The BRIT Awards are heading to Manchester for the first time ever next year.
Today (June 9), the BRITS have announced a new home for the annual awards ceremony beginning next year. In 2026 and 2027, the BRIT Awards will take place at the Manchester Co-Op Live, marking the first time in history that the event is being held outside of London.
The BRITS have also confirmed a date for the 2026 awards ceremony: February 28 – it will broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Per a press release, 2026 will mark the first of a three-year partnership with Sony Music UK, which prompted its relocation to Manchester. Plans for the 2028 awards have yet to be revealed.
The BRIT Awards in 2026 and 2027 will continue to raise funds to support education and the youth through The BRIT Trust, and will continue to be sponsored by Mastercard. More announcements are due to be made in the coming months for 2026’s programming.
Sony Music UK & Ireland CEO and Chair Jason Iley said of the move in a press statement: “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.”
Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI CEO and BRITs Committee member, added: “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 ground-breaking 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.”
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.”
The BRIT Awards’ move is the latest step in the industry celebrating the North of England’s contributions to music, following the upcoming return of Oasis, the opening of the Co-Op Live last year and more. The BRITS team shared: “This ground-breaking new bond between one of the UK’s most industrious and thriving metropolitan cities and the biggest night in UK music and entertainment will continue to showcase the very best in not only British, but global music, creativity and talent, and evolve what The BRIT Awards can be as it nears five decades of championing new music.”
The BRIT Awards have been held in London’s O2 Arena for the 15 ceremonies. Charli XCX swept the BRIT Awards 2025, taking home five awards and thanking dance artists who inspired her vision for ‘Brat‘, among them her late collaborator SOPHIE. Check out the full list of winners here.
Among the performers on the night were Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, JADE, Teddy Swims, The Last Dinner Party, Myles Smith, Lola Young, Ezra Collective and Jorja Smith.
Last month, another cornerstone of the UK awards circuit, the Mercury Prize, announced its relocation to Newcastle later this year. The 2025 event will be held on October 16 at the city’s Utilita Arena. The Mercury Prize’s move also signifies its first time leaving the capital in 31 years. The shortlist of the 12 albums of the year will be revealed on September 10.
More details about the week of Mercury Prize events will be confirmed at a later date, and tickets to the awards ceremony are available here.