Key Takeaways
- Birmingham will honor Ozzy Osbourne with a day of festivities on July 22, exactly one year after his passing.
- The event includes live music, public art, and special performances celebrating the singer’s life and legacy.
- Key locations in Osbourne's upbringing and musical journey will be part of the tribute.
Birmingham is set to celebrate its most iconic son with a day-long festival on July 22, marking exactly one year since Ozzy Osbourne’s passing. The event, known as ‘Ozzy Day’, aims to honor the late Black Sabbath singer and solo star through a series of musical performances, public art installations, and special tributes.
Organized by Birmingham City Council and Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces, the city center will be transformed into a hub of celebration. The council announced that key locations significant in Osbourne’s life and career will feature prominently in the tribute. These include the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham New Street Station, Bullring, Selfridges, and Martineau Place.
On the day itself, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will perform a special lunchtime concert at the Bullring shopping center. Additionally, the city’s train station will feature an Ozzy the Bull statue, a nod to the famous statue in the city center that accompanied Osbourne's funeral procession last year. Bostin Brass, the brass band that led his funeral procession, will also perform pop-up concerts across the city.
To commemorate Osbourne’s connection with Birmingham, several specially commissioned digital films exploring the city’s relationship with its late hero will be released throughout the day. These films will be available to view on the council's website. Visitors can also purchase a limited edition T-shirt at Selfridges, adding a tangible memento to the celebration.
The event is part of a broader effort by the city to honor Osbourne’s legacy and maintain his connection with Birmingham. His wife, Sharon, has expressed her support for continuing initiatives like Ozzfest, which she described as 'a place for new talent'. She stated that it was something Ozzy was very passionate about, adding, “It was [replicated but] never done with the spirit of what ours was, because ours was a place for new talent. It was like summer camp for kids.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s passing on July 22, 2025, marked the end of an era in Birmingham’s musical history. His death came after he suffered a heart attack at his Buckinghamshire home. The Back to the Beginning charity concert, which Osbourne and his bandmates hosted two weeks prior with an all-star cast, was held near his birthplace in Aston.
The city council's website provides a full program of events for ‘Ozzy Day’, ensuring that fans and visitors can participate in the celebrations. The event is expected to attract both local residents and music enthusiasts from across the country, celebrating Osbourne’s enduring impact on Birmingham and the world of rock music.
It was something Ozzy was very passionate about: giving young talent a stage in front of a lot of people.
Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne’s wife
