Birmingham road closures in November and December 2026 centre on HS2 work on the M42, overnight roadworks around the NEC and Lichfield, and a five-day rail shutdown at New Street over Christmas. The biggest road dates are 30 October to 2 November, with 6 to 9 November held in reserve. On the railway, late-evening Avanti trains change from 23 to 26 November, and no trains run at New Street from 24 to 28 December.
This guide sets out the confirmed dates in order, explains what each one means for airport, NEC and city-centre journeys, and shows where to check updates. The dates come from National Highways, HS2, National Rail and Birmingham City Council.
Details last checked on 26 October 2026. Closures can move at short notice. HS2 has already rescheduled the 23 to 26 October M42 closure because of Storm Austen.
Birmingham road closures and rail changes at a glance
| Dates | What is closing or changing | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 26 October to 6 November, weekday nights 9pm to 6am | Overnight closure | M42 southbound, junction 7a to 6 |
| Friday 30 October 9pm to Monday 2 November 5am | Full weekend closure | M42 junctions 6 to 9 northbound and 9 to 7 southbound |
| 6 and 7 November, nights 9pm to 6am | Overnight closure in both directions | A5 Hints Bypass, Weeford to Mile Oak, Lichfield |
| Friday 6 November 9pm to Monday 9 November 5am | Contingency weekend, only if needed | Same M42 sections |
| 9 to 28 November, weekday nights 9pm to 6am | Overnight closure | M42 northbound, junction 6 to 8 |
| 23 to 26 November | Late-evening Avanti diversions | Euston to Wolverhampton |
| 24 to 28 December | No trains | Birmingham New Street |
Two long-running restrictions also continue. The A38 northbound slip road at Streethay stays closed until the end of April 2027. One lane and the hard shoulder remain closed on the M42/M6 link road southbound until further notice.
M42 and M6 weekend closures for HS2
What moved and why
HS2 planned a full M42 weekend closure for 23 to 26 October, to install bridge decks on the Water Orton viaducts and continue work on the M6 South Viaduct. National Highways cancelled it because of Storm Austen and the forecast high winds, and moved it to 30 October to 2 November. The M42 junction 7 link to the M6 northbound closure went ahead as planned on 24 and 25 October.
HS2 has held 6 to 9 November as contingency dates. If it needs them, the same sections close again from 9pm on Friday 6 November until 5am on Monday 9 November. HS2 publishes the latest dates on its M42 weekend closure notice.
Which roads close from 30 October
From 9pm on Friday 30 October until 5am on Monday 2 November, these sections close:
- The M42 between junctions 6 and 9 northbound, and between junctions 9 and 7 southbound.
- The M6 junction 4a southbound link to the M42 in both directions.
- The M6 Toll links between junction 3a and T1 northbound, and from T2 southbound.
A fully signed diversion is in place. National Highways says you can still reach your destination, so Birmingham Airport and the NEC remain accessible. However, the approaches from the north may be slower, so allow extra time.
Events on the closure weekends
The weekend closures overlap with several NEC-area events. The table shows the dates, so you can plan around them.
| Closure weekend | Events nearby |
|---|---|
| 30 October to 2 November | HYROX Birmingham at the NEC (to 1 November), HYROX Youngstars (31 October and 1 November), Disney On Ice at bp pulse LIVE (shows on 31 October and 1 November) |
| 6 to 9 November, if needed | Disney On Ice (Friday evening to Sunday), the Creative Craft Show and Simply Christmas at the NEC (5 to 8 November) |
If you’re flying from Birmingham Airport or heading to the NEC on a closure weekend, our Birmingham Airport transfers include flight monitoring, and we plan the route around the diversions.
Overnight M42 and A5 closures in November
M42 weekday nights
Two overnight schemes continue through November, to finish streetlight installation on the new M42 bridge structure. Both run from 9pm to 6am on weekdays, with a signed route around each closure. National Highways lists them on its HS2 works page.
- To 6 November: the M42 southbound between junctions 7a and 6.
- 9 to 28 November: the M42 northbound between junctions 6 and 8, with an 11:30pm start on Thursday 12 and Friday 20 November.
These closures matter most for late journeys. If you land at Birmingham Airport in the evening and head north, check the date before you set off.
A5 Hints Bypass near Lichfield
The A5 Hints Bypass between Weeford Junction and Mile Oak closes overnight in both directions on 6 and 7 November, from 9pm to 6am. Eastbound drivers divert via the A38 and the A453 Sutton Road, and westbound drivers use the reverse. This affects drivers in the Lichfield and Tamworth area.
City-centre changes: Christmas market and council roadworks
Frankfurt Christmas Market and Centenary Square
Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market runs from 5 November to 24 December 2026. Opening hours are 11am to 9pm from Monday to Thursday, 11am to 9:30pm on Friday, 10am to 9:30pm on Saturday and 10am to 9pm on Sunday. On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, it opens later, at 1pm.
