culture
Birmingham Cinema Guide: What Visitors Should Know and the Must-See Highlights
Summer screenings at longstanding city venues draw crowds with new releases and classic revivals through August.
How we reported this
Birmingham's Electric Cinema on Station Street opened its July programme on the 10th with daily showings of new international titles and restored prints that already sold out three evening slots.
The timing aligns with rising domestic travel numbers after months of disrupted international routes, pushing more people toward local cultural stops instead of distant holidays.
Visitors heading to the Electric on Station Street can pair a film with a walk through the nearby Jewellery Quarter, while the Midlands Arts Centre in Cannon Hill Park offers its own outdoor screen on selected Fridays plus indoor auditoriums that host the Birmingham Film Festival programming each summer.
Key Venues and Current Line-Up
The Electric, Britain's oldest working cinema, runs tickets from £9.50 midweek to £14 at weekends for its 2026 summer slate that includes a restored 4K print of a 1970s thriller on the 18th and a new British drama from the 22nd onward. The MAC reported 48,000 cinema admissions across its two screens last year, with this month's highlights featuring a short-film showcase from regional makers on the 14th and family matinees every Saturday at 11am.
Practical Steps for Out-of-Town Guests
Advance booking through venue websites avoids queues at both sites, and the 5 and 8 buses connect New Street station to Cannon Hill Park in under 15 minutes. Evening screenings at the Electric finish by 10pm, leaving time for nearby bars on Hurst Street before last trains depart from Moor Street.
Check the MAC and Electric sites for any schedule changes due to heat warnings, and allow extra time for the park's pay-and-display parking if driving from outside the city centre.