It’s an unavoidable fact that Manchester welcomes the BRIT Awards for the first time ever this weekend, with a roster of incredible performers and nominees set to grace the red carpet. The biggest names in music will be in our city for one night only, including Olivia Dean, Mark Ronson, ROSALÍA, Wolf Alice and of course our very own Harry Styles, but what does this landmark event mean for Manchester, both in the long and short term?
We’ve been spotting custom pieces of street art leading up to the big day, an increase in visitors and gigs surrounding the event, and more attention from the rest of the country – and world for that matter – so is this a sign of things to come from Manchester’s two-year hold on the BRIT Awards?
Visitor increase & spending at local businesses
Similarly to the ‘Oasis Effect‘ Manchester saw during the iconic reunion of 2025, the city is set to see an increase in visitor numbers, and spending at local businesses. Meals, stays, activities, drinks, coffee, and a good night out are all things visitors will look for, whether they’re in town for the BRIT Awards ceremony or just to soak up the unique atmosphere that’s got us buzzing.
Plus, when we’re not being tourists in our own city, visitors will make up the majority of visual content and word of mouth about Manchester, amplifying the local shops, cafes and restaurants they visit, prompting a longer term positive effect than tourists visiting just once.
Worldwide attention
With this in mind, British music has always been a favourite worldwide – whether it be The Beatles, The Smiths, Elton John, Black Sabbath or the likes of Olivia Dean – and is now on an upward trajectory once again, giving the viewership of the BRIT Awards a boost. With Manchester being front and centre of this year’s ceremony, this brings the eyes of the world onto us, giving Manchester the chance to showcase its prowess as the deeply musical and culturally rich city it is, whilst reaching more eyes than ever before.
In this way, it doesn’t matter so much whether people are physically flocking to Manchester right now, but the place it will hold in the minds of viewers and music fans is paramount. It establishes the city as the place to be, especially if you’re into your music.
Celebrity attention
At an award show like the BRITs, it’s pretty likely that plenty of the attending celebrities will fit into the following categories: never been to Manchester; been to Manchester but never seen anywhere outside of a venue; or been to Manchester without understanding its cultural significance. Although we appreciate those that fall into the hidden fourth category of ‘been to Manchester, fully understand and love it’, those in the first three are who really help us.
With such a huge event being held here, it forces the musicians and surrounding associates to take in what Manchester really means, particularly through the lens of music. Some may still leave Co-op Live without having seen much more than the inside of the arena and the tarmac between it and their waiting car, but for many, that same seed of interest will undoubtedly be planted, encouraging celebrities to return to Manchester, hopefully with an understanding of the place, bringing their fans with them.
Why the BRITs had to move to Manchester
Of course, the BRITs didn’t have to move to Manchester, but we happen to think it was a pretty good decision. Having been held in London for the entirety of its history – since 1977 – the BRITs could be accused of falling into stereotypes, not just about British music, but Britain itself. A move was inevitable if the Awards were to ever explore the ever-changing face of British music, and in turn, Britain.
With the BRITs being held at Manchester’s shiny new Co-op Live, and a new approach to plenty of the mechanisms behind the show, including inviting students from the city’s universities to populate the standing area, and the UK-wide induction of BRITs Week, it signifies a freshening of the Awards, not just in physical location, but in mentality.
For Manchester, hosting the BRITs is nothing but a positive step towards appreciating what the city brings – and has brought – to the table, in the UK and worldwide, alongside working to decentralise the idea of what it is to be British.