University of Birmingham offering free drop-in event to celebrate solar eclipse

What's OnWhat's On NewsUniversity of BirminghamThe event is free for all to attend12:15, 12 Aug 2026The University of Birmingham's venue, The Exchange, is running a free drop-in event called the 'Helios Listening Party' to celebrate the solar eclipse.‌It will be a deep partial solar eclipse, with 90% to 96% of the Sun covered by the Moon. This is the UK's deepest solar eclipse since 1999.‌The eclipse takes place in the early evening, beginning shortly after 6pm, peaking around 7:05pm to 7:16pm, and concluding around 8pm to 8:10pm.‌READ MORE: Birmingham council investigating if it is a 'soft touch' over exempt housing as city national hotspotDuring this time, the university will run an event from 6pm to 8pm, with visitors able to experience their large-scale illuminated sculpture of the Sun