Symphony Hall, the CBSO and Birmingham Royal Ballet

This guide is for people who have moved to Birmingham from abroad and want to get into the city’s orchestral concerts and ballet, whether you go alone, as a couple or with children. By the end you will know who runs what, which events suit adults and which suit families, and where to check dates and prices before you book.

• Symphony Hall, Town Hall and a smaller stage
• The CBSO season
• Birmingham Royal Ballet
• Going with children
• Booking and staying in the loop
• FAQ

Symphony Hall, Town Hall and a smaller stage

Symphony Hall and Town Hall are both run by B:Music, so one website, thsh.co.uk, covers both. The programme goes well beyond classical music. The current listings include Alison Moyet at Symphony Hall and Starsailor at Town Hall, so a pop or rock fan will find plenty here too.

There is also a third, smaller venue, the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, which has just turned five. It hosts more intimate events, and some of them are free. One example on the current listings is Celebrating Sanctuary, a free performance by Germa Adan and Harjinder Singh. If you are still getting to know the city, a free event like this is an easy, low-cost way to see the building and work out how everything fits together.

For classical music, look out for B:Classical 2026/27, which B:Music describes as a season of world-class orchestras, iconic soloists and rising stars. It is listed as coming soon, so the full line-up is not out yet. If you like to eat before a concert, B:Eats operates at Symphony Hall. Menus and opening times change, so check the venue’s own site for current details. If you are curious about the building’s past, you can browse the Town Hall Digital Archive online.

The CBSO season

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra calls itself Birmingham’s orchestra: a family of musicians, choirs and youth ensembles making music for the city, the West Midlands and beyond. Its 2026-27 season is on sale now.

For adults, Centre Stage is the series to know. The CBSO bills it as intimate performances at the home of the CBSO, and the current listing is Serenades with François Leleux. If a full symphony concert in a large hall feels like a big first step, this is a gentler way in. Symphonic Sessions is a separate strand, with a Halloween Special on the current listings.

The orchestra is about more than listening. The CBSO Chorus recently reached 1,000 performances, and the Take Part section of the site explains how residents can make music themselves. If you sang in a choir before you moved, start there. The site also has a news item headlined “Big Sound for £1”. Read the full piece on the CBSO site for the terms, because the headline alone does not tell you who qualifies or for which concerts.

Birmingham Royal Ballet

The current headline production at Birmingham Royal Ballet is Swan Lake, in the staging by Sir Peter Wright and Galina Samsova, with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia playing Tchaikovsky’s score live. Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker returns this Christmas, and the company suggests planning ahead for the 2026 festive season. Many families make it an annual outing, so if you want to start a tradition of your own, this is the obvious one.

Further ahead, Carlos Acosta’s The Maiden of Venice reimagines the 19th-century classic La Bayadère. Performances are planned for 2027, with the tour visiting Birmingham, Salford, Plymouth, Sunderland and Southampton.

The ballet company also performs in the city’s concert halls. Tchaikovsky Classics at Symphony Hall brings BRB and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia together to celebrate the composer’s music, which is a good choice if you love the scores as much as the dancing. Alongside its performances, BRB runs extra events, from talks to watching the dancers’ class on stage. To get a sense of the work involved, the dancers get through almost 4,000 pairs of pointe shoes a year, at £65 a pair.

Going with children

Several current events are clearly aimed at families. At the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Birmingham Royal Ballet runs Swan Lake Family Fun, a smaller-scale introduction to ballet before you commit to a full evening in a theatre. The same space also hosts Ballet & Brunch with BRB, so check the event page to see whether it suits your group.

The CBSO is marking Halloween with a Family Concert called Halloween Spooktacular and with Symphonic Sessions: Family Takeover (Halloween Special). At Symphony Hall, How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert pairs the film with a live orchestra. Children who already know the story often stay engaged for a whole evening this way. B:Music’s Christmas programme, B:Festive, includes carol singing and live orchestral shows.

None of the official homepages give age limits or recommended ages. Check each event page before you book, especially for evening performances, and contact the box office if you are not sure whether a show will suit a young child.

Booking and staying in the loop

Each organisation sells tickets through its own website, so it helps to bookmark all three. Ticket prices, seating plans and door times are not on the homepages and vary from event to event. Always rely on the venue’s own pages for these rather than third-party listings.

B:Music offers a membership with pre-sales and early notifications. That is useful for popular shows, and the current terms are on its site. You can also download B:Music’s What’s On guide, which is handy if you like to plan a season on paper or share it with a partner. BRB has a newsletter you can sign up to for performance news, and the CBSO’s Watch & Listen section lets you hear the orchestra before you buy a ticket.

FAQ

Are there any free events?

Yes, some. B:Music lists free events at the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space. A current example is Celebrating Sanctuary with Germa Adan and Harjinder Singh. Check thsh.co.uk for upcoming free events, because the programme changes regularly.

What is best for a first visit with children?

Choose an event made for families. Current options include Swan Lake Family Fun with Birmingham Royal Ballet, the CBSO’s Halloween family concerts and How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert at Symphony Hall. Age guidance is not on the homepages, so check each event page first.

When is The Nutcracker on?

Birmingham Royal Ballet says Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker returns this Christmas as part of the 2026 festive season. The homepage does not give exact dates or prices. Find these in the upcoming performances section of brb.org.uk and plan ahead.

How can I hear about tickets before they go on general sale?

B:Music Membership offers pre-sales and early notifications for shows at Symphony Hall and Town Hall. Birmingham Royal Ballet has a newsletter for updates. Membership terms and costs are on each organisation’s own site.

Official sources: thsh.co.uk · cbso.co.uk · brb.org.uk

Last checked: 22 October 2026 against the pages linked above. Prices, opening hours and programmes change; the venue’s own site always has the current details.