Brit Awards 2026 and 2027 to be hosted in Manchester
The Brit Awards will be held in Manchester’s Co-op Live in 2026 and 2027 after nearly five decades in London at the city’s O2 Arena.
Central to countless UK music history moments, including Jarvis Cocker’s infamous interruption during Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’ performance, the Brits Awards’ move to Manchester will “capture the spirit and energy” of the show in a city with rich cultural ties to the UK music scene.
Taking place on February 28th, next year’s ceremony will mark the first of three years under Sony Music, which encouraged the move to Manchester, as part of broader efforts to “invigorate” the show. Hosting the show in the city in 2027 will also mean celebrating its 50th anniversary outside of London.
“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,” said Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, called the change “a massive coup” for Manchester, which has “an unparalleled music heritage known around the world”.
He added: “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 Brit Awards follows in the footsteps of several other events and organisations moving out of London, including this year’s Mercury Prize, which will be hosted in Newcastle this year, its first-ever ceremony not in the capital city.
A major benefit to moving to Manchester, according to BPI CEO and Brits Committee member Dr Jo Twist OBE, is participating in the city’s rich music legacy as champions of British new music. “The Brit Awards have 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,” Twist explained.
Adding: “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.”
The Brits in 2026 and 2027 will continue the show’s partnership with Mastercard, now in its 28th year, and ITV, which has been its official broadcaster for 33 years. The event will also continue to raise funds through The Brit Trust in support of the Brit School in south London and music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins.
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