A new era for The BRITs beckons, as the UK’s biggest music awards ceremony moves out of the capital for the first time.

The UK’s biggest night in music is heading north, as The BRIT Awards announced it will be taking place in Manchester on February 28 earlier this year. For both 2026 and 2027, the prestigious ceremony will call the Co-op Live its home, marking the first time in nearly 50 years the event has moved outside London.

 

This era is being shaped by a new Chair of The BRITs Committee, Stacey Tang, who will bring a distinctive creative direction to the show. As co-President of RCA Records, Stacey’s leadership reflects The BRITs’ new partnership with SONY. On the responsibility, Stacey reflects, “being inspired by the spectacle and show as a young person, now motivates me to create something that feels important nationally and globally, while capturing the brilliant and eccentric nuance of British music and culture.” 

 

Signifying a further inspired shift, The BRITs reveals its 2026 creative crew of industry icons, including Misty Buckley, Phil Heyes, Sally Wood and Maggie Crowe. Each retaining their own acclaimed accolades, the team of innovative minds will bring their ferocious energy to the show’s production, ensuring another spectacular year. 

 

Always evolving with the ever-changing music industry, The BRITs has adapted the award categories and criteria this year. Some category names will change, such as the Best New Artist award becoming Breakthrough Artist, acknowledging a musician’s long-term journey and career progression. Other changes include that, for Artist of the Year, International Artist of the Year, Mastercard Album of the Year, Group of the Year, International Group of the Year, an artist will need to have achieved either a Top 30 Album or two Top 20 singles in the eligibility period.

 

The move to Manchester gives The Brits a brand-new opportunity to reinvent itself and embrace change. Stacey Tang hopes it allows the brand to maintain its upwards trajectory and growing impact: “To oversee a show that’s doing something for the first time feels energising but ultimately, we also want to inject fun into the proceedings … and people in Manchester know how to have fun!”

 

With many changes that promote The BRITs’ core values, next year’s ceremony is shaping up to be one for the books.