BRITs Return to Manchester
50th BRIT Awards Return to Manchester February 27, 2027, Building on 2026 Success and Local Impact.
Key Points
BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE said the BRITs return is meant to “continue celebrating and championing music and creativity to a global audience,” adding that Manchester had “truly welcomed and embraced us with open arms,” and looking to “further developing our cultural impact across the UK and in Manchester itself.”
The move to Manchester in 2026 marked the first time in the BRIT Awards’ “48-year history” that the show left London, with ITV previously confirming the awards would be staged in Manchester for the next two years.
For 2026, the show was presented by Jack Whitehall, and Olivia Dean was the night’s biggest winner with four wins including Album of the Year.
Robbie Williams closed the 2026 ceremony with a special Ozzy Osbourne tribute, performing “No More Tears.”
Among the 2026 performances, sources noted HUNTR/X’s singing voices from Netflix’s global hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” highlighting the show’s blend of mainstream pop and multimedia franchises.
The BRIT Awards will return to Manchester's Co-op Live on Saturday, February 27, 2027 — the 50th anniversary of the show's first television broadcast, according to NME and Rolling Stone UK. It will be the second straight year the ceremony takes place outside London, following the landmark 2026 show that drew over 423 million social media views in a single week.
The show will air on ITV1 and ITVX in a prime-time weekend slot. Stacey Tang, co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, returns as chair of the BRIT Committee. She said she is "excited to build on that global success while pushing the show creatively," per Digital Spy.
Manchester Cements Its Place as Britain's Music Capital
For nearly 50 years, the BRITs were held in London. The 2026 show changed that. It was the first time in the awards' 48-year history that the ceremony left the capital, according to Radio X. The move was spearheaded by Sony Music UK as part of a two-year deal to host the event at Co-op Live.
BPI CEO Dr Jo Twist OBE said Manchester had "truly welcomed and embraced us with open arms" and that the organisation is focused on "further developing our cultural impact across the UK and in Manchester itself." Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig added that the awards delivered a cash boost to the local economy and reached students across Greater Manchester schools.
2026 Show Broke Records on Screen and Online
The 2026 ceremony set a high bar for the 50th edition to beat. Digital engagement hit 250 million organic views in the 48 hours after the show — a 275% jump from 2025. Total weekly social views reached 423 million, according to BPI data cited by Headliner Hub. ITVX streams topped 2 million, up 60% year-on-year.
The show captured a 49% share of the 16-34 TV audience — the highest of any commercial programme in 2026. Olivia Dean was the night's biggest winner, taking home four awards including Album of the Year. Host Jack Whitehall presented, and Robbie Williams closed the night with a tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, performing "No More Tears."
BRITs Week Raised a Record £1.16 Million for War Child
Beyond the main ceremony, BRITs Week for War Child wrapped up in April 2026 with a record haul of £1.16 million raised across 12 gigs, per Official Charts. That brought the total raised for the charity since 2009 to £9.16 million. A wider Manchester cultural programme — the BRITs Fringe — offered free workshops and events for young people aged 16 to 24.
The economic footprint was just as large. The 2026 event injected an estimated £4 million to £5 million into the local economy. Hotel prices rose 43% during the event weekend, and the average visitor spent around £500 in the city.
What the 50th Anniversary Show Needs to Prove
The 2027 show carries the weight of a milestone. Organisers must prove the Manchester move is more than a two-year trend. The 2027 BRIT Committee, which includes reps from all of the UK's major labels, will oversee creative direction, per Official Charts. Expanded BRITs Fringe programming is expected, with new partnerships with the School of Digital Arts and the Royal Northern College of Music.
The 2026 ceremony also set a political tone. Winners used their speeches to address issues including Gaza and domestic UK politics. With the 50th anniversary adding extra visibility, the 2027 show is likely to face even greater scrutiny — both as a cultural landmark and a platform for artists to speak out.
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