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8 best Birmingham networking events 2026

Birmingham is a thriving commercial location, with the city home to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the UK’s largest exhibition centre. There are dozens of networking events in Birmingham and across the Midlands each year, providing local startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses with fantastic opportunities to grow their network and make new contacts.

Networking should be a key part of your business launch or growth strategy; to build a professional presence in your region, you should also consider the address you put on your business card. A virtual office address is a cost-effective way to ensure you have a professional and credible presence as you meet new prospects and contacts, while also keeping your home address private.

Read our pick of the best networking events Birmingham virtual office users have on their doorstep this year.

Table Of Contents

The best upcoming networking events in Birmingham
Benefits of attending Birmingham networking events
Where to find Birmingham networking events
Boost your profile with a Birmingham virtual office

The best upcoming networking events in Birmingham

Discover our pick of the best networking events Birmingham businesses can sign up for in 2026.

1. Lunch BUN by Birmingham’s Unique Network

Event details

Date: Monthly events

Time: 12pm to 2.30pm

Address: Six by Nico, 81 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2BA

Cost: £33

What to expect

Birmingham’s Unique Network hosts regular Lunch BUN events at restaurants in the city centre. These Birmingham networking events include a welcome drink on arrival followed by a two-course lunch, with May’s event taking place at Six by Nico on Colmore Row.

Lunch BUN’s business networking events in Birmingham are a fantastic opportunity to put yourself at the heart of the local business community, make new connections, and expand your network. Attending one of these lunchtime events is a great way to meet fellow Birmingham professionals in a relaxed setting, while enjoying a delicious meal at a local venue.

There’s always a prize draw at these events too – attendees are asked to bring their business cards to take part on the day.

Event Link

2. Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Networking Breakfasts

Event details

Dates: Various, including Wednesday 24th June 2026

Time: 8.30am to 10.30am

Address: The Eastside Rooms, 2 Woodcock Street, Birmingham, B7 4BL 2 Woodcock Street, Birmingham, B7 4BL

Cost: Free for Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce members

What to expect

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce hosts regular Networking Breakfast events for members, providing local professionals with a chance to connect with fellow members over breakfast. This provides an energising start to the day, with networking starting from 8.30am. All attendees are given the opportunity to introduce themselves to fellow guests, and there’s a chance for questions with officials from the Chambers.

These Birmingham breakfast networking events typically end at 10.30am, so you can return home or to your virtual office’s coworking space to follow up with new contacts and act on what you’ve learnt.

Event Link

3. The Business Networking Birmingham Events

Event details

Dates: Various, including Thursday 11th June, Thursday 2nd July 2026

Time: 12pm to 2pm

Address: Edgbaston Priory Club, Sir Harrys Road, Birmingham, B15 2UZ

Cost: £69

What to expect

Next on our list of the best networking events in Birmingham are those hosted by The Business Network Birmingham. The network holds regular monthly meet-ups for business owners and directors from across the Greater Birmingham region, bringing like-minded people together to network, collaborate, and share knowledge and ideas.

There’s usually an optional seminar before the main event, beginning at 10.30am, before the networking event starts at 12pm. Seminars cover a range of topics, designed to support you in growing your brand.

Event Links

4. Greater Birmingham Business Expo 2026

Event details

Date: Tuesday 23rd June 2026

Time: 10am to 2pm

Address: Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7QU

Cost: Free

What to expect

One of the biggest events in the Birmingham networking events calendar each year is the Greater Birmingham Business Expo. Taking place in June, this is one of the best opportunities for networking in Birmingham, with over 500 businesses expected to attend on the day. Organisers are expecting around 60 exhibitors, and it’s a brilliant opportunity to connect with business leaders from across the region. Spend time networking, learn from industry experts, and get your business’ name out there.

Event Link

5. Midlands Business Speed Networking Events

Event details

Dates: Various, including Thursday 2nd July 2026

Time: 1.30pm to 2.30pm

Address: King Power Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester, LE2 7FL

Cost: Free for members, £28 (+VAT) for non-members

What to expect

If you’re looking to expand your presence across the region, consider registering for the next Speed Networking Event hosted by The Midlands Business Network. These business networking events take place every few months at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, around an hour’s drive from Birmingham.

