After nearly 50 years in London, The BRIT Awards are heading north to Manchester in 2026, in a move that nods to both the city’s storied musical past and a renewed focus on discovering fresh, local talent beyond the capital.
The birthplace of Factory Records, the Haçienda, Oasis, the Smiths and a fiercely independent music culture that has shaped British sound for decades, Manchester has always been a city that has nurtured talent from the ground up. So it makes sense that The BRIT Awards’ long time sponsor, Mastercard, continues to back not just the awards themselves but the north’s next generation of talent through its Mic Drop Talks – school outreach workshops offering students practical guidance on pursuing creative careers.
The BRIT Awards 2026 will take place on Saturday 28 February at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, where major performers and nominees, such as Olivia Dean and Lola Young, have already been announced, along with the return of host Jack Whitehall, for the sixth year running.
While Manchester gets ready to welcome the new superstars of today, there’s a whole other story bubbling underneath just waiting to be told. Here, we spotlight 20 up-and-coming artists that are shaping the city’s sound right now – and highlight where you can see some of them before everyone else does.
TTSSFU
Influenced by shoegaze (a subgenre of indie/alt rock characterised by ethereal soundscapes and hazy vocals) and experimental rock bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Wigan-born musician and producer Tamsin Stephens’ reverb-soaked riffs, DIY approach and quirky visuals can be seen on her recent EP, Blown.
Flowers of Evil
Catalan-Mancunian LGBTQ+ art-pop trio Flowers of Evil combine uninhibited techno and trance beats with unmissable high-octane live performances to rival the likes of Confidence Man.
Chloe Slater
From satirising social media influencers to chronicling the trials and tribulations of being a young person in the cost of living crisis, Chloe Slater’s socially conscious indie rock has rightfully gained traction.
Pyncher
This innovative quartet’s debut EP, Every Town Needs a Stranger, encompasses stomping krautrock (a genre of experimental, psychedelic and electronic rock from Germany), spiralling psychedelic riffs, and lyrical nods to science fiction and Beat literature, making them a unique force on Manchester’s live scene.
Nxdia
From tales of unrequited love to challenging gendered stereotypes, Egyptian-born, Mancunian-bred queer alt-pop artist Nxdia is channelling their lived experiences into infectious pop hooks that resonate with listeners. They’ll be supporting Cat Burns on her UK April tour this spring.
Meduulla
Growing up in Bury, Meduulla’s passion for poetry, grime, and neo-soul led her to start writing her own music. Her debut LP, Tabula Rasa, pairs her virtuoso flow and insightful lyricism with jazz and hip-hop instrumentals. Fans can catch Meduulla at Manchester’s legendary Band on the Wall on Wednesday 1 April.
Mali Hayes
R&B and soul singer Mali Hayes is captivating listeners with her honeyed vocals and smooth melodies, creating an intimate listening experience. She curates and performs at Manchester’s Soul Assembly, a monthly showcase of the city’s new neo-soul and R&B acts at House of Social.
catbandcat
Catbandcat are an experimental rock band producing upbeat indie music brimming with beautiful harmonies and string embellishments. Fans of Black Country, New Road and all things avant garde will love these guys.
Lei Hope
Weaving dreamy guitar-driven melodies and luscious vocals into a rich tapestry, alt RnB artist Lei Hope was inspired by Steve Lacy to take a DIY approach to producing his own music. He’ll be playing Stockport’s Sidelines festival this year.
The Maddocks
Stockport four-piece the Maddocks are making dance-along post-punk bursting with groovy basslines and fast-paced percussion. Their latest single, Sheela/Liminal, sees a new era of conceptual storytelling and eccentric visuals ushered in.
Secret Night Gang
This dynamic duo of childhood friends, Kemani Anderson and Callum Connell, are reinvigorating jazz by blending it with shimmering disco beats, funk and soul; flexing their musical prowess and spellbinding vocals in the process.
Holly Head
With a debut single written in a police cell after a recent protest-related arrest, Holly Head have gained notoriety for their politically informed funk-rock anthems. They opened for Westside Cowboy on their early 2026 UK tour.
Dirty Blonde
Rock duo Dirty Blonde’s 2025 EP, Looking for Trouble, was a mission statement oozing with swagger, powerhouse vocals and thundering guitars.
PRIDO
Emerging Afrobeats artist PRIDO is bringing optimistic and energised floor-fillers to the fore. His church upbringing and interest in grime and hip-hop has influenced his genre-blending EP, Blue Crocodile, released in November 2025.
Freak Slug
Lo-fi beats, raw emotion and airy Mancunian vocals are aplenty on Freak Slug’s recent EP, Loose Tooth and A Short Skirt. Catch her before she hits the big time – in March she’ll be at Liverpool’s Arts Club and Strange Brew, Bristol.
Hungry
Garage rock guitars, tongue-in-cheek wordsmithery and drole delivery are the trademarks of this alt-rock group who relocated from Cambridge to Manchester in 2022.
cruush
Graduates of renowned London music college BIMM, you’ll find kaleidoscopic shoegaze textures and hypnotising vocals at the heart of cruush’s sound. Listen carefully and you’ll hear hints of Wolf Alice and Portishead alongside all the distortion and harmonies.
Lady Ice
The Old Trafford-native and accomplished MC made waves on BBC3’s The Rap Game in 2019, and has continued to tread new ground with her versatile and empowering rhymes that teem with personality and Mancunian charm.
Treks
Manchester-based rap artist and producer Treks is on the cusp of releasing his debut single, Grown. His synth and sample-led hip-hop beats, masterful wordplay and musings on young adulthood have put him firmly at the top of our watch-list for 2026.
Yasmin Coe
Yasmin Coe’s self-described “girl-power pop” brings together elements of indie-rock, pop and folk. Her gorgeous vocals and diary-led approach to songwriting mean tickets will be scarce for her 27 February show at Manchester’s Rat and Pigeon.
In the know
Love the sound of an artist or band but can’t see a tour date mentioned? Keep an eye on their socials for more details of upcoming live performances, and try to catch them before word spreads and ticket prices inevitably skyrocket. You heard it here first.
The BRIT Awards with Mastercard are being held on Saturday 28 February at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena. Watch live on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX. Mastercard is proud to sponsor The BRIT Awards, supporting music from grassroots to the global stage. Discover more at mastercard.co.uk/BRITs
