The Prince of Darkness may be gone, but the city of Birmingham is refusing to let go of its most famous son just yet. Due to overwhelming public demand, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery has announced that its blockbuster exhibition, “Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero“, will remain open through the summer of 2026.
Originally scheduled to close in September 2025 and later extended to this month, the retrospective will now welcome fans until September 27, 2026. Since opening its doors, the installation has seen a staggering 425,000 visitors pass through, cementing its status as a vital site of pilgrimage for rock fans mourning the icon’s death on July 22, 2025.
The decision to keep the doors open was celebrated by Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, who highlighted the deep emotional connection the city maintains with the singer.
“The public response to the exhibition continues to show the love and affection for Ozzy in Birmingham and beyond and we are very pleased to announce that it will now be on display until September 2026,” they said in a joint statement. “We would like to express our thanks to Sharon and the rest of the Osbourne family for allowing us to continue to display this exhibition as a fitting tribute to Ozzy‘s life and legacy and to enable as many people as possible to come and see it.”
Developed in partnership with Central BID Birmingham, the free exhibition chronicles Ozzy‘s journey from a “working-class kid from Aston” to a global phenomenon. It features a treasure trove of memorabilia, including his Grammy Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trophies, and accolades from both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Birmingham Walk of Stars.
However, the tone of the exhibit shifted significantly last month. On December 3—what would have been Ozzy‘s 77th birthday—a moving tribute wall was unveiled. It features 77 specific messages selected from over 50,000 tributes left by fans in the city’s book of condolence. A new film accompanying the display also includes footage of the massive crowds that lined the streets of Birmingham to bid farewell to the funeral cortege last summer.
Sharon Osbourne, who originally opened the exhibition on June 25, 2025—just weeks before Ozzy‘s passing and coinciding with his final performance at Villa Park—expressed her gratitude for the continued interest.
“We are so proud that Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery asked to extend ‘Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero‘, and that more fans will now have the opportunity to go through the exhibit,” Sharon said.
Sam Watson, chair of Central BID Birmingham, echoed these sentiments, noting the global reach of the exhibition.
“Central BID is extremely proud to bring this exhibition to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery with the kind support of Sharon Osbourne,” Watson stated. “The demand to see the exhibition has been phenomenal and we are very grateful that Sharon and her family have allowed us to extend the exhibition until September 2026, which will give Ozzy‘s fans from the UK and around the world an opportunity to celebrate his extraordinary life and achievements.”
“Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero“ is supported by Birmingham City Council, Aston Villa FC, and sponsored by Ocean Outdoor.
