The 2026 ceremony at Co-op Live also generated more than 15,000 days of employment across Manchester...
The BRIT Awards generated an estimated £5 million in additional spending in Manchester when the ceremony moved to the city for the first time earlier this year, according to a new independent report.
The awards took place at Co-op Live on 28 February 2026, marking the first time in the event’s nearly 50-year history that it had been staged outside London.
Analysis by AMION Consulting found the event generated £5 million in net additional expenditure in Manchester, including £3.6 million in visitor spending and £1.4 million from organisers and partners.
The study also calculated £3.45 million in Gross Value Added and found that 3,099 one-week temporary jobs were created, equivalent to 15,497 days of employment for Manchester-based workers.
Ticket income was excluded from the economic assessment, while spending outside Manchester and Greater Manchester was also removed from the figures.
Alongside the main awards ceremony, a wider programme took place across the city, including BRITs Week gigs, the first BRITs Fringe, educational events, an art trail, industry networking and community projects.
Almost 25,000 people attended the awards and associated events, with 12,850 – around 52% of the overall audience – attending parts of the wider programme rather than the ceremony itself.
The study also estimated £11.2 million in ‘monetised social impact’, assessing areas including cultural participation, wellbeing, civic pride, digital engagement and Manchester’s profile as a destination for major events.
Stacey Tang, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK and Chair of the BRITs Committee, said: “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. Music can connect people and shape culture, but it also creates jobs, drives investment and inspires future careers.
“This report captures both sides of that story – the economic impact and the human impact. That’s what makes this such an exciting foundation to build on for the future.”
The 2026 ceremony featured performances from Harry Styles, Mark Ronson, Olivia Dean, ROSALÍA, RAYE, Wolf Alice and EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, the singing voices behind HUNTR/X.
Elsewhere, BRITs Week for War Child staged gigs around the UK featuring artists including Robbie Williams, Olivia Dean, Jacob Alon, Myles Smith and Lambrini Girls, raising £1.16 million for the charity.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said: “Manchester is known throughout the world for its incredible music scene, and bringing the BRIT Awards here for the first time was a massive moment for our city region. 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.
“Events like these bring millions of pounds into our economy and boost our culture and hospitality industries, but they’re also about creating opportunities and inspiring people here with major events in world-class venues right on their doorstep.
“We’ve done it once in style, and we’ll do it again next year. I’m excited to help make 2027 an even bigger year for The BRITs, celebrating our thriving music scene and showcasing the creativity, talent and ambition that make this place so special.”
The BRIT Awards will return to Co-op Live on Saturday 27 February 2027, with the ceremony again broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX.
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