Next year’s prestigious Brit Awards are to be held in the Capital of the North, Manchester, as the awards ceremony vacates its long-standing London home for the very first time. Having been held in London since the awards began in 1977, this bold move to the vibrant Northern city reaffirms the major spotlight Manchester has been in recently.
A historic move
The two-year contract will see Manchester host the Brits in both 2026 and 2027, with the awards’ iconic 50 year celebrations being held in the North.
Both ceremonies will be held at Co-op Live, a new, state-of-the-art indoor arena designed to be the UK’s largest music venue, seating over 23,000 people. With a fan-centric design, and a focus on sustainability, Co-op Live hosts major music concerts, sports events, and soon, the renowned Brit Awards.
The first Brit Awards outside of London will be held on the 28th February 2026.
Unparalleled music heritage
Described by Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, the move is a “massive coup” for the city. Burnham praised Manchester’s “unparalleled music heritage” claiming Manchester would “pull out all the stops” to ensure this iconic event will be a strong success.
Manchester boasts an incredible music landscape, with its rich history and diverse cultural scene producing numerous influential bands and artists. Major musical successes from Manchester include: The Stone Roses, Oasis, Take That, The 1975, The Courteeners, The Smiths and Blossoms, with many of Manchester artists winning multiple Brit awards themselves.
Manchester’s music capital: The Northern Quarter
With a reputation as Manchester’s answer to Brooklyn, this spectacular corner of the city has been the origin of ground-breaking music from some of the world’s biggest artists.
The Northern Quarter is now home to legendary record stores, music-centric bars and intimate concert venues, and remains intrinsically linked to Manchester’s iconic musical identity, drawing a crowd of fans, artists and creatives. Located in the heart of the Northern Quarter is One Port Street, Select Property’s flagship residence that is redefining city living in Manchester.
A landmark city on the global stage
This latest Manchester headline further cements Manchester position as a leading city not only in the UK, but in Europe. The UK’s regional cities are drawing the attention of investors from London, in favour of lower prices, stronger returns and more attractive amenities.
A world-renowned destination, Manchester is a city buzzing with a vibrant art scene, an international football presence and incredible music. Well established as a top investment city in the UK, property in Manchester is in increasingly high demand.
Interested in learning more about Manchester? Contact us and our team of experienced property consultants will be in touch to discuss our current opportunities. Select Property has over 20 years experience as a developer and investment specialist, with an impressive portfolio of developments in Manchester, also the home to our first headquarters. We’re now proud to work with an international investor community, with offices also in Dubai, Shanghai and Hong Kong.