BRIT AWARDS MOVE TO MANCHESTER GENERATED £5M, STUDY FINDS

An independent study by Amion Consulting has found that moving the BRIT Awards to Manchester for its 2026 ceremony generated £5 million in net additional expenditure for the city and surrounding region. The ceremony marked the first time in the awards' nearly 50-year history that it was held outside London. It took place at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on 28 February, hosted by Jack Whitehall and featuring performances from Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Raye and Mark Ronson. The study found £3.6 million of the total came from visitor spending in the city.

The research also found that the event supported 3,099 one-week temporary jobs for Manchester-based workers, equivalent to 15,497 days of employment, and added £3.45 million in gross value to the local economy. Almost 25,000 people attended the award show and related events staged across the city. The study rated audience feedback as "overwhelmingly positive", with 92% of award show attendees rating their experience as excellent or good. Researchers said the event's wider social impact, when monetised, was worth £11.2 million.

Greater Manchester mayor Bev Craig said hosting the ceremony recognised the city's "unmatched music heritage" and its ability to stage major national events. Manchester City Council leader Garry Bridges described the 2026 show as "phenomenally successful", saying its impact was still being felt in communities across the city. Stacey Tang, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK and chair of the BRITs Committee, said the move brought jobs, investment and wider opportunities beyond simply relocating the ceremony. The BRIT Awards are scheduled to return to Manchester for the 2027 ceremony, due to take place on Saturday 27 February.