After almost five decades of the BRIT Awards being presented in London, 2026 marks an historic two-year move to Manchester. The unexpected venue change, set for the 28th of February, is spearheaded by Sony Music UK as they take on a three-year-long stewardship of the event, looking to leave their mark. But why Manchester and what does the decision reveal about the Northern music scene?
It’s no coincidence that the BRITs announced their move to the North a mere month before the first of the long-awaited Oasis reunion tour concerts. The Manchester-based band inspired global excitement with their announcement back in 2024, putting Manchester back on the map as a focal point of the global music scene.
But Oasis are far from the first Northern band to capture the ears of the country. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Manchester became known for its characteristic blend of indie rock, dance music and psychedelia, landing the ‘Madchester’ name. Bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays rose to fame and Factory Records (an independent local label) signed some of the greatest Northern bands of the decade.
Beyond the region and period of ‘Madchester’, the Beatles took the 60s by storm with their Liverpudlian charm, essential to the British takeover of the American charts. Pulp and The Human League from Sheffield, The Beautiful South from Hull, and The Verve from Wigan followed suit throughout the late 20th century. All of these leading pop culture figures, of course, formed hours away from the London-based BRIT Awards ceremony.
Today, the Northern music scene shows no sign of slowing down with the iconic Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, and Kaiser Chiefs becoming a staple on Spotify playlists up and down the country. Post reunion, Oasis have come back with a vengeance, recently averaging 5.8 million streams per day and reminding us of Manchester’s true position in the British music hall of fame. The BRIT awards are finally coming home.
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With an excellent musical legacy, all that’s left is the perfect venue. The shiny, new Co-op Live arena certainly fits the bill. Despite its infamous rocky start, the arena has since overcome its teething issues and has now been going strong for over a year and a half. As the UK’s largest entertainment arena, the Co-op live continually offers previously unheard-of opportunities for the North of England. Giant concerts like never before, and now the BRIT awards- what better place to hold a global event? With its reportedly incredible lighting and sound quality, we can expect a BRITs presentation like no other.
So, maybe it’s not why Manchester, but why not Manchester earlier? It’s no secret that the North-South divide dominates so many parts of British culture, so let’s not allow the same for the music industry. Ultimately, this two-year commitment could bridge the gap, finally recognise the Northern music industry for what it is: a foundational pillar of British music. It’s about damn time.
