Birmingham Unites: Music, Culture and Community Come Together for Unite The People Festival Launch.
“This isn’t just a cultural event—it’s a statement about who we are as a city.”
A new city-wide cultural movement is launching in Birmingham this May, bringing together artists, activists and communities in a vibrant celebration of unity, diversity and shared values.
Unite The People will host its official Festival Launch on Saturday 2 May (6–10pm) at the Midland Arts Centre (MAC), transforming the outdoor arena into a lively, carnival-style space filled with live music, spoken word poetry, food and community action.
Taking place over the May Day weekend, the event draws on the legacy of International Workers’ Day, offering a timely and positive response to rising division across the UK.
Rooted in Birmingham’s proud multicultural identity, the launch celebrates the city’s diversity while challenging the politics of hate, scapegoating and far-right extremism.
“Last year, Tommy Robinson’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally brought 150,000 people into London—a carnival of rage where far-right voices chanted division and ‘send them all back’. The police could not hold the surge. We were 5,000.
Taking refuge in a café in Whitehall, fear settled into silence—the staff whispering, eyes fixed on exits. In that moment, the shadow of Anne Frank’s diary felt near, as if history itself was breathing beside us, reminding us what happens when hate goes unchallenged. And there, we made a vow: never again to be outnumbered.
They called it ‘Unite the Kingdom’. We answer: Unite the People. Not with hate, but with justice, peace, and a future beyond racism,“ said Mukhtar Dar, Creative Director of the Unite The People Festival Launch.
Headlining the evening is leading Birmingham reggae band LEGEND, performing music inspired by Bob Marley’s enduring messages of peace, love and unity. They are joined by a powerful line-up of local artists from Birmingham’s diverse communities, including Myki Tuff, Ras King Bobo, Sanyogita Kumari, Banner Theatre and Handsworth Community Choir.
Rising rap artist Spektive, whose track “This is England” gained widespread attention online, will also perform. His work explores identity, belonging and what it means to be a Brummie in today’s Britain.
“Birmingham is one of the most diverse cities in the UK, and that’s something to be proud of. Events like this show that unity isn’t just an idea—it’s something we live and create together. Music has always been a way to bring people together, especially when things feel divided,” said performing artist Spektive.
Alongside performances, the event will feature live drumming, a young people’s programme, spoken word, an outdoor bar and food stall, and community and anti-racism organisations information stalls—creating an inclusive space for people of all backgrounds to come together.
“Right now, we’re seeing communities being divided, scapegoated and this festival is about people coming together and pushing back against that. This is what community looks like – standing up to racism, oppression and discrimination in unity. Refusing to be silenced. The Unite The People Festival Launch is a celebration and gathering of strength, culture, and shared humanity,” said anti-racist campaigner Tracy Abrahams, who is co-hosting the evening.
A spokesperson from LEGEND added:
“The message of reggae—and of Bob Marley—has always been about unity, standing up to injustice, and love for one another. Bringing that message to a Birmingham audience, in our home city, at a time like this feels both powerful and necessary.”
The launch builds on growing national momentum for unity, including a recent demonstration organised by the Together Alliance—the largest anti-racist demonstration in UK history. The May launch marks the beginning of the wider Unite The People Festival, set to take place in Centenary Square later this year.
Celebrate diversity. Stand in solidarity. Be part of the movement!
Event Details:
What: Unite The People Festival Launch
When: Saturday 2 May, 6–10pm
Where: Midland Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham (Outdoor Arena)
Tickets: https://macbirmingham.co.uk/events/unite-the-people-festival-launch
About Unite The People:
Unite The People is a new cultural movement across Birmingham and the West Midlands, bringing together communities to stand against hate and division, and for justice, peace, and a future beyond racism. It is a collaboration between Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG), Stand Up to Racism Birmingham (SUTRB), Kings Heath United Against Racism (KHUAR), Brum Together, Birmingham Trades Council (BTUC), and other community partners. Unite The People meets regularly at the BRIG Warehouse Café in Digbeth, and also has a Youth Group (ages 18–30).
For more info: www.unitethepeople.uk
Instagram: @unitethepeoplebirmingham @unitethepeopleyouth
Facebook: facebook.com/UnitethePeople