The late and great Ozzy Osbourne (still a sentence that feels weird to type) is set to receive the Lord Mayor’s Award in his hometown of Birmingham this Wednesday, December 3 on what would have been his 77th birthday.
The accolade will be presented posthumously by the city’s Lord Mayor, Zafar Iqbal MBE, alongside Deputy Lord Mayor Ken Wood, with members of the Osbourne family attending to accept the honour.
Announcing the news on social media toda,, Iqbal paid emotional tribute to the Prince Of Darkness: “On 3 December—Ozzy Osbourne’s birthday—his family will receive the Lord Mayor’s Award in a heartfelt tribute to his life and legacy. From Aston to the world stage, Ozzy defined heavy metal and carried Birmingham in his heart every step of the way. Ozzy forever!”
The Lord Mayor’s Award recognizes “outstanding achievement or exceptional service to the city and people of Birmingham.” Osbourne, who died of a heart attack on July 22, 2025 following long-term health struggles, had remained active in the months leading up to his death.
Despite his declining health, Ozzy made one final triumphant return to his roots with the July 5 farewell show Back To The Beginning at Villa Park — a star-studded tribute celebrating both his solo legacy and his era-defining work with Black Sabbath. The event raised an impressive $11 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Birmingham has long celebrated its most infamous son: Osbourne already has a commemorative bridge and bench in the city, while Black Sabbath themselves were honoured earlier this year with a permanent art installation, unveiled and personally signed by all four members around the time of their farewell appearance.
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