, solo and with Black Sabbath.
Separately, an independently organized Ozzy Walk is raising money for the homeless, running from Villa Park to the Black Sabbath bench. It kicks off at 10:00 from the mural next to the Holte pub on Trinity Road, beside the stadium.
The celebration caps a landmark year in Osbourne‘s story. Just 16 days before his death, he took his final bow at the Black Sabbath farewell concert “Back To The Beginning” at Villa Park, reuniting with original bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. Ozzy Day is being delivered by Central BID and OPUS in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Birmingham New Street and Westside BID, with OPUS also commissioning short films to document the performances and fan memories from across the city.
