12 big sports events in Birmingham in 2023: what to expect

This year is going to be an action-packed one with a dozen incredible sporting events coming to town. While in 2022, we had the Commonwealth Games, this year we have a variety of sports including WWE live, Arenacross, and indoor athletics championships.

Sporting giants from the UK and beyond will be taking part in the exciting events that will be full of fun for families as well. And, all of them are in and around Birmingham.

Tickets for many of the events are already out, so get ready to make your year interesting and exciting. And, you don’t have to wait for the summer to be entertained because five of the events are taking place in the next three months!

1. The British Basketball Cup Final 2023

While London Lions clash with Leicester Riders in both the men’s and women’s matches, there’s more entertainment for the audience. Platinum award winning grime artist Not3s and award winning DJ Woody are lined up to perform! The BBL dance crew will also be entertaining the crowd throughout the afternoon at Utilita Arena on January 29.

Visit Utilita Arena website for tickets.

2. The Arenacross Tour

Europe’s leading Indoor Freestyle Motocross and Race Show returns for a five-round Tour of the UK in January and February 2023. The high-octane mix of indoor Motocross racing and Freestyle Motocross (FMX) badness is packed to the rafters with all-round family fun and frenzied entertainment.

This exciting event will place at Resorts World Arena on February 4. See the Resorts World Arena website for more information and tickets.

3. The UK Athletics Indoor Championships

In the first athletics event returning to Birmingham since this summer’s Commonwealth Games, the UK Athletics Indoor Championships will take place on the weekend of 18-19 February and will be the official Trial for the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey next March. The incredible sporting event will take place at Utilita Arena on February 18 - 19 .

For tickets, click here.

4. Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final

The Tour is a seven-event series showcasing the world’s best athletes as they seek to take home the Series title, as well as securing wildcards for the World Athletics Indoor Championships which take place in Glasgow, Scotland in 2024. The electrifying event will take place at Utilita Arena on February 25.

For tickets, click here.

5. Yonex All Englan Open Badmintion Championships 2023

Badminton England and the Championships will be held at Utilita Arena Birmingham between March 14-19 , bringing the best badminton players from around the world to compete in one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments within the HSBC BWF World Tour.

For tickets, click here.

6. Premier League Darts

The event will return to the Utilita Arena, Birmingham on April 6 as the biggest names in the sport bring the electric atmosphere to the Midlands. The new season will retain the same Premier League format as introduced successfully in 2022, where the eight players compete each night in a knockout format before the top four players from the final league table progress to the Play-Offs.

Visit Utilita Arena website for more information and tickets.

7. WWE Live

WE Superstars including, Bobby Lashley, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Finn Balor, Bianca Belair and Bayley, will be live in action at Utilita Arena on April 26. The event brings together sport and entertainment, combining in-ring match action with all the drama and energy of a rock concert.

Visit Utilita Arena website for more information and tickets.

8. The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour

The Globetrotter stars are bringing out their amazing basketball skills, outrageous athleticism and a non-stop LOL good time. Join the Globetrotters as they go head-to-head against the Washington Generals who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team!

The entertaining tournament will take place in Utilita Arena on April 29. Visit their website for more information and tickets.

9. The Ashes 

England will host a five-match Ashes series against Australia and a one-off Test match against Ireland and Birmingham will be the location for three matches within the series at the legendary Edgbaston Stadium.

Men’s Ashes Series - Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20: 1st Test, England Men v Australia Men, Edgbaston

Women’s Ashes Series - Saturday July 1: 1st T20I, England Women v Australia Women, Edgbaston

Men’s T20I series v New Zealand - Sunday September 3: 3rd T20I, England Men v New Zealand, Edgbaston

For tickets, click on the Edgbaston Stadium website.

10. The Hundred

The Hundred is yet to confirm exact dates, but will return in summer 2023. Tickets for the competition will be on sale in early 2023. The 100 ball cricket tournament has both men’s and women’s teams. The eight newly created teams will be back in 2022 to try and get their hands on The Hundred trophy. For more information, visit the 100 website.

11. IBSA World Games

The multi-sport event for blind and partially sighted athletes will take place in Birmingham in 2023. The Games, due to take place from 18-27 August 2023, will be held at the University of Birmingham, across the Edgbaston area and wider region. The IBSA World Games are the largest high-level international event for athletes with visual impairments, with more than 1000 competitors from more than 70 nations.

For more information, website the IBSA World Games website.

12. FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championship

At the 37^th edition of the FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships, over 1,000 gymnasts from over 50 countries will compete across eight days of thrilling competition. It will also include the World Age Group Competitions. The athletes will compete in Individual and Synchronised Trampoline, Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) and Tumbling.

It will be taking place at the Utilita Arena from the November 9-19. Click here for details and tickets.