“These events will give local communities a chance to be part of the biggest night in British music, while highlighting the region’s unique culture and talent.”
The BRITs Fringe will include hosted talks as well as live music events in the lead up to the 2026 ceremony(Image: John Marshall – JM Enternational)
Details have been announced of the first-ever fringe events that will take place around The BRIT Awards, as the glitzy music ceremony moves to Manchester for the first time this year. The BRITS Fringe will be dubbed: “Manchester Seen and Heard” as it aims to shine a light on grassroots creativity.
The BRIT Awards ceremony itself will take place at Co-op Live on Saturday, February 28, hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall. The full list of nominations for the British music industry’s biggest night will be anounced via a livestream on Wednesday, January 21 from 5pm.
The BRITs Fringe will see a special celebration at New Century Hall, as well as a number of development events in the week before the awards in February to encourage young people into the music industry while giving up-and-coming artists a platform.
Created to amplify and extend the impact of The BRITs, BRITs Fringe aims to celebrate Greater Manchester’s rich musical heritage, its vibrant contemporary scene and the next generation shaping the future of UK music.
Jack Whitehall will host the BRIT Awards in Manchester(Image: John Marshall – JM Enternational)
Delivered by Brighter Sound, a locally rooted yet globally connected music development organisation – in collaboration with Manchester Music City and supported by Manchester City Council, GMCA and the Manchester Accommodation BID – BRITs Fringe aims to shine a spotlight on Manchester’s dynamic music scene through its programme of events.
At the centre of the celebration is FRINGE LAB, a one-day creative music industry forum, mixer and live showcase at New Century Hall on Friday 27th February, the eve of The BRIT Awards.
Bringing together emerging artists, music professionals and creatives, FRINGE LAB features bold talks, hands-on workshops, immersive masterclasses and high-energy discussions. The day culminates in a public live showcase spotlighting four of Manchester’s potential future BRIT Award winners.
In the days leading up to the awards, Brighter Sound will also deliver BRITs Fringe: First Steps – a trio of targeted development events for young learners aimed at supporting them to pursue careers in the music industry.
New Century Hall will host the BRITs fringe event on February 27(Image: Carl Sukonik | The Vain Photography)
Hosted at Band on the Wall, the School of Digital Arts (SODA) and the Royal Northern College of Music, these sessions aim to inspire, upskill and empower the next generation of Manchester’s music talent.
Extending its reach even further, a collaborative project with Manchester’s music education service will take BRITs Fringe into schools across the city, further encouraging early musical engagement and nurturing creativity at every level.
Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “We’re excited to launch the first programme of BRITs Fringe events, helping to unlock opportunities and reach the creative communities within Manchester.
“The BRIT Awards have a strong history of championing music education, and these events will give local communities a chance to be part of the biggest night in British music, while highlighting the region’s unique culture and talent. I’m grateful for the energy our partners have brought to this remarkable series of events, creating space for the next generation of creative talent.”
Stacey Tang Co-President of RCA Records at Song Music UK, and now, Chair of the 2026 Brits Committee(Image: Supplied)
Kate Lowes, Director at Brighter Sound, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be delivering the very first BRITs Fringe, and it feels especially fitting that it’s happening in Manchester – known for its long history of being a true ‘city of firsts.’ We’re also delighted to be working with a steering group of incredible Greater Manchester creatives and music professionals (made up of representatives from the Manchester Music City network and the Greater Manchester Music Commission) to ensure the BRITs Fringe is rooted in local scenes.
“Brighter Sound has always supported and championed underrepresented creative voices and aims to make music-making accessible, inclusive, and rooted in community. Everything we do is led from the heart, with grassroots creativity at the centre. BRITs Fringe is about ensuring that the energy, ideas, and talent coming from the ground up have a real presence and impact around the BRIT Awards. By creating space for emerging artists, young people, and new voices, we’re helping to shape the next generation of creative talent – while showing how a values-led approach can influence the biggest stages in music.”
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is known the world over for music and for the musical talent that has come out of the city – which is why The BRITs and Manchester are such a perfect fit for each other.
“Music in all its forms makes a massive contribution to the economic wellbeing of the city thanks to an infrastructure that supports both major music artists and local up and coming musicians.
“Our independent music scene is legendary and continues to grow, with well-established networks of support for creatives across the city. This year’s first-ever BRITs Fringe looks set to build brilliantly on this by providing some incredible additional opportunities in the run-up to the awards both for local Manchester artists to directly showcase their talents, and also for young people looking to break into the music industry to hear direct from people already working in the sector.”