Illustration of a cityscape transforming into a lush green park with trees, walking paths, and people enjoying outdoor activities, including biking and walking, under a church steeple in the background.
A yellow-stained glass window depicting a unicorn standing on its hind legs, with text above and below.
Two abstract figures, one taller and one shorter, holding hands and smiling, with a black background and yellow outlines.
Two black and white line art illustrations of a person sleeping on a bed, viewed from the side.
Silhouette of a person singing into a microphone, wearing glasses, with a large display screen in the background showing colorful graphics.
Black and white line drawing of a whale, with water splashing from its back.
A simple line drawing of a person riding a bicycle, with the person holding a handheld mirror to their face.
Black and white illustration of a guitar with striped details on the headstock and circular shapes on the body.

Birmingham Park(ing) Day 2026

Open call for submissions

Register your interest now!

Park(ing) Day 2026

〰️

18th September

〰️

Park(ing) Day 2026 〰️ 18th September 〰️

Scroll down for more info

Yellow flower with black background.

What is Park(ing) Day?

Park(ing) Day is a global and annual event that temporarily transforms ordinary parking spaces into vibrant, creative, and green public spaces for people instead of for a single vehicle.

It’s a celebration of imagination and sustainability, showing how even the smallest urban spaces can serve the broader needs of the community.

Brum Park(ing) Day has grown from a collaboration of like-minded designers, communities and activists with the ambition of taking over multiple parking spaces around Birmingham. Following the overwhelming success over the last 2 years, we’re doing it again this year on 18th September 2026.

The event, organised by Define in partnership with the Jewellery Quarter BID, will focus on transforming several parking bays into creative parklets. Each space will offer something unique, from green oases and artistic installations to community seating and interactive displays.

Organisers are currently inviting local businesses, artists, and residents to get involved. Whether through designing a parklet, volunteering, or simply attending the event, there are many ways to be part of this global movement for greener and more inclusive public spaces.

See what we did last year
Find out more about Global Park(ing) Day
People gathering outside a shop called Deli Heaven, with a sign advertising breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A small play area with bunting and potted plants is in the foreground. There is also a green storefront named Trentina to the right.
A street scene during Brum Park Day with people sitting at a table, tents, and a sign that reads 'BRUM PARK DAY' in the foreground. Buildings and streetlights are visible in the background.
People sitting and chatting under a white canopy on a city sidewalk with brick and modern buildings, a black street lamp, and a parking lot with cars in the background.
People walking past a multi-level wooden planter box filled with purple and yellow flowers, with a brick building in the background.
A crowd of people gathered outdoors under a canopy decorated with hanging glass ornaments and paper lanterns, with buildings and trees in the background.
People gathered around a small outdoor market or garden display with potted plants, flowers, and wooden pallets, in a parking lot with cars parked nearby.

What did we do?

We are passionate about helping urban environments thrive, both culturally, socially and environmentally. Just as importantly, we are proud members and residents of the Jewellery Quarter community.

Last year we selected Caroline Street as our hub for Park(ing) Day, a vibrant location running through the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, connecting the bustling Warstone Lane to the leafy St Paul’s Square.

Inspired by the success of the previous year’s event as well as other temporary and tactical urbanism approaches across Birmingham, we temporarily transformed this active yet car-dominated connection by occupying a selection of on street parking spaces with spaces for people, plants, art and community.

We see Park(ing) Day as a valuable opportunity to allow ourselves and other organisations to engage in our vibrant neighbourhood by transforming parking spaces into places with greater social and environmental purpose, spaces that serve people, not just vehicles.

We also hope that these simple, low-cost interventions spark fresh ideas about how small urban spaces can be reimagined, and help inspire more permanent and public urban regeneration initiatives across the Jewellery Quarter.

Download The Toolkit
An aerial view of a city street with parked cars, buildings, and trees, showing a clear road with marked lanes and some outdoor seating areas.
People walking on a street during an outdoor event with stalls, decorations, and buildings in the background.

How and why do we do it?

Hear from the team behind Brum Park(ing) Day talk to the Urban Design Group about our inspirations for bringing this initiative to Birmingham. Also find out more about the process and preparations behind bringing this event to life.

What’s possible?

Pop-up Park
A green escape with grass, plants, and seating—nature tucked into a parking spot.

Street Library
Books, cushions, and stories for all—borrow, read, or just rest.

Urban Living Room
Couches, coffee, and conversation—turning pavement into a community lounge.

Pollinator Garden
Flowers, bees, and beauty—see how small green spaces can support life.

Collaborative Mural
Add your mark to a community mural—art for and by the people.

Interactive Games and Play Zones
Chalk-drawn board games, hopscotch, or life-sized Jenga offer playful experiences that invite both kids and adults to engage.

Illustration of an outdoor community space with multiple levels, community members engaging in various activities such as playing instruments, gardening, and socializing.

How can I be involved?

Park(ing) Day is your opportunity to help activate our streets, and we need your unique perspective to make it happen. Whether you’re passionate for public spaces or a local business wanting to give back to the street, there are two ways for you to get involved:

A promotional poster with a person sitting on a chair, holding papers, indoors with plants, with text encouraging designing, decorating, and hosting a designated parking space.

Installers (The Visionaries): As an installer, you take the lead on a specific parking bay. This role is perfect for those who want to get hands-on with design, sourcing materials, and physically building out a creative "parklet" from the ground up. You’ll be responsible for the concept, and the setup, turning a grey slab of asphalt into a vibrant destination.

Illustration of a person with a hat and apron holding an apple, and a second person sitting on a stool playing a guitar, inside an outline shaped like a smartphone or sign with a booth in the background. Text above reads 'The Collaborators' and below says 'Help out, activate, or provide materials for an installer'.

Collaborators (The Energisers): If you want to contribute without managing a full build, join us as a collaborator. We need local artists to provide decor, performers to fill the air with music, workshop leaders to host activities, and local suppliers to lend furniture or greenery. Whether you can help during the planning stages or bring your unique talent to the event on the day, your contribution provides the "soul" of the space.

What are the timescales?

Register your interest now

〰️

Register your interest now 〰️

Register your interest now!