Working Class Hero Exhibit Extended: Ozzy Tribute Stays Open
The Working Class Hero exhibit celebrating Ozzy Osbourne’s legendary career has been extended until September 27, 2026 due to overwhelming public demand.
More than 425,000 fans have already visited Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to honor the Prince of Darkness.
You’re about to discover the complete story behind this remarkable tribute to one of rock’s greatest icons.
This free exhibition traces Ozzy’s incredible journey from a working-class kid in Aston to the world’s most recognizable rock legend.
The extension marks the second time the Osbourne family has agreed to keep this historic display open for fans worldwide.
The Working Class Hero exhibit represents a fitting tribute to Ozzy’s extraordinary life and his deep roots in Birmingham.
Image Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless
📚 Table of Contents
Working Class Hero Exhibit: The Full Story
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery announced today that the free Ozzy Osbourne tribute will remain open until September 27, 2026.
This marks the second extension for the exhibition, which originally was scheduled to close in September 2025.
The first extension pushed the closing date to January 18, 2026 due to public demand.
Birmingham Museums Trust, Central BID Birmingham, and the Osbourne family collaborated on this decision.
The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm with free admission for all visitors.
💡 Did You Know?
Ozzy’s father went into debt to buy him his first microphone and PA system. At the Freedom of the City ceremony in June 2025, Ozzy said he wished his father could have been there to see how far he had come from their small Aston home.
What the Exhibition Features
The exhibition showcases Ozzy’s most prestigious international honors displayed together for the first time.
Visitors can view his Grammy Awards and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame accolades up close.
MTV awards, Hollywood Walk of Fame honors, and Birmingham Walk of Stars recognition are prominently displayed.
A dazzling collection of platinum and gold discs marks millions of record sales worldwide.
Photography and video installations chronicle Ozzy’s journey from Aston to global superstardom.
Learn more about Black Sabbath’s complete album discography on ClassicRockArtists.com.
💡 Did You Know?
Birmingham officially renamed a bridge “Black Sabbath Bridge” on Broad Street in 2019. Next to it sits a heavy metal bench featuring etchings of all four original band members, designed by Egyptian artist Tarek Abelkawi after a campaign led by a Dubai-based architect and Sabbath super fan.
Sharon Osbourne’s Statement on Working Class Hero
Sharon Osbourne expressed her gratitude for the museum’s decision to extend the tribute.
She stated that she and her family are proud Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery asked to extend the exhibition.
Sharon noted that more fans will now have the opportunity to experience the exhibit firsthand.
When the exhibition first opened, Sharon called it a real celebration of everything Ozzy achieved and the city that made him.
Sam Watson, chair of Central BID Birmingham, praised the phenomenal public demand and the Osbourne family’s generosity.
For more on the Osbourne family, read about Jack Osbourne’s touching tribute to his father.
💡 Did You Know?
All four original Black Sabbath members were awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham on June 28, 2025. Their names are now engraved on the Freedom of the City marble board in the Council House building – a permanent honor alongside military veterans and civic leaders.
Fan Reactions and Tribute Wall
Fans from around the world have responded passionately to this classic rock news about the extension.
A special tribute wall was unveiled on December 3, 2025 – what would have been Ozzy’s 77th birthday.
The wall features 77 messages chosen from over 50,000 tributes left by fans in books of condolence.
Hundreds more messages appear in a special film installation within the exhibition space.
The film also includes footage of tens of thousands who lined Birmingham streets during Ozzy’s funeral cortege.
Discover how rock legends united for Ozzy’s epic tribute at the Back to the Beginning concert.
💡 Did You Know?
During Ozzy’s funeral cortege on July 30, 2025, the hearse traveled down Broad Street to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, accompanied by a live brass band performance from local musicians Bostin’ Brass. Thousands of fans gathered to say goodbye to Birmingham’s most famous son.
Ozzy’s Working Class Roots in Aston
John Michael Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948 in Marston Green and grew up in Aston, Birmingham.
His family lived in a small two-bedroom home at 14 Lodge Road with six children.
Both his parents worked in factories – his mother at Lucas Automotive and his father at General Electric Company.
Ozzy once said that in Aston, you were growing up to work in a factory with no other option.
Despite battling dyslexia and facing hardship, he transformed himself into the world’s most recognizable classic rock legend.
Explore the full story of the members of Black Sabbath and where they are now.
💡 Did You Know?
Before forming Black Sabbath, Ozzy worked a series of working-class jobs including plumber’s apprentice, car factory horn-tuner, and slaughterhouse worker. He said the slaughterhouse desensitized him to gore – possibly influencing his later stage antics.
What This Working Class Hero Extension Means
The extension gives fans worldwide more time to visit Birmingham and experience this tribute.
Museum officials expect visitor numbers could reach one million by the September 2026 closing date.
The documentary Ozzy: No Escape From Now premiered on Paramount+ and chronicles his final years.
A theatrical release of Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow is also coming to cinemas in 2026.
Ozzy’s posthumous memoir Last Rites was published in October 2025 to tremendous fan reception.
Read more about Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning concert on ClassicRockArtists.com.
💡 Did You Know?
Ozzy found Black Sabbath by posting an advertisement in a local Birmingham music shop that read “OZZY ZIG Needs Gig – has own PA.” When guitarist Tony Iommi arrived at the address, he recognized Ozzy as a “pest” from their school days at Birchfield Road Secondary Modern.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Legacy and Impact
Ozzy Osbourne shaped rock and heavy metal music for over five decades.
With Black Sabbath, he helped invent heavy metal and sold over 75 million albums worldwide.
His solo career produced thirteen studio albums, with the first seven all certified multi-platinum.
Ozzy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – with Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024.
The reality TV series The Osbournes brought him to a new generation of fans in the early 2000s.
Learn more about how Paranoid defined heavy metal forever and discover how one album invented heavy metal.
💡 Did You Know?
At the Freedom of the City ceremony, Geezer Butler declared Birmingham a “great working class city” and said all four band members were working class from Aston. He added that people used to make fun of their Brummie accents, but they remained proud Birmingham people who loved their city.
Your Questions About the Working Class Hero Exhibit Answered
The museum is located in the heart of Birmingham city centre.
Visit birminghammuseums.org.uk for directions and more information.
This is the second extension due to overwhelming public demand.
Opening hours are daily from 10am to 5pm.
This was made possible by Central BID Birmingham and the Osbourne family.
Sponsors include Ocean Outdoor, Birmingham City Council, and Aston Villa FC.
Visitors can view platinum and gold discs from Ozzy’s career.
Photography, video footage, and a fan tribute wall are also on display.
Officials expect the total could reach one million by closing.
This phenomenal response prompted both extensions.
It was unveiled on December 3, 2025 – Ozzy’s 77th birthday.
A film installation displays hundreds of additional messages from fans.
Check our news section for the latest updates.
Explore Black Sabbath’s complete story on our site.
Why This Working Class Hero Tribute Matters
The extension of this exhibition proves that Ozzy’s impact on music and culture endures beyond his passing.
For fans who grew up with Black Sabbath and Ozzy’s solo work, this is a pilgrimage site to honor the Prince of Darkness.
Plan your visit to Birmingham and keep Ozzy’s memory alive through his incredible legacy.
Explore more classic rock news and artist profiles on ClassicRockArtists.com.
The Working Class Hero exhibit stands as a permanent reminder that a working-class kid from Aston changed the face of rock music forever.
