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Why the Brit Awards Are Leaving London After Nearly 50 Years

This change it’s also part of a wider effort to decentralize cultural events across the UK

The Brit Awards have been held in London for the past 48 years. From the Royal Albert Hall to the O2 Arena, the British capital has long been the heart of this annual celebration honoring the best in pop, rock, and urban music from the UK. But now, organizers have decided it’s time to take the show beyond London and spotlight other regions with deep musical roots.

For the first time in nearly five decades, the 2026 and 2027 editions of the Brit Awards will take place at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. It’s a landmark move for one of the most prestigious events in British music.

So, why Manchester? The city has been home to some of the UK’s most iconic acts—like Oasis, Joy Division, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, and more recently, The 1975 and Aitch. This legacy played a big role in choosing Manchester as the new host city.

The Co-op Live Arena is a cutting-edge venue with space for more than 23,000 fans. Its launch has already made a big impact on the cultural scene in the north of England. And hosting the Brit Awards for two years in a row further cements its status as one of Europe’s top music venues.

Beyond the Brit Awards

This change of venue isn’t just symbolic—it’s part of a wider effort to decentralize cultural events across the UK. Recently, the Mercury Prize also announced a move to the north, with its next edition set to take place in Newcastle. These shifts reflect a growing push to diversify the country’s cultural offerings and support artistic and economic growth in other regions.

The 2026 Brit Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 28 and will be broadcast on ITV and the official Brit Awards YouTube channel. While the event will keep the glamour and production quality of previous years, hosting it in Manchester promises to bring a fresh perspective and new energy.

Brit Awards 2025 Winners
Charli xcx attends The BRIT Awards 2025 at Intercontinental London – The O2, on March 01, 2025 in London, England. (Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

With this move, the Brit Awards are not only celebrating a city with a vibrant musical legacy. They’re also sending a clear message: British music belongs to the whole nation, and its biggest celebration should reflect that cultural and geographic richness.