The BRIT Awards arrived at Co-op Live in Manchester, in the north of England, marking the ceremony’s first time outside London. Now the largest indoor arena in the UK, the venue placed Britain’s flagship music event in the city that produced Oasis and Joy Division. Harry Styles opened the show in style with his first live performance since 2023, debuting “Aperture” from his forthcoming album Kiss All The Time. Starting in dramatic fashion, the arena fell to black before the first note, reemerging with dancers in concentric circles around him as he stepped back into a live spotlight.

Olivia Dean, who attended the BRIT School in London — the performing arts institution that counts Adele and Amy Winehouse among its alumni — emerged as the night’s most awarded artist, taking Artist of the Year, Mastercard Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, and Pop Act. The sweep marked a full-circle moment for a graduate of the school founded by the BRIT Awards charity itself. Sam Fender received Song of the Year for “Rein Me In” featuring Dean, while Lola Young was named Breakthrough Artist. Dave, SAULT, and Wolf Alice were among the genre winners across the broadcast.

It has to be said, ROSALÍA brought it to the BRITs, turning the venue into a techno rave cave and building the set around hard-edged electro with “Berghain.” It was full on and brilliant. She was joined by the maverick French movement collective (LA)HORDE — the multidisciplinary trio of Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Harel, who have directed the Ballet National de Marseille since 2019 — whose choreography draws from jumpstyle and rave culture. The result was an embracing of the underground club movement, and Björk’s unannounced arrival added her signature nocturnal, otherworldly tone.

Then there was Dua Lipa, who arrived suspended from a mirrored glitterball, descending above the arena in a glittering one-piece and diamond Bulgari necklace before touching down for a tightly choreographed set. She later returned during Mark Ronson’s Outstanding Contribution segment, making a surprise appearance for “Dance The Night” from the Barbie soundtrack and “Electricity,” following his run through “Ooh Wee” with Ghostface Killah, a performance of “Uptown Funk,” and tributes to Amy Winehouse with “Back to Black” and “Valerie” alongside The Dap-Kings.

RAYE, who set a BRIT Awards record in 2024 with six wins in a single year, returned to the stage with a medley of “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” and “Nightingale Lane,” reinforcing her position in the ceremony’s recent history.

The audience briefly thought it was kicking off on stage during Sombr’s mid-set disruption, but no fear — it turned out to be a staged gatecrasher wearing merch for the new single “Homewrecker” who entered the performance before the interruption revealed itself as part of the design.

For one night, Manchester ran on Pacific time as Mark Ronson received the Outstanding Contribution to Music award, adding to a career that spans multiple BRIT Awards, Grammy wins, and an Academy Award. He and Amy Winehouse performed together at the BRIT Awards during the Back to Black era, and his performance of “Valerie” carried that history into the room with everyone singing along. The ceremony later moved into a separate tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, with Robbie Williams performing “No More Tears” alongside Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos, and Zakk Wylde.

Audi, the Official Automotive Partner to the BRIT Awards and the Warner Music BRITs After Party, managed artist arrivals and departures across Manchester, transporting winners from arena to after-hours at The Cut & Craft. Inside, the venue had been transformed with a five-metre poodle installation, immersive L-Acoustics sound and club-built interiors. The “24 Hour Party Poodles” theme nodded to Manchester’s rave-era mythology, while robotics company 1X added humanoid figures greeting guests on arrival.

Upstairs, Groove Armada, G2, Kim Turnbull, and Gjin Lipa handled the soundtrack while Manchester collective Suns of Acid took over the basement. Guests extended beyond music, with Jeff Goldblum — who tours as a jazz pianist — and actors Harris Dickinson, Archie Madekwe, and Cush Jumbo in attendance, alongside model Lexie Coons, Vincent Rockins, Gene Gallagher, Katie Grand, editor-in-chief of Perfect (the party was held in association with the magazine), and Tabitha Simmons. Naturally, Hennessy Paradis, Henny-Ritas, and X.O Espresso Martini tipples kept artists and guests partying into the early hours.