Creative Industry Awards 2026 Live Auditions Take Over the Streets of Digbeth, Birmingham

The countdown to the Creative Industry Awards 2026 is officially on and if our live open auditions were anything to go by, this year’s awards are set to be something special. Taking place in the heart of Birmingham’s creative quarter, Digbeth, our open auditions were far from your typical audition experience. We took things out of the traditional audition room and onto the streets.

Hosted by Durrty Skanx, with music pumping from our customised DJ booth van, the evening saw talented performers travel from across the country for the opportunity to showcase what they could do.

The response to our open call was incredible. In just five days, we received 54 applications from performers hoping for the chance to take to the stage at the Creative Industry Awards 2026. Narrowing those applications down to just 10 auditionees was no easy task.

On the night, we welcomed an exciting mix of talent, from singers and rappers to grime artists and even a live band arriving with a full kit. The diversity of performers was a reminder of exactly why the Creative Industry Awards exists,  to celebrate the incredible range of talent within the UK’s creative industries.

Once the performances got underway, the auditions evolved into an intimate street party, with our DJs entertaining our the crowd and guests joining us to watch, network and enjoy the atmosphere in Digbeth.

The evening was made even better thanks to our sponsors. Red Bull kept the drinks flowing, Grace foods provided snacks for our guests and performers, while Made in Brum Studios supported the auditions by offering selected performers places on their Artist Development Programme.

This added another layer to what the Creative Industry Awards open auditions are all about, creating real opportunities beyond the night itself. For us, it isn’t simply about finding performers for the awards; it’s about connecting emerging talent with people, platforms and opportunities that can help them take the next step in their creative careers.

Our judges have the task of deciding which of our auditionees will be given the opportunity to perform at the Creative Industry Awards 2026. With the standard of talent we saw on the night, it certainly won’t be an easy decision.

The open auditions gave us a glimpse of the energy we can expect as we build towards this year’s ceremony!