BRIT Awards to leave London and take place in Manchester for the next two years
The ceremony is heading north for the first time in its history.
By Nick Reilly
The BRIT Awards is set to leave London for the first time ever and will take place in Manchester for the next two years, organisers have confirmed.
The ceremony, widely considered the biggest night in British music, will take place at the Co-op Live, which became the country’s biggest arena when it first opened its doors in 2024. Both the 2026 and 2027 ceremonies will take place at the venue.
An official release hails the city’s rich musical history as part of the reason for making the move, which has been spearheaded by Sony Music UK who are undertaking the stewardship of the event for the next three years.
The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday 28th February, broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland said: “This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music. Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: “For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture.
“Greater Manchester has an unparalleled music heritage known around the world, and this summer will play host to some of the biggest gigs on the planet. That was only made possible by our strong commitment to new talent and giving emerging artists the opportunities to make their name.
“We thank our friends at the BPI for choosing Manchester and we will pull out all the stops to show they made the right decision. Celebrating the BRIT Awards right here in the home of 24 hour party people is the next chapter in its story and you can be sure that we will help them do it in style.”
The BRITs in 2026 and 2027 will continue to raise funds to support education and well-being for young people through The BRIT Trust and Mastercard will continue as the headline sponsor. Performers and an event host will be announced at a later date.
This year’s BRIT Awards was dominated by Charli XCX, who picked up a slew of awards for her album Brat.