Speed networking works a little like speed dating, where you’re allocated a short amount of time to introduce yourself to contacts, before doing the same with the next person. It’s an exciting, fast-paced way to meet a variety of professionals from across the whole of the Midlands, extending your brand’s reach outside of Birmingham. Tickets include a welcome drink, and there’s usually a guest speaker at each event.

Event Link

6. Phoenix Business Club Networking Events

Event details

Dates: Various

Time: Various

Address: Birmingham city centre venues

Cost: Varies. Lunch clubs from £25 per person

What to expect

Phoenix Business Club is one of the longest-established hosts of Birmingham networking events, including breakfast and lunch clubs. Some events feature guest speakers, while others are more informal and simply provide an opportunity to connect with fellow local professionals.

Phoenix Business Club’s events calendar includes:

Breakfast clubs on the first Tuesday of the month at Dishoom in Birmingham – arrive from 8.30am
Lunch clubs on the last Thursday of each month, from 12pm to 3pm
Ladies’ lunch clubs on the second Tuesday of alternate months, from 12pm to 2pm
Friday clubs from 4pm on Fridays at a city centre rooftop bar

Event Link

7. Midlands Business Networking Breakfasts

Event details

Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026

Time: 9am to 11am

Address: Drayton Manor Hotel, Nr Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3TW

Cost: Free for members, £35 (+VAT) for non-members

What to expect

Next on our list of the best business networking events in Birmingham are The Midlands Business Network’s Networking Breakfasts. These take place throughout the year, with October’s event set to be hosted at the Drayton Manor Hotel in Staffordshire, around half an hour’s drive from Birmingham city centre.

With 50+ attendees expected, these Midlands networking events offer a fantastic opportunity to expand your network with fellow local professionals, over a welcome drink and tasty breakfast. Events include a guest speaker, with industry leaders sharing valuable insights in an informal setting.

Event Link

8. B2B Growth Expo Birmingham

Event details

Date: Thursday 26th November and Friday 27th November 2026

Time: 10am to 4.30pm

Address: National Conference Centre, Birmingham, B92 0EJ

Cost: Standard delegate tickets from £7, VIP delegates £27.80

What to expect

The B2B Growth Expo Birmingham is one of the best B2B and tech networking events Birmingham plays host to each year. The two-day event provides an opportunity to connect with leaders and decision makers from across the local area, with this year’s speaker line-up including CEO of BBX UK John Attridge, and Caroline Andrew, Managing Director of 4N. Ticket prices start from less than £10, so make a wise decision and secure your place early.

Event Link

Benefits of attending Birmingham networking events

Putting yourself out there and attending networking events in Birmingham can have so many benefits for your business, including:

Boost brand visibility: going to networking events is a great way to get your brand name out there, in front of potential clients and investors, so people can put a face to the name behind your business to add a personal touch. This helps to boost your brand’s credibility, showing the local professional community that you mean business
Make new contacts: building your network and making meaningful connections is one of the top benefits of networking events. Birmingham is home to world-renowned brands, so you never know who you might meet and the support or mentorship they may be able to provide
Generate leads: conferences and networking events are ideal places to generate new leads, as you make new contacts you can follow up with in future – make sure you do to cement the relationship
Share knowledge: showcase your expertise and authority by signing up to speak at an event, or simply by honing your elevator pitch when introducing yourself to new contacts. Show people that you know your stuff and will be a trusted contact in the industry
Gain industry insights: many networking events in Birmingham include a guest speaker or series of talks, where you can discover the latest industry insights. Take notes and revisit them when you arrive home to garner the key takeaways

Get more from the time you spend networking in Birmingham by following up with new connections straight after the event, while your name and brand are still fresh in their minds.

Where to find Birmingham networking events

Stay up to date and find out about more upcoming Birmingham networking events from sites including:

Boost your profile with a Birmingham virtual office

Put your business on the map by attending networking events in Birmingham throughout the year. Expand your network, make new contacts, and meet potential future investors in your brand.

Find a virtual office in the Birmingham area to access a premium commercial address that you can add to your business cards, marketing materials and more, so you can make a good first impression with new contacts. Get in touch to find out more.