Brits 2026: Manchester hosts first ceremony outside London as stars converge
Tonight’s brits 2026 moves the landmark ceremony north for the first time and brings a packed schedule of performances, red‑carpet looks and fringe events that organisers say reflect a broader shift in the UK music scene.
Big names and leading nominees arrive in Manchester
Manchester is expecting a roll call that includes Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Sam Fender, Lola Young, Lily Allen, Ed Sheeran, Raye and Robbie Williams. Olivia Dean and Lola Young, both Londoners, head the nominations with five apiece, and Raye could add an eighth and ninth Brit to her collection at the ceremony.
The shortlist is eclectic: Lily Allen’s bitter break‑up album West End Girl is recognised, songs from the movie musicals Wicked and KPop Demon Hunters appear on nomination lists, and the resurgent Britpop band Pulp have landed a best group nomination. Olivia Dean’s single "Man I Need" and Lola Young’s "Messy" were among some of 2025’s best‑selling singles and could help secure them trophies.
Harry Styles to perform "Aperture" and join Jack Whitehall sketch
Harry Styles will give the first live performance of music from his fourth album, marking his return to the Brits three years after he last played. At that earlier ceremony he performed "As It Was", sprinted around the O2 Arena in a spangly red suit jacket and left with four trophies, including album of the year.
This year he will perform "Aperture", described in the shortlist copy as a clubby, hypnotic single from his forthcoming record Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally. Details are being kept under wraps: "closed door rehearsals" at Manchester's Co‑Op Arena are barring everyone but essential staff. Styles will also appear in a sketch with host Jack Whitehall. Whitehall said, "I had to send over a couple of ideas, because I don't think the first few were appropriate. There was one that was me trekking for days trying to find him and he'd been living in a hut and he looked like Hagrid, and then it had me shaving him. " There is hope he will recreate parts of the "Aperture" music video — a massive brawl with a stalker that slowly turns into a dance routine, during which Styles is hoisted into the sky like Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing — but production plans remain secret.
Brits 2026 in Co‑op Live arena and the city’s fringe programme
The ceremony is the 46th edition and the first time the event has been held outside London since the awards began in 1977. The move to the Co‑op Live arena was framed by the Brit awards chair Stacey Tang as an attempt to recognise the geographical diversity of the UK’s music talent. Tang said: "Creativity doesn’t happen in one postcode in the UK … so the idea that the biggest night in music should always be in London, I think, is ageing out. " She described Manchester’s approach from the local authority and from Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, as "really different" and added, "They’ve just really opened up the city. "
Visitors have been spotting a temporary Olivia Deansgate station sign and posing for selfies in front of the tribute to the chart‑busting musician, a small sign of how Manchester is embracing the arrival of the awards on Saturday. Organisers have been running a fringe programme featuring work with grassroots artists and intimate shows by pop stars including Olivia Dean and Robbie Williams in aid of the charity War Child.
Industry voices point to a longer shift and northern momentum
Stacey Tang is also a co‑president of RCA Records, part of Sony, and said Manchester has a creative positivity that is not always shown in London: "The investment that’s being made in Manchester, the kinetic energy around the city is really palpable, " she said. "There’s always something that you can go to, meet other people who are like‑minded, but also feel like ‘oh, wow, I belong in this city', regardless of whether you live there or not. "
Jo Twist, chief executive of the BPI, said research shows Manchester has consistently been the UK’s top location for producing chart‑toppers and argued the industry has started to do more to find talent locally and support ecosystems on their doorsteps. Twist pointed to the decision behind moving the Mercury prize to Newcastle last year for the first time, after the Leeds band English Teacher broke a decade‑long streak of London winners in 2024. The 2025 prize went to Sam Fender, North Shields born and raised, who celebrated in his home city.
Scott Lewis, label manager at EMI North in Leeds, spent the week running workshops with up‑and‑coming artists, offering advice on how to approach labels and sharing feedback on demos. He said, "I do believe in the adage ‘if you can see it, you can be it'. " His role was established in 2023 at what was the first major label office outside London, intended to recognise that it can be harder for northern musicians to get a look‑in. The provided context cuts off mid‑sentence and is unclear in the provided context.
Red carpet fashion and a glamour‑filled night
The red carpet is set to be a major talking point, with fashion taking centre stage even as the ceremony celebrates the best music of the past year. An arts and entertainment reporter, Bethany Minelle, noted that with the star list and the move to a brand new home at Co‑op Live, the night is guaranteed to be glamour‑filled as outfits arrive ahead of the ceremony.
