Diwali festival postponed over safety concerns

The festival in Handsworth was cancelled last year

The 10th annual Birmingham Diwali Mela festival has been postponed to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of attendees just days before the event.

Organisers issued a statement on Facebook on Wednesday ahead of the event, which features music, food stalls and a fireworks display in Soho Road, Handsworth.

The decision to postpone was made after "careful consideration" following the recent attack in Manchester and "evolving statutory requirements, including Martyn's Law", organisers said.

Soho Road BID said it was "actively engaged in ongoing dialogue" to secure a future date.

It is the second year in a row the event his been disrupted, after its cancellation in 2024 due to a funding freeze.

Thousands of people gather at the public event in Birmingham each year to celebrate Diwali, with lights filling Soho Road and Holyhead Road.

The festival falls on 20 October this year.

"We share the disappointment felt by the community and all stakeholders and assure you that every possible avenue was explored in the effort to host this event as scheduled," organisers said.

"The Soho Road BID remains committed to the safety, prosperity, and vibrancy of our local area, and we will provide further updates on rescheduling in due course."

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn's Law, requires sites with more than 800 people to have extra measures such as CCTV or security staff.

It received royal assent in April and followed a campaign lead by the mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, who the law is named after.