New O2 Bluebar opens at O2 Institute Birmingham.

• Brand new O2 Bluebar now open at O2 Institute Birmingham, offering a premium social space for all venue visitors

• O2 mobile and Virgin Media broadband customers can enjoy exclusive Priority perks, including buy-one-get-one-free drinks, free photo booth prints and device charging

Wednesday 29 July 2026: A brand new O2 Bluebar has opened at O2 Institute Birmingham, offering visitors a vibrant, premium space to socialise and elevate their live music experience.

Open to all visitors, O2 Bluebar also offers exclusive perks for O2 mobile and Virgin Media broadband customers through Priority, including buy-one-get-one-free drinks offers*, complimentary photo booth prints and free device charging.

Known as O2 Institute Birmingham since 2015, the venue has been a cornerstone of the city's live music and club scene for decades. Originally synonymous with rave culture and drum'n'bass in the 1990s, the iconic venue has hosted a diverse range of artists over the years, including Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell and Arctic Monkeys.

The new O2 Bluebar will be available at all upcoming shows, with artists including We Are Scientists, Slayyyter, Professor Green and Melanie C set to perform at the venue during the remainder of 2026.

Gareth Griffiths, Director of Sponsorship and Partnerships at Virgin Media O2, said: "We have been proud sponsors of O2 Institute Birmingham for more than a decade and have shared some incredible live music moments with visitors over the years - from legendary acts such as Suede to rising stars like Lola Young.

At O2, we're committed to giving our customers an unrivalled live entertainment experience at our venues. The launch of the new O2 Bluebar is our latest investment in enhancing that experience and giving music fans even more to enjoy when they visit the venue."

As well as accessing O2 Bluebar benefits through the Priority app, O2 mobile and Virgin Media broadband customers can also secure tickets to shows at O2 Institute Birmingham up to 48 hours before general sale through Priority Tickets.

Priority members can also enjoy a range of additional venue benefits, including access to a Priority queue (plus up to three guests) and free cloakroom facilities.

O2 Institute Birmingham is one of 19 O2 Academy venues operated by Academy Music Group across the UK. Together, the venues welcomed 2.7 million fans in 2025. The launch of the O2 Bluebar at O2 Institute Birmingham is the latest in a series of enhancements across O2 venues, with more O2 Bluebars being introduced across the O2 Academy venue estate later this year.

Photo credit: Dan Reid

*Buy one get one free drinks deal available until 8.30pm to Priority members only