BRIT Awards moves to Manchester

The BRIT Awards with Mastercard, the UK's flagship awards for the music industry, is moving to Manchester with the 2026 and 2027 editions to be hosted by the city's Co-op Live venue.

The 2026 ceremony will take place on Saturday 28th February and be broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. It will be the first time that The BRITs takes place outside of London. The 2027 event will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the inaugural show in 1977, when category winners included The Beatles, Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Manchester has a thriving indie scene, and its legacy spans iconic bands such as Oasis and New Order to leading contemporary artists including The 1975 and Blossoms. The city has also scored more No.1 studio albums on the Official Albums Chart than any other UK location on a per-capita basis.

The announcement that the city will host the BRIT Awards has been welcomed by music industry figures as well as representatives of local government including Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO and BRITs Committee member, said: “The BRIT Awards has helped to tell the story of British music in all its brilliant diversity, capturing some of its most memorable moments, and this groundbreaking move to Manchester will only add to its rich legacy.  This exciting new chapter celebrates not only the city’s exceptional musical heritage and its status as a powerhouse of British creativity, but the great depth of artistic energy and potential that exists all across the UK. I feel sure it will fire the imagination of fans, artists and the wider music community alike, and we look forward to sharing the experience with them.”

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