Birmingham to host inaugural Jewellery Biennial in 2027

Birmingham is set to launch a month-long jewellery festival in May 2027, celebrating the city’s centuries-long heritage in jewellery making and showcasing the work of British and international designers, makers and craftspeople.

The inaugural Birmingham Jewellery Biennial will take place across the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter and wider city centre from 1 to 31 May 2027, organisers have announced.

The festival will feature exhibitions, installations, workshops and special events dedicated to jewellery design, craftsmanship and innovation. 

Visitors will also have the opportunity to create their own jewellery through daily hands-on activities.

The announcement comes one year after Birmingham was awarded World Craft City status for Jewellery and Allied Trades by the World Crafts Council, recognising the city’s long-standing contribution to the jewellery industry.

Co-founded by Jewellery Quarter Development Trust and Birmingham City University, the biennial will celebrate Birmingham’s role in producing some of the world’s “most recognisable” pieces, from the FA Cup and Wimbledon trophies to royal honours medals and bespoke luxury creations.

The festival is expected to attract visitors, collectors, designers and industry professionals from across the UK and overseas, further strengthening Birmingham’s position as a global centre for jewellery craftsmanship.

Ahead of the event, organisers will launch a nationwide open call inviting jewellery artists to submit work for a flagship exhibition that will run throughout the festival. Winning entrants will also receive cash prizes, with further details to be released through the biennial’s website.

Alex Nicholson Evans, festival director and city curator, said: “We are thrilled that, one year on from receiving World Craft City status, we are finally able to announce that Birmingham Jewellery Biennial is becoming a reality. 

“I have no doubts that this will be a major new cultural event for the country, putting a spotlight on the incredible creative talent we have here in the UK, and there is no better home for it than the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham.”