Birmingham revellers turn out for non-existent fireworks – for second new year in a row | Birmingham
The new year got off to an unexpected start in Birmingham for hundreds of people who were tricked into attending a non-existent New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Again.
Crowds of revelers gathered in the city’s Centenary Square, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pyrotechnic display that will welcome 2026.
However, they were disappointed after learning that no demonstration would be held and that they had become victims of fake news spread on the internet.
A similar incident occurred last year; Following the online allegations, thousands of people gathered in the city center promising a spectacular spectacle with food vendors and demonstrations.
This year, an online ad claimed there would be a dazzling fireworks display where attendees “can expect spectacular spectacle as well as a lively atmosphere featuring music as the city welcomes the new year.”
West Midlands police said on Tuesday that “there was no official fireworks display or any city-organised event in Birmingham city center on New Year’s Eve” and blamed the annual spread online of rumors about “major celebrations in the city”.
“Unfortunately, these false allegations often lead to confusion and frustration,” police said in a statement.
Despite the warnings, images shared on social media show a large group gathering in front of the Ferris wheel in Centennial Square, the focal point of the city, on Wednesday evening. The video was titled: “When the sky goes silent when you line up for fireworks.”
It’s not just people in Birmingham who fall victim to such scams. Tourists visiting Buckingham Palace last month were left horrified after an image showing a picturesque scene of a Christmas market created by artificial intelligence went viral on social media. Visitors came when they saw that it was fake.
West Midlands police said misinformation incidents such as those on New Year’s Eve could create “real safety issues in the city” and “when large crowds gather for a non-existent event, they can put pressure on public transport and emergency services and lead to congestion in the city centre”.
Elsewhere in the UK, millions of people gathered at events and parties to welcome 2026. London staged its biggest pyrotechnic display to date, with nearly 12,000 fireworks exploding on the banks of the River Thames in front of a crowd of 100,000 watching.
Tens of thousands of revelers attending the Hogmanay street party in Scotland enjoyed the show that lit up Edinburgh Castle.
