Hundreds of people were left disappointed after turning up to a New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Birmingham city centre that never existed, marking the second year
in a row revellers have been misled by false online adverts.
Large crowds braved freezing temperatures to gather in Centenary Square on Tuesday night, hoping to welcome 2026 with a midnight display. Instead, they were told the event was not taking place and that the advertisements circulating online were fake.
Videos shared on TikTok showed packed streets, with people holding up their phones in anticipation of fireworks that never came. Later clips captured frustrated crowds dispersing from the area as police officers informed attendees there was no organised event.
West Midlands Police had warned earlier in the week that rumours of a city-centre fireworks display were untrue. Officers were deployed to manage crowds and explain the situation to those who had travelled into Birmingham for the supposed celebration.
Thousands were similarly duped last year, when false listings promoted a “spectacular” New Year’s Eve show in Centenary Square. Birmingham has not hosted an official city-centre fireworks display since 2017, despite the event continuing to appear in online round-ups of the UK’s best New Year celebrations.
Some of the misleading adverts claimed festivities would run from 8pm on December 31 through to 12.30am, promising street food, bars and even an ice rink. Analysts believe several of these blog posts may have been generated by AI and relied on outdated or incorrect information.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “There are no official firework displays or city-organised events happening in Birmingham city centre on New Year’s Eve. Every year, rumours spread online and unfortunately lead to confusion and disappointment.
“Families make unnecessary journeys and arrive expecting an event that isn’t taking place. This also creates safety concerns, putting pressure on transport networks and emergency services.”
Police urged the public to verify event information using trusted sources and to treat social media posts with caution. Officers confirmed they would remain on high-visibility patrols over the festive period to manage crowds and prevent further disruption. Photo by West Midlands Police from West Midlands, United Kingdom, Wikimedia commons.