Hundreds of people gathered in Birmingham's Centenary Square on New Year's Eve, only to discover they had been tricked by false online claims of a fireworks display. It is the second consecutive year that revellers have fallen for the hoax.
Social media advertisements promised a 'dazzling' show with music and a lively atmosphere, but no official event was organised. West Midlands Police had warned earlier that there were no city-authorised fireworks, but crowds still turned up, hoping to welcome 2026 with a bang.
Footage shared online showed disappointed attendees waiting in front of the Centenary Square ferris wheel, with one caption reading: 'When you queue for fireworks and the sky stays silent.' The force said such misinformation creates 'real safety issues', straining public transport and emergency services.
Similar hoaxes have occurred elsewhere, including an AI-generated image of a Christmas market at Buckingham Palace that drew tourists last month. Meanwhile, official celebrations in London and Edinburgh proceeded without incident, with London setting off 12,000 fireworks for 100,000 spectators.
