Plan your visit
BDF 2024
6th–8th June 2024
We can’t wait to welcome you to the festival in June. Here’s a sample of what you can expect at BDF 2024.
What to expect
With over 100 events across 20+ venues there’s something for everyone at BDF
Over 40 hours of talks
From upcoming designers to established favorites, with most talks free to attend.
Dozens of workshops
Play, learn & create. Attend one of our many workshops and learn practical skills to bring into your everyday life.
Exhibitions, screenings, tours
As well as our programmed events we have so many things you can do and see to fill your time in Birmingham with joy.
The Design Districts
To aid with navigation and curation of your own festival experience, we section our daytime events into Design Districts that are split based on disciplines. You can spend your entire day in one or move between them to take in everything the festival has to offer.
Graphic
A hub for traditional print design, brand, typography, and advertising. Get messy with screenprints and foil, hear from the best graphic designers in the world.
Digital
Design for screens of all shapes and sizes, expect to find everything from UX design to visual effects. Join designers who craft digital experiences and provoke emotional responses from their work.
Product
The place where things are made. Product design, interior design, fashion, textiles, architecture, and more live under the roof of our product venues.
Illustration
New for 2022, the illustration hub will showcase the brightest talent, putting pencil to paper (or tablet) throughout the festival.
Main events – Thu, Fri and Sat evening
Our main events bring every together at a larger venue each evening of the festival. We have some beautiful 300–500 seater experiences showcasing professionals at the very top of their game.
Visiting Birmingham
If this is your first visit to Birmingham and you’re looking for recommendations, we’ve put together a handy list of our favourite coffee shops, bars and more.
Save on your hotel with any ticket
If you’re looking to stay with us over several days, we’re delighted to offer money off at our hotel partner Bloc Hotels in the historic Jewellery Quarter. Follow the link for more information and to book your rooms.
Access information
We aim to make sure all of our venues are wheelchair accessible.
To find out more about the access facilities at each of our venues, head to our venues page and select a location to find out more.
Please note: Unfortunately this year the walk between BCU and Digbeth is heavily interrupted by work on HS2. The quickest route (down the canal) is not particularly wheelchair friendly – so we recommend ordering a taxi or taking Digbeth High Street when moving between BCU and The Bond.
We will be offering guided walks down the canal for all guests in between talks throughout the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do the events start and finish?
Typically the first events of the day are at 11am and run roughly every hour until 5pm, with a break for lunch. Our main evening events kick off at 7pm and finish at around 10pm.
How many events are there per day?
There are 5 talks that happen at each of the four hubs with a plethora of supporting events that happen in and around each hub, so usually around 30 in total. You will typically make it to around 6 events per day if you fill your boots, including the evening event.
How much does the festival cost to attend?
All of the daytime talks that happen in the district hubs are free to attend. Evening events are priced between £15 and £25. Workshop prices are set by the host and cost up to £40, though many of them a free to attend. There are a handful of other events that vary in price, again many of them are free.
Where can I work during the festival?
A number of venues offer the ability to work during the day. There’s plenty of desk space and you’ll be able to catch a talk there too. You can find out more closer to the time.