Hits Radio Live Birmingham is at bp pulse LIVE on Friday 20 November 2026, with doors at 5pm and the show starting promptly at 7:25pm. The organisers say it finishes by 11pm, so the journey home needs as much planning as the journey there. A pre-booked set-down at the Piazza or Atrium, plus an agreed pickup window after the finale, avoids the car park queue.
This guide covers the line-up and times, the age rules for children and teenagers, parking, taxi drop-off and pick-up, and trains. It also explains what is happening on the NEC campus and the M42 that evening.
Details last checked on 31 October 2026. Start times, line-up and travel notices can change, so confirm them on the venue’s event page and with the organiser.
Hits Radio Live Birmingham 2026 at a glance
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday 20 November 2026 |
| Venue | bp pulse LIVE (formerly Resorts World Arena), Perimeter Road, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT |
| Doors | 5pm |
| Start | 7:25pm, according to the organiser and AXS. The venue’s page says 7:30pm |
| Finish | By 11pm, according to the organiser |
| Line-up | Jason Derulo, Sugababes, The Script, Tinie Tempah, John Newman, Clementine Douglas and December 10 |
| Hosts | Fleur East, Gemma Atkinson and Marvin Humes, with a DJ set from Kimberley Wyatt |
| Tickets | From £25 plus fees, sold through AXS |
| Floor | The main floor is seated. Standing is by side-of-stage Pod tickets only |
| Parking | NEC car parks, with £5 off if you pre-book |
| Nearest station | Birmingham International |
AXS says this is a multi-artist event and the line-up may change. The arena is on the NEC campus, not in the city centre, so don’t confuse it with Utilita Arena Birmingham.
Age rules for children and teenagers
Seated tickets
The venue says under-14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over with a valid ticket, and that young people aged 14 and over can enter the building on their own. The organiser’s FAQ words it differently: anyone aged 14 or under needs an adult. If your child is 14, check the terms on your ticket or bring an adult.
Standing Pods
The organiser says it kept the main floor seated for family access, as it did last year. Standing is available through side-of-stage Pod tickets, and age rules apply there. Under-14s aren’t allowed on a standing floor, and the venue says 14 and 15-year-olds can only enter with an adult aged 18 or over. AXS adds that under-14s aren’t allowed in the standing Pods.
Teenagers travelling alone
Even where a teenager may enter alone, agree a meeting point and a phone number before the evening. If a teenager will travel by taxi without an adult, speak to us when you book, because operators’ rules on under-18s travelling alone differ.
Timing the evening: doors at 5pm to an 11pm finish
Working through the day
The table sets out the main moments and when to plan around them. The arrival and pickup windows are illustrations, not official times.
| Time | What’s happening | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| 4pm to 6:30pm | Friday evening peak on Birmingham’s roads | Allow extra time to reach the NEC |
| 5pm | Doors open, and the Festive Gift Fair closes | The campus is busy as visitors leave one event and arrive for another |
| By about 6:30pm | Sample arrival for families | Leaves time for security and settling in |
| 7:25pm | Show starts promptly (7:30pm on the venue’s page) | Arrive earlier if you want the first act |
| By 11pm | Organiser’s stated finish | Leave time for the crowd to move |
| 11pm to 11:45pm | Sample pickup window | Adjust once you know the real finish |
The Birmingham evening peak runs from about 4pm to 6:30pm, according to our Birmingham rush hour guide. That overlaps with doors at 5pm, so leave earlier than you would at a weekend.
Arrive early
The organiser advises arriving early, because the show starts promptly and security takes time. With several acts on the bill, most families will want to be in their seats before the first act. Arriving around 6:30pm leaves time for security and refreshments without queuing at the gates.
Security, bags and food
All bags are inspected before entry, and the venue recommends not bringing one. If you do, it must be no bigger than A4 (21cm x 30cm x 19cm), with a maximum of two compartments, and rucksacks aren’t permitted. The venue uses Evolv Express security at the doors, and the organiser says to expect metal detectors and ticket checks. Outside food and drink aren’t allowed.
Parking at bp pulse LIVE
What the venue says
The NEC campus has over 16,000 parking spaces, and bp pulse LIVE says pre-booking saves up to £5 on the standard NEC rate. Entry and exit use ANPR, which reads your number plate. Options include Standard, Express, Accessible and EV Charge & Park.
Follow the signs to your event’s designated car park, using sat nav postcode B40 1NT. The venue asks you not to park in the Resorts World Birmingham car park, and parking is chargeable. Premium packages include parking.
Why leaving takes longer than arriving
Arrivals spread over several hours, but the finale sends thousands of people to the car parks at once. Even a pre-booked space doesn’t shorten the exit queue. If you drive, allow time to leave, or wait in the arena a little before heading out.
The Festive Gift Fair on the same campus
The NEC’s Festive Gift Fair runs from 19 to 22 November, from 9:30am to 5pm each day. That means its visitors leave around the time doors open on Friday. Our guide to Festive Gift Fair parking and travel explains the daytime picture on the campus.
