Disney On Ice Birmingham 2026: Dates, Show Times & Parking at bp pulse LIVE

Disney On Ice Birmingham 2026 runs at bp pulse LIVE, on the NEC campus, from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November, and again from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November. This year’s show is Disney On Ice presents Discover the Magic, and Birmingham is the first stop on the UK tour. Tickets start from £18 plus fees, and there are 16 performances in total, with morning, afternoon and early-evening slots.

The first week falls during October half-term, so expect busy roads around the NEC and full car parks. This guide lists every show time and explains your parking and drop-off options at bp pulse LIVE. It also suggests how to plan the day with young children, from arrival to the journey home.

Disney On Ice Birmingham 2026 show times

These times come from the venue’s official ticketing partner. There are no performances between Monday 2 and Thursday 5 November. Times can occasionally change, so check your tickets before you travel.

Doors and arrival

For the 2.30pm performance on 28 October, the venue lists doors at 1.30pm, an hour before the show starts. Expect a similar gap for other performances, but check your ticket for the exact time. Arriving soon after the doors open gives you time to find your seats, visit the toilets and buy any merchandise before the lights go down.

Which performance should you choose?

Half-term shows (28 October to 1 November)

The first five days of the run fall during October half-term for schools that follow Birmingham City Council’s calendar. These are likely to be the busiest performances, with families travelling from across the Midlands and beyond. If you’re aiming for this week, book early and plan your journey carefully.

Weekend shows (6 to 8 November)

The second weekend comes after half-term, when children are back at school. The Friday evening and Saturday performances suit families who can’t travel during the week. Sunday morning shows tend to work well for younger children, who are often at their best earlier in the day.

Morning, afternoon or evening?

The morning performances, at 10.30am or 11.30am, suit toddlers and pre-schoolers who nap in the afternoon. Afternoon shows give you time for a relaxed morning before you set off. The 6.30pm performances end later in the evening, which can be tiring for little ones. Remember, too, that the clocks go back on 25 October, so evening shows finish in the dark.

Tickets and Premium packages

Standard tickets start from £18 plus fees. Prices vary by performance and seat, and popular half-term and weekend shows sell out first.

What Premium includes

The venue also offers Premium packages for selected performances. According to the venue, these include:

• parking for one car per family booking
• priority entry
• access to a private lounge with facilities
• premium-located or more spacious seats
• a cloakroom for bags and buggies, subject to availability

Premium bookings must include at least one adult and one child. If parking and a shorter queue matter most to you, compare the Premium price with the cost of standard tickets plus separate parking.

Parking at bp pulse LIVE for Disney On Ice

bp pulse LIVE sits on the NEC campus, next to Birmingham Airport, and uses the NEC’s car parks. The venue’s postcode is B40 1NT.

Pre-booking your parking

NEC parking is paid, and pre-booking online is usually cheaper than paying on the day. The NEC has previously offered a discount for pre-paid parking, so check the current price for your date. During half-term, when the NEC campus is also hosting other events, the car parks closest to the arena fill up quickly.

Allowing time to park and walk

The NEC’s large car parks can mean a walk, or a shuttle bus, to reach the venue. With young children, pushchairs and bags, this part of the trip often takes longer than you’d expect. Leave plenty of time between arriving at the car park and the start of the show.

Peppa Pig Space Adventure on the same campus

Peppa Pig Space Adventure runs on the NEC campus until 8 November, so it overlaps with the whole Disney On Ice run. That means even more families on site, particularly during half-term. Some families combine the two in a single trip, but check both sets of timings first.

Drop-off and pickup at bp pulse LIVE

If someone is driving you, or you’ve booked a car, being dropped off means you avoid the car park altogether. On busy event days at bp pulse LIVE, non-partner taxis and private hire cars follow on-site signs to designated drop-off and pickup areas. These areas can change depending on traffic, so follow the signs and any directions from stewards on the day.

