Dua Lipa Leads Stars at Warner Music & Hennessy BRITs Afterparty in Manchester
dua lipa led the stars at the Warner Music & Hennessy BRIT Awards afterparty at Cut and Craft in Manchester on Saturday evening, turning up in a sculpted black corset and figure-hugging skirt after a surprise performance at the nearby Co-op Live Arena.
A train to Manchester and a 24 Hour Poodles Party
Warner kicked off celebrations on Saturday, February 28, by boarding the British Pullman train from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly so guests could make it to the BRITs at Co-op Live; passengers on that run included Beth Ditto, Bluebell Horner, Nick Grimshaw, Jaime Winston and Lennon Gallagher. The afterparty at Cut and Craft on Mosley Street occupied a Grade II* listed former banking hall and was themed as a 24 Hour Poodles Party, with a five-metre-tall poodle installation at the entrance, oversized poodle inflatables, marble finishes, glam bots and a specially laid poodle-motif carpet.
Dua Lipa's surprise BRITs appearance
Dua Lipa, who is 30, made a surprise appearance at the BRITs ceremony at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena and then led the guest list at the Warner Music & Hennessy afterparty at Cut and Craft later that evening. She added diamond chandelier earrings and matching bracelets to the sculpted black corset and finished the look with glam make-up.
Onstage moments: Mark Ronson, Ghostface Killah and more
Mark Ronson was recognised at the BRITs with an Outstanding Contribution to Music honour and delivered a career-spanning set that began with Ghostface Killah for the 2003 hit "Ooh Wee. " Ronson referenced meeting Amy Winehouse, saying that on Thursday March 6 it would be 20 years to the day since she came up to his studio in New York City, recalled their four-hour meeting that led to writing "Back To Black, " and then paid tribute with a rendition of that song before inviting the Dap-Kings onstage to perform "Valerie. " Later in the night, dua lipa joined Ronson to perform "Dance The Night" from the Barbie soundtrack and the single "Electricity. "
A star-studded guest list and DJ sets
The invite-only bash featured a wide list of attendees including Gene Gallagher, Vogue Williams, Cush Jumbo, Archie Madekwe, Munya Chawawa and AJ Odudu, who wore a bejewelled bodice. Groove Armada, G2, Dua Lipa’s brother Gjin Lipa with Tommy Gold, and Romeo Beckham’s DJ girlfriend Kim Turnbull took turns on the decks, while Manchester collective Suns of Acid — made up of Happy Mondays star Bez’s sons Arlo and Jack — hosted a hedonistic basement takeover. Bez was also in attendance alongside Megan McKenna, Kojey Radical, Celeste, Jamie Laing, Beth Ditto, Ms. Banks, Talia Storm, Montana Brown, Sheila Atim and Amber-Rose Gill.
Style, drink and theatrical touches at Cut and Craft
The venue was transformed with immersive L-Acoustics sound design and surreal, club-inspired interiors; archival images of cultural icons with their dogs included Davie Bowie and Winston Churchill. Warner partnered with 1X to bring humanoid robots that greeted guests and danced on the red carpet. Guests drank Champagne and bespoke Hennessy cocktails including Hennessy Paradis, the signature Henny-Rita, Hennessy X. O Espresso Martini and Hennessy Iced Tea, sipped Manchester-inspired canapés and admired an illuminated bottle display, and were treated to a selection (unclear in the provided context).
BRITs winners, historic firsts and headline performances
The 46th edition of the BRIT Awards took place at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena for the first time in the show's history on Saturday. The ceremony featured performances from Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Mark Ronson, and marked Harry Styles’ first public performance in three years. Olivia Dean, 26, swept the evening with four wins: Best Artist, Best Album, Best Song and Best Pop Act, and she won Song of the Year for "Rein Me In" with Sam Fender while also being nominated in Song of the Year for "Man I Need. " Olivia is noted as the first woman to claim the UK's No 1 single and album in the same week since Adele in 2021, with "Man I Need" and The Art Of Loving released in 2025. Noel Gallagher attended following Oasis’ Live '25 reunion tour and was awarded Songwriter Of The Year; PinkPantheress is the youngest recipient and first female win.
The event coverage carried the byline 00: 52 GMT 01 Mar 2026 and was updated at 20: 45 GMT 01 Mar 2026 by Geraint Llewellyn, showbusiness reporter.
Next on the calendar: recovery and wrap for the afterparty at Cut and Craft and continued BRITs activity at Co-op Live as organisers and performers move on from the Manchester weekend.