Taxi drop-off and pick-up at the NEC
What the venue says
The venue says to pre-book a taxi and use the designated pick-up and drop-off points. Veezu is the NEC’s official private hire partner, and it has signposted pick-up points near the main entrances. The venue says other private hire providers drop passengers at either the Piazza drop-off and pick-up area or the Atrium entrance.
What that means for a pre-booked chauffeur
NET isn’t the NEC’s official partner, so our cars use the Piazza or the Atrium. From there you walk across the campus to the arena entrance, following the signs. The venue doesn’t name the set-down nearest the arena, so tell your driver which one you’ve agreed.
Allow extra time for the walk if you’re with young children. It’s also worth looking at the NEC site map before the day.
Agreeing your pickup
After the show, go to the private hire pick-up area at the Piazza or the Atrium. Agree which one with your driver before the evening, and share a phone number that will be on all night. Message your driver as you leave your seat, not when you reach the exit, and agree a window instead of a single minute.
Families and groups
For a group, the Mercedes V-Class takes up to seven passengers and seven bags, so one pickup covers everyone. Child seats and booster seats are available on request at no extra charge, provided we have each child’s age and weight when you book.
If a chauffeur looks like the better fit, our events chauffeur service explains how event transfers work, with the fare agreed in advance.
Getting there by train, bus or air
By train
bp pulse LIVE is directly next to Birmingham International station. If your train doesn’t go there directly, connect via Birmingham New Street, which takes 10 to 15 minutes. Connecting buses run from Birmingham Moor Street and Solihull stations, and the venue lists the 900 bus every 20 minutes, taking about 30 minutes.
Check your last train
The show finishes by 11pm, so check the last services home before you buy tickets or plan a night out. Don’t assume your usual last train. If the last service is close to the finish, a pre-booked return is the safer option.
By air
The Air-Rail Link connects Birmingham Airport to Birmingham International from 3:30am to 12:30am, according to the venue. That helps if you’re flying in or staying at an airport hotel.
Roads and closures on the night
The venue’s website currently shows a travel alert that the northern side of M42 junction 6 is closed, and asks you to allow extra time. The NEC’s travel updates page carries the latest information, so check it on the day.
National Highways also listed overnight closures of the M42 northbound between junctions 6 and 8 on weekday nights in November, with a later 11:30pm start on Friday 20 November, when we checked on 26 October. Our Birmingham road closures guide sets out the dates. A finish by 11pm leaves little time before that closure starts, so check the latest position before you leave.
Premium and hospitality guests
The Premium Lounge packages for this show include parking, priority entry and a welcome drink. If you’re hosting clients across several events, a corporate account offers fixed rates, multiple authorised bookers and consolidated monthly VAT invoicing with journey-level detail. A dedicated account manager handles the arrangements.
Your checklist for 20 November
- Buy tickets only from the official ticketing partner, AXS.
- Check your age limits, especially for 14-year-olds and standing Pods.
- Pack a bag no bigger than A4, or none at all.
- Decide whether you’re driving, taking the train or booking a transfer.
- Pre-book parking, or agree the Piazza or Atrium for your drop-off.
- Agree a pickup point and a time window for the end of the night.
- Keep your phone charged for your driver and your tickets.
Book your Hits Radio Live Birmingham transfer
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 pickup address, group size, any child seats and your preferred pickup window, and we’ll plan the evening around the show. Get a quote and book online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Friday 20 November 2026, at bp pulse LIVE on the NEC campus, Perimeter Road, Birmingham B40 1NT.
Doors open at 5pm. The organiser and AXS give a 7:25pm start, and the organiser says it starts promptly. The venue’s page says 7:30pm, so arrive in good time.
The organiser says the show finishes by 11pm. Plan a flexible pickup window after that, because the crowd takes time to clear.
Jason Derulo, Sugababes, The Script, Tinie Tempah, John Newman, Clementine Douglas and December 10, hosted by Fleur East, Gemma Atkinson and Marvin Humes, with a DJ set from Kimberley Wyatt. The line-up may change.
Yes. The venue says under-14s in seated areas need an adult aged 18 or over, while the organiser says anyone aged 14 or under does. Under-14s aren’t allowed on a standing floor, so check the terms for a 14-year-old.
The organiser says the main floor is seated, as it was last year. Standing is available through side-of-stage Pod tickets, with age restrictions.
The venue says to pre-book and use designated points. Other private hire providers drop off at the Piazza or the Atrium entrance, and Veezu has signposted pick-up points near the main entrances.
Yes. The NEC campus has over 16,000 spaces, and pre-booking saves up to £5 on the standard rate. Follow the signs to your event’s designated car park.
Bags must be no bigger than A4 (21cm x 30cm x 19cm), with a maximum of two compartments. Rucksacks aren’t permitted, and all bags are inspected.
