BRIT Awards moving to Manchester in 2026 after almost 50 years in London
The BRIT Awards will no longer be hosted at London's The O2 as of 2026.
The BRIT Awards with Mastercard is moving from London to Manchester after almost 50 years.
The prestigious music ceremony has been held in the British capital since 1977 and first took place at the Wembley Conference Centre,before relocating to various prestigious venues over the years, including the Royal Albert Hall and Hammersmith Apollo.
In recent years, it has been hosted at The O2 arena.
However, on February 28, 2026, the BRITs will be staged at the Co-op Live in Manchester.
Manchester has taken over as MediaCityUK in recent years with corporations like the BBC moving their operations from London to reduce costs and better represent audiences across the UK.
The move to Manchester also excited fans of local legends Oasis, especially after frontman Liam Gallagher jokingly teased a big announcement at 6.30am on Monday (09.06.25) with many X users suggesting it could be related to the BRITs heading to the city.
The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday February 28, and be broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
The bash will remain at Co-op Live until at least 2027.
The move has been spearheaded by Sony Music UK.
Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK and 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 Andy Burnhamfectly 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 commented: "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 sCharli xcxou caSabrina Carpenter.will help them do it in style.”
The 2025 ceremony featured performances from the past year's biggest stars, including Charli xcx and Sabrina Carpenter.