Collection is usually harder than drop-off, because many families leave at the same time. These steps help:

1. Agree a pickup point with your driver before the show.
2. Keep your phone charged and switched on.
3. Let your driver know if you’re stopping for the toilets or merchandise first.
4. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the first crowds and traffic to clear.

Our guide to getting to Utilita Arena and bp pulse LIVE has more on both of Birmingham’s big arenas.

Getting to bp pulse LIVE by train

Birmingham International station serves the NEC campus and is linked to it by a covered walkway. From there, follow the signs to bp pulse LIVE. With young children, allow extra time for the walk.

Trains to Birmingham International run from Birmingham New Street, Coventry and London Euston, among other places. Trains can be busy during half-term, and Sunday services may be affected by engineering works, so check your route before you travel. Our guide to getting from Birmingham Airport to the NEC also explains how the station and the Air-Rail Link connect to the campus.

Roads and traffic around the NEC

Half-term traffic

The NEC sits beside Junction 6 of the M42, which also serves Birmingham Airport. During half-term, airport traffic, NEC events and Disney On Ice audiences all use the same junction. Leave earlier than you normally would, especially for the morning performances.

M42 works

A weekend M42 closure near the NEC, for HS2 works, is planned from 9pm on Friday 23 October to 5am on Monday 26 October. It ends before the first Disney On Ice show, but roadworks around Junction 6 can still cause delays at other times. Check live traffic before you leave.

Planning the day with young children

What to bring

• Tickets on your phone, with the battery fully charged
• Snacks and drinks, in line with the venue’s food and drink policy
• A light extra layer, as ice shows can feel cool near the rink
• Ear defenders for younger children who find loud music and crowds hard

Check the venue’s bag and buggy policy before you travel. If you don’t have a Premium package, find out where pushchairs can be left, as space can be limited at busy performances.

Costumes and Halloween

The Saturday 31 October performances fall on Halloween, and many children like to dress up for Disney On Ice. If your child plans to wear a costume, check the venue’s rules beforehand, particularly on masks and props.

Food before or after

The NEC campus has places to eat, including at Resorts World next to the arena. During half-term these can get busy around show times, so think about eating before you arrive or booking a table.

Accessibility

If anyone in your group needs accessible seating, parking or other support, contact the venue’s access team before you book, as these places can be limited for popular performances.

Travelling from further afield

Families coming from around the Midlands

Disney On Ice draws families from across the region. From Coventry, Wolverhampton or Solihull, a pre-booked car means no parking, no walk from the car park and no long drive home after an evening show. We provide a chauffeur service in Solihull, as well as pickups from Coventry and Wolverhampton.

Flying in or staying overnight

Because bp pulse LIVE is right beside Birmingham Airport, some families combine the show with a trip away, or fly in from elsewhere in the UK or Ireland. Our Birmingham Airport transfers include flight monitoring and meet-and-greet. If you’re staying nearby, our guide to hotels near the NEC covers places within easy reach of the arena.

Why some families choose a chauffeur for Disney On Ice

A family day at an arena often means several children, a pushchair, bags and a tiring journey home. A pre-booked car takes some of that pressure off. Your chauffeur collects you from home and drops you at a designated point at bp pulse LIVE. After the show, they meet you at a pickup point you’ve agreed in advance.

For larger families, or two families travelling together, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class seats up to seven passengers, with space for bags. If you need child seats, mention it when you book. Our event chauffeur service explains how event bookings work, and you can get a quote online for your performance date.

More events at the NEC and in Birmingham

Disney On Ice follows the Horse of the Year Show, which runs at bp pulse LIVE earlier in October. Our Horse of the Year Show 2026 guide covers that event, and our NEC events guide for 2026 has the full NEC calendar. If you’re also flying away over half-term, our autumn half-term airport guide covers the airport side of the week.

Book your Disney On Ice transport

National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers to and from bp pulse LIVE from across the Midlands, in Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles. Tell us your performance, the number of adults and children, and any luggage or pushchairs, and we’ll plan the drop-off and collection around the show. Get a quote and book online.