BRIT Awards 2026 delivered £5 million boost to Manchester economy

It was a "massive moment for the city region," says Manchester Mayor Bev Craig

This year's BRIT Awards injected £5 million into the Manchester economy, an independent study has found.

British music's biggest night took place outside London for the first time this year. Held at Manchester's Co-op Live on Saturday, 28 February, it delivered £3.6 million in visitor expenditure and £1.4 million in organiser and partner expenditure to the city.

The independent study conducted by AMION Consulting also found that the BRIT Awards provided over 15,000 days of employment during its first year in Manchester – another boost for the region.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, said in a press release that "bringing the BRIT Awards here for the first time was a massive moment for our city region".

She added: "It was a recognition not only of our unmatched music heritage, but our growing reputation for putting on national and global events and making a success of them."

It has already been confirmed that the BRIT Awards will return to Manchester in 2027. Next year's ceremony will take place, once again, at Co-op Live on Saturday, 27 February.

Stacey Tang, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, and Chair of the BRITs Committee said in a press release: "Moving the BRITs to Manchester was about more than moving an awards show. It's about shining a light on the incredible talent and creative communities across the UK, opening up opportunities, and widening participation."