After nearly half a century of London dominance, the BRIT Awards are finally heading north. Manchester — that scrappy, musical powerhouse of a city — is set to host Britain’s biggest music ceremony in 2026 and 2027. About time, really.
The announcement’s already causing quite a stir in industry circles. Some London-based execs are probably choking on their flat whites, but let’s be honest — this shake-up feels long overdue. Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena (the biggest indoor venue in the UK, by the way) seems like the perfect spot to breathe fresh life into an institution that’s been getting a bit, well, predictable.
“This is a massive coup for Greater Manchester,” beams Andy Burnham, the city’s metro mayor. He’s not wrong — though calling Manchester “the UK capital of music and culture” might ruffle a few feathers down south. Then again, when you’ve given the world everything from Joy Division’s moody post-punk to Oasis’s swagger-filled anthems, you’ve earned the right to brag a bit.
Speaking of Oasis… The timing couldn’t be better. Just as Manchester gears up for what’s surely going to be 2025’s most talked-about reunion (those five nights at Heaton Park), the city’s nabbed itself the hosting rights to Britain’s premier music awards. Coincidence? Maybe not.
The industry bigwigs are putting on their best diplomatic faces. Jason Iley MBE, Sony Music UK & Ireland’s head honcho, talks about “invigorating the show” and building on the BRITs legacy. But reading between the lines, there’s a sense that everyone knows this move is about more than just changing postcodes.
Co-op Live isn’t just another soulless arena, mind you. Fresh from hosting the MTV EMAs and barely getting its feet wet in the venue game, it’s already proving itself a proper contender. Tim Leiweke from Oak View Group (the venue’s owners) couldn’t hide his excitement about landing “the most important music event in the UK.”
Here’s the thing about London’s grip on the music industry — it’s been tight. Too tight, some might say. One industry insider hit the nail on the head: “London has a bit of a stranglehold on the music industry with the majority of record labels being based there.” This move north? It’s a proper shake-up of the status quo.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 28, 2026. That’s when ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player will broadcast this historic shift live across the nation. Who knows? Maybe this’ll open the floodgates for other cities to get their shot at hosting in the future. Birmingham? Glasgow? Liverpool? The possibilities are endless.
Dr. Jo Twist OBE summed it up rather nicely: the BRITs have always been about telling British music’s story in all its messy, brilliant diversity. Moving to Manchester? That’s just adding another fascinating chapter to the tale.
In a city that gave us “24 Hour Party People” and some of the most memorable tunes in British history, the BRITs might just find their groove again. After all, if there’s one thing Manchester knows how to do, it’s throw a proper party. London’s loss might just be everyone else’s gain.
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