UK Bamboo Summit 2026: Birmingham
We’re excited to be planning the sixth UK Bamboo Summit 2026 in Birmingham, and we’d love to see you there.
Friday 30 October 2026, 10am – 5pm
Birmingham Botanical Gardens : visitor information for BBG available here.
Join us in Birmingham to:
Hear inspirational speakers
Visit beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens and its bamboo-themed family programme produced by OPUS
Discover the extent of bamboo growing in the UK
Find out what’s happening in bamboo development & research in the UK and how it connects globally
Learn how bamboo supports UK’s commitment to sustainability goals
Plan ambitious bamboo collaborations with people from different professions and walks of life
Take a glimpse at last year’s UK Bamboo Summit here:
JEEVANSHALA, by Vihara Architects — Padmaraj Rangole and Kavya Nambiar — was selected as the winning project for its community led approach to education and its ambition to create a school that feels like a welcoming part of village life. Located in the rugged terrain of the Satpuda Mountain Range is home to the five tribal communities. Displaced by historical dam construction, these marginalized families continue to live in remote mountain settlements severely lacking basic public infrastructure. Access to quality education, healthcare, and essential municipal services remains heavily constrained by difficult geography, inadequate infrastructure, and systemic institutional neglect.
The design process relies on a localized, participatory methodology: conducting on-site climatic analysis, documenting indigenous building techniques, and engaging the tribal communities of the region to ensure spatial layouts respect their cultural context.
The winning project will now move towards the next stage of development, transforming the proposal into a built project.
Click image for video. Photo of the 2026 Working Group Action shot. Photo by Holly Johnson
As part of the event and your ticket, you can:
A day of inspiring national and international speakers together with focused, facilitated working group sessions, connections and commitments to action: speakers and programme to be announced soon.
Make the most of the surroundings with full access to the beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens during opening hours (Usual price £12.50)
Experience the BBG bamboo collection with an optional bespoke tour with the horticulture team
Enjoy lunch and all-day refreshments throughout the day by Medicine Bakery
See how bamboo can shape public programmes with a lunchtime visit to the bamboo-themed family programme co-produced by OPUS and Brilliant Bamboo
Some free on-site parking (first come, first served)
We have bursary places available if ticket price is a barrier, please contact us to enquire about the bursary.
How is the event organised?
The event is co-designed by Gemma Thomas / Brilliant Bamboo and Orit Azaz / Imagine Bamboo with the Bamboo in the UK Group partners: Atelier One, Bamboo Bicycle Club, Coventry University, Coventry City Council, Imagineer Productions, Michael Brisbane, NoFitState Circus, Orit Azaz, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Terragrn, UK Bamboo Supplies and David Trujillo at University of Warwick.
This year we’re pleased to be working with Birmingham partners: Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS).
For previous events visit: Imagine Bamboo Summit – Imagine Bamboo
Lead image of Kaway’an EcoPark in the Philippines by Sangay Architects, Studio Synthesis and Atelier One.
Further information and event pages to be added to:
www.brilliantbamboo.co.uk/events and www.imagine-bamboo.co.uk
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