Confused revellers gathered in Birmingham’s Centenary Square hoping for the ‘biggest NYE party in the city’ – but discovered they had been fooled by AI-generated misinformation
Thousands of people have turned out for a non-existent fireworks show in a major UK city for the second year in a row.
Expectant crowds gathered in Birmingham’s Centenary Square last night after seeing details online of a fireworks display billed the “the biggest New Year’s party in the city” – only to be left disappointed when nothing happened at midnight.
The attendees eventually went home disappointed, having apparently missed a warning from police earlier this week that the New Year’s Eve event was not real.
A string of fake AI-generated articles and images circulating on social media are believed to have been behind the confusion.
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One read: “If you’re spending New Year’s Eve in Birmingham, don’t miss the celebrations on Centenary Square which is by far the biggest NYE party in the city.
“At the event, you’ll find street food vendors, an ice rink and bars to help you celebrate New Year’s Eve 2025.”
Similar scenes last year saw police enter the square to inform revellers that there was no official fireworks display after disgruntled crowds waited for hours for the hoax event.
Birmingham has not held an official fireworks display since 2014.
West Midlands Police had warned residents that there were no official events planned in the city centre for yesterday – and said “misinformation” spread online risked hampering emergency services on one of their busiest nights of the year.
A statement released earlier this week said: “There are no official firework displays or city-organised events happening in Birmingham city centre on New Year ’s Eve.
“Every year, rumours start to spread online about big celebrations in the city. Unfortunately, these false claims often lead to confusion and disappointment.
“Last year, for example, we were made aware of posts that circulated about a spectacular show in Centenary Square. Many people believed it, travelled into the city centre, and were left frustrated when nothing happened.
“Families made unnecessary journeys and ended up disappointed after discovering the event wasn’t taking place. We don’t want that to happen again.
“If you see posts or comments on social media suggesting there will be fireworks or large-scale events in Birmingham on New Year’s Eve, please treat them with caution. These claims are not true.
The force added that misinformation “can create real safety issues in the city”, as when large crowds gather for an event that doesn’t exist “it puts pressure on public transport, emergency services, and can lead to congestion in the city centre.”