The Big Wheel and ice rink in Centenary Square open daily from 5 November to 3 January 2027, from 10am to 10pm, and close on Christmas Day. There are no stalls on New Street between the Apple store and Nando’s this year, because of public realm works on Bennetts Hill and Temple Street. The market continues beyond Corporation Street, with craft stalls along High Street.
Council roadworks and overnight tunnel closures
Birmingham City Council normally restricts planned city-centre roadworks over Christmas, and the dates vary each year. The council’s city centre roadworks restrictions page lists the current period.
Local reports also list overnight closures of the A38 Queensway and St Chads tunnels, from 10pm to 5am, but the November and December dates differ between sources. Confirm them with the council before a late-night city-centre trip. A roadworks directory also lists council highway improvement works on Bristol Road until 15 December, and on Dartmouth Middleway and Dartmouth Circus until late November.
The Clean Air Zone
The Clean Air Zone covers every road within the A4540 Middleway ring road, but not the ring road itself. If you drive into the centre during the market, check your vehicle first. Our Birmingham Clean Air Zone guide explains the rules.
Rail changes in November and December
Avanti late-evening diversions, 23 to 26 November
National Rail says engineering work around Coventry and Birmingham closes various lines overnight from Monday 23 to Thursday 26 November. The 22:30 and 23:00 Euston to Wolverhampton services are diverted and don’t call at Birmingham New Street. The 23:30 is diverted after Rugby, and doesn’t call at Coventry, Birmingham International or New Street.
Replacement buses run between Birmingham International and Wolverhampton via New Street, and from Rugby to New Street. The details are on National Rail’s Avanti engineering works page. If you’re returning from London late in that week, check your train in advance, or book a road transfer for the final leg.
Birmingham New Street Christmas closure, 24 to 28 December
There are no trains to, from or through Birmingham New Street from Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December. Services resume on Tuesday 29 December. Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway are all affected, and other operators, including CrossCountry, are affected too.
National Rail lists replacement buses between Birmingham International and New Street, and between Wolverhampton and New Street, on its New Street closure page. Trains between New Street and Kings Norton via Kings Heath don’t run. Our New Street Christmas closure guide covers the alternatives, airport journeys and Boxing Day football in full.
Train strikes
We couldn’t find any announced strike dates for the Birmingham area in November or December 2026 when we checked on 26 October. Strike action needs notice, so check your operator’s website in the weeks before you travel.
Planning around Birmingham road closures
Most closures are known well in advance, so a few checks save a lot of time.
- Check National Highways’ live travel updates for motorway closures, and HS2’s route map for the M42 weekend dates.
- Check Birmingham City Council’s roadworks pages for local roads, and National Rail’s engineering works pages for trains.
- Add a buffer on weekdays. Our Birmingham rush hour guide explains why a 20-minute trip can take 40 to 60 minutes at peak.
- Treat 9pm as the cut-off on closure nights, because most overnight closures begin then.
- Agree a pickup window for late returns, instead of a single minute, so your driver can adjust for diversions.
Book a journey around the closures
National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers across Birmingham and the Midlands, using Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us your date, pickup address and destination, and we’ll plan the route around the closures. Get a quote and book online.
Related Articles
- Christmas Markets Near Birmingham: 2026 Dates, Times and Travel Tips
- Birmingham Events in December 2026: Festive Shows, Concerts & Sport
- Fireworks Birmingham 2026: Best Bonfire Night Displays, Dates, Parking & Getting Home
Frequently Asked Questions
The full weekend closure runs from 9pm on Friday 30 October to 5am on Monday 2 November, with 6 to 9 November held as contingency. Overnight weekday closures also run on the M42 southbound until 6 November and northbound from 9 to 28 November.
National Highways cancelled it because of Storm Austen and the forecast high winds. HS2 rescheduled the work to 30 October to 2 November.
Yes. National Highways says a fully signed diversion is in place and you can still reach your destination. Allow extra time, especially from the north.
No. There are no trains to, from or through New Street from 24 to 28 December, and services resume on 29 December.
From 23 to 26 November, late-evening Euston to Wolverhampton services are diverted, and some don’t call at New Street, Coventry or Birmingham International. Replacement buses run on the affected sections.
We couldn’t find any announced dates when we checked on 26 October. Strike action needs notice, so check your operator’s website before you travel.
The market runs from 5 November to 24 December, and the centre is busier than usual. There are no stalls on New Street between the Apple store and Nando’s because of works on Bennetts Hill and Temple Street.
Use National Highways’ live travel updates for motorways, HS2’s work-item pages for the M42, Birmingham City Council’s roadworks pages for local roads, and National Rail for trains.
