The music of Naruto, Demon Slayer, One Piece, Attack on Titan and Studio Ghibli comes to Birmingham on Sunday 15 November 2026, performed by a full symphony orchestra at Symphony Hall under conductor Michael England.
The 3pm matinee is one of two UK dates on The Sound of Epic Anime tour, and with tickets from £20.50.
The Sound of Epic Anime
15% off tickets to The Sound of Epic Anime
Japan Nakama readers can save 15 per cent on tickets for the Birmingham performance. To claim the discount:
- Head to the Symphony Hall booking page.
- Select your seats for the Sunday 15 November performance.
- Enter the code NARUTO in the promotional code box just before you begin checkout.
The discount applies to the ticket price, with tickets starting from £20.50 before the code is applied.
The music and the composers behind it
The programme draws on six of the most recognisable bodies of work in anime music, and the names behind them carry serious weight in Japan.
The Naruto Main Theme comes from Toshio Masuda, who scored the original series, while Yasuharu Takanashi wrote much of the orchestral score for Naruto Shippuden. Demon Slayer is represented by Go Shiina, composer of large parts of the series score including the Rengoku theme, alongside Gurenge, the opening song performed by LiSA that became one of the defining anime theme songs of the past decade.
One Piece fans will recognise We Are!, the series’ original opening theme by Kohei Tanaka, a composer whose credits stretch across anime, games and stage productions. From Neon Genesis Evangelion comes the score by Shiro Sagisu, along with The Cruel Angel’s Thesis, the famous opening theme composed separately and performed by Yoko Takahashi. Yugo Kanno’s music for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, including Tabidachi, also features.
Then there is Joe Hisaishi, the composer most closely associated with Studio Ghibli. His piano piece One Summer’s Day, written for Spirited Away, remains one of the most recognisable melodies in Japanese cinema and sits at the quieter heart of the programme.
The concert moves through the programme series by series, though the running order stays unannounced until the afternoon itself, which keeps the anticipation of your favourite soundtrack intact.
Anime soundtracks at full orchestral scale
Most of these scores were composed for a full orchestra, so hearing them live is the first chance many fans get to hear them as they were written. Symphony Hall is a good venue for it. The hall is known for having some of the best concert acoustics in Europe, which means the quiet piano of One Summer’s Day and the heavy percussion of Attack on Titan both come through clearly from any seat in the room. The Barbican performance of this programme had 66 musicians on stage, including a rhythm section of drum kit, synthesiser and guitars alongside the orchestra.
Planning your afternoon in Birmingham
Symphony Hall is on Centenary Square in the city centre, around a 15 minute walk from Birmingham New Street station. The West Midlands Metro stops directly outside the entrance at the Library tram stop, and drivers can prebook parking at Q-Park Brindleyplace or Q-Park Mailbox, where the code BMusic10 gives 10 per cent off.
The concert starts at 3pm, so you’ll be out by late afternoon with time for dinner in the city. The afternoon slot also makes this an easier date for families than the London evening show, though under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Symphony Hall has not yet confirmed the running time; the London performance of the same programme runs approximately two hours and ten minutes including an interval.
First time at an orchestral concert?
This concert works well as a first orchestral experience. The music is familiar, which makes it easy to follow, and no classical background is needed. A few things are useful to know: conductor Michael England is relaxed about reactions, telling us that audiences historically clapped between movements, and that if the music moves you, you should react. He also saw crowds full of costumes at his anime concerts in Madrid and Barcelona this year, so the cosplay suggestion that follows comes with his blessing. Audience members may also be able to discreetly film portions of the concert, but flash video and photography are strictly prohibited. There’s no dress code, so come as you are, or use the occasion to bring your favourite anime character to life with a bit of cosplay.
Anime’s biggest soundtracks in one afternoon
For fans in the Midlands and the north, this is the closest the tour comes, and the only UK date outside London. Very few touring concerts cover this many series in one programme: this one brings together Naruto, Demon Slayer, One Piece, Evangelion, JoJo’s and Ghibli, all performed by a full orchestra. If you want to hear these soundtracks played live, this is one of only two chances to do it in the UK.
The tour opened its UK run at London’s Royal Festival Hall in September before closing in Birmingham with this final date.
Birmingham
Symphony Hall, Broad Street, B1 2EA
Sunday 15 November 2026, 3pm
Under 16s accompanied by an adult
Book the Birmingham performance
