Overview
- West Midlands Police reiterated there were no official city-centre events, and officers on the night informed people there would be no display.
- Hundreds assembled in Centenary Square before dispersing when nothing happened at midnight, with some outlets reporting larger numbers.
- Reports point to AI-generated or recycled event round-ups as likely sources of the false adverts, though the origins have not been independently confirmed.
- Footage on TikTok and other platforms showed confused revellers and posts repeating outdated claims about a “biggest NYE party” in the square.
- Authorities warned that such misinformation causes unnecessary journeys and strains transport and emergency services, urging reliance on trusted sources.