A bold, citywide cultural programme is set to take over Manchester as the countdown continues to the biggest night in British music, the BRIT Awards. The excitement is palpable across the city and wider North West region as it gears up to celebrate the BRITs’ debut show in its new Manchester home, the Co-op Live, on Saturday 28th February, when the world’s biggest stars arrive for a jam-packed show.
From a curated art trail championing North West artists to a bespoke exhibition showcasing iconic music artwork; with new details announced for FRINGE LAB, and a number of BRITs Week shows taking place in Manchester; alongside an in-conversation event with one of Manchester’s musical pioneers to a special zine celebrating the BRITs and the city; plus free tram travel for BRITs ticketholders – this calendar of activity will transform the city into a cultural playground and place Manchester at the heart of the BRITs.
The BRITs Art Trail
Thursday 12th February – Monday 16th March
Curated by renowned Manchester artist Stanley Chow and produced by local creative producers Wild in Art, this citywide art trail will bring Manchester’s streets to life across the Northern Quarter and Ancoats from Thursday 12th February. Featuring work from 21 North West artists, the trail will unfold across striking wall murals, immersive window installations and bold billboard takeovers, transforming everyday city spaces into an open air gallery.
BRITs Art Trail map
The art trail will feature:
- Stanley Chow
- Kim Thompson
- The Hammo
- Jay Sharples
- Oskar with a K
- Clare Birtwistle
- Caroline Dowsett
- Pete Obsolete
- Qubek
- Jonathan Edwards
- Rick Hyde Studio
- Florence Burns
- David Bailey
- Daren Newman
- himHallows
- Jessica Lee
- Luke Insect
- Charlie Cross
- Barney Ibbotson
- Dotto
- Bed Studio
Stanley Chow said: “I’m immensely proud to be asked to curate the Art Trail around The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard in Manchester, especially as a proud Manc. It also gives me great pleasure to showcase some of the great artistic talents we have in the North-West too.”
You can also look forward to:
Tuesday 17th February – Sunday 1st March: A Microdot Design by Brian Cannon, pop-up retrospective exhibition
📍 Manchester Piccadilly Station, 12-6pm
Friday 20th February – The Rodeo BRITs special edition zine
📍 Selected locations (UNITOM, Piccadilly Records, Night & Day Cafe, The Rat & Pigeon, Fred Aldous, Ezra & Gil, The Bay Horse Tavern, Cane & Grain, Smithfield Social, Jimmy’s, Pollen, Cloudwater)
Friday 27th February – FRINGE LAB
Daytime line-up featuring YolanDa Brown OBE DL, Jamz Supernova (BBC 6 Music), Rich Castillo (Lionbear Music), The Lottery Winners, Donae’O, Zed Bias, Låpsley, Sam Potts (AWAL), Scott Lewis (EMI North) and Mark Lippmann (Scruff of the Neck).
📍 New Century Hall
You can find out more about each activity and see how the BRITs is taking over Manchester here.