BRIT Awards 2026 review – Inside electric Co-op Live Manchester debut

It’s taken you more than four decades to move up north – but was it worth the wait?

As host Jack Whitehall joked opening the show at Co-op Live on Saturday night: “Yes, the Brits have done what most people have to do in their 40s – we’ve moved out of London!

“And for the first time ever, we are coming to you live from the home of Britpop, rave music and Mick Hucknall – the G spot of the North – Manchester!”

Noel Gallagher during the Brit Awards 2026 at Co-op Live, Manchester (Image: Doug Peters/PA Wire)

Let me park my nostalgic Brit-fan self for a moment. I’ve watched this show on TV for as long as I can remember, and you’re never going to beat Jarvis Cocker invading Michael Jackson’s performance of Earth Song in 1996, or Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack ‘tea towel’ dress the year after.

But my goodness — Manchester gave it a go.

Shaun Ryder and Bez (left) present the award for group of the year (Image: Doug Peters)

From the moment guests poured into the arena, dressed to the nines — women in sweeping gowns, fellas suited and booted — it felt like an occasion. Wine was flowing (at £37 a bottle, no less), and there was a sense we were witnessing something historic.

It feels like a lifetime ago that Co-op Live was beset by teething problems, forcing Bolton’s own Peter Kay to delay his tour before the venue had properly opened. Now? It’s a world-class arena, more than fit to host a show watched by millions.

Dua Lipa performs during the Brit Awards 2026 at Co-op Live, Manchester (Image: Doug Peters)

The production was slick, the staging was ambitious. And Jack Whitehall was on fine form — delivering genuine laugh-out-loud moments while steering a live broadcast of this magnitude. It’s a skill. Just ask Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood.

Co-op Live shareholder Harry Styles opening the night felt symbolic — as though Manchester wasn’t just hosting the Brits, it was claiming them.

If I had to pick a highlight — and there were many — it would be Rosalía being joined on stage by Björk for a performance of Berghain. It was unexpected and utterly commanding. Rosalía later collected International Act, capping a huge year.

Rosalia with the International Artist of the Year award (Image: Ian West)

Elsewhere, Shaun Ryder and Bez brought a blast of Little Hulton chaos, while Dua Lipa’s surprise appearance during Mark Ronson’s Outstanding Contribution medley lifted the arena another notch.

There were moments of edge, too. Noel Gallagher drew boos after shouting “up the f***ing blues” in support of Manchester City when collecting Songwriter of the Year — a reminder that this city’s rivalries run deep.

One of the most poignant segments of the night honoured Ozzy Osbourne, remembered by wife Sharon and daughter Kelly as “authentic, gifted and unpredictable.” A powerful tribute performance followed, fronted by Robbie Williams, celebrating a true giant of British music.

Kelly Osbourne (left) and Sharon Osbourne receive the lifetime award on behalf of Ozzy Osbourne (Image: Doug Peters)

Among the night’s big winners, Olivia Dean capped a breakout year by taking home the most awards — confirmation that British pop’s next generation has firmly arrived.

Perhaps the only wobble came during Sombr’s performance of Undressed, when a man appeared to shove the Gen Z rocker off a raised platform. Security intervened swiftly, and it was later confirmed the incident had been a stunt. But then again — what would the Brits be without at least a flicker of controversy?

Sombr performs during the Brit Awards 2026 at Co-op Live (Image: Doug Peters)

With 10 performances spread across five stages, this was one of the biggest and boldest editions of the Brits in recent memory.

After nearly 50 years of waiting, Manchester didn’t just host the BRIT Awards.

It owned them.

Same again next year?

Full list of winners at the 2026 Brit Awards

Olivia Dean with her four Brit Awards (Image: Ian West)

Artist of the year: Olivia Dean

Group of the year: Wolf Alice

Wolf Alice performs at Co-op Live, Manchester (Image: Doug Peters)

Album of the year: Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving

Breakthrough artist of the year: Lola Young

International artist of the year: Rosalia

International group of the year: Geese

Song of the year: Sam Fender and Olivia Dean – Rein Me In

Robbie Williams (left) presents the Song of the Year award to Sam Fender and Olivia Dean for Rein Me In (Image: Doug Peters)

International song of the year: Rose and Bruno Mars – APT

Alternative and rock act: Sam Fender

Pop act: Olivia Dean

Hip hop, grime and rap act: Dave

R&B act: SAULT

Dance act: Fred Again, PlaqueBoyMax, and Skepta

Songwriter of the year: Noel Gallagher

Outstanding contribution to music: Mark Ronson

Dua Lipa peforms with Mark Ronson during the Brit Awards (Image: Doug Peters)

Producer of the year: PinkPantheress

Lifetime achievement award: Ozzy Osbourne

Brit Critics’ Choice Award: Jacob Alon