Congratulations to everyone who managed to get tickets (you’ll understand if we don’t talk to you for a while…) and for those of us who missed out, we’ll just have to keep everything crossed for a dozen more Manchester dates on that world tour.
The BRIT Awards announce Manchester host as Jack Whitehall, plus ticket info
Daisy Jackson
Jack Whitehall will host this year’s BRIT Awards, as the glittering music ceremony moves up to Manchester for the first time.
The BRIT Awards 2026 has now also confirmed that public tickets will be going on sale today, so us Mancs have a chance with being right in the action when the awards take place at the Co-op Live in February.
This is the first time in the nearly-50 year history of the BRITs that the show has moved north, with an exclusive broadcast with ITV1 and ITVX.
And Jack Whitehall will be back once again, after a five different gigs hosting the show down in London.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard announced the news with an ‘Ode to Manchester’ video with Jack Whitehall, where he takes a green screen trip down the Curry Mile (except it’s actually the Northern Quarter), visits the Coronation Street cobbles, and pokes fun at the arrival of Soho House.
The comedian may be as southern as they come, but has special connections to Manchester, having studied at the University of Manchester – and later revisited those days in the sitcom Fresh Meat.
Jack credits the city as one of the most influential places that helped shape his early comedy career.
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Jack said: “I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me.
“The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone’s throw away from the comedy club I did my first 10 minute set in all those years ago.
“Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 will be taking place at the Co-op Live in Manchester on 28 February – and tickets will be going on sale from 10am HERE.
Matthew Williamson with this year’s BRIT Award trophy. Credit: Supplied
Last week, the shortlist was revealed for the prestigious BRITs Critics’ Choice award (previous winners include Dua Lipa, Adele, The Last Dinner Party and more), with Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and SIENNA SPIRO the chosen three.
And this year’s physical BRIT Award is designed by internationally acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson, inspired by his Manchester roots and built from an amber toned resin – resembling the golden honey of a worker bee.
Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “Jack is absolutely brilliant at his craft so we are thrilled to welcome him back and excited for the fun and mischief he’s bound to bring to the show again this year.
“His legacy hosting the awards speaks for itself and as the BRITs enters a new era, in a city familiar to him, there’s nobody better placed to take the helm of the biggest night in music.”
Stereophonics at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
It might not be an ‘Indian Summer’, but it’s definitely a Stereophonics winter as they’re playing out in UK venues including Co-op Live, Manchester.
Beloved 90’s Welsh rockers Stereophonics are returning to Manchester for the winter season, and if you ask us, it feels like Christmas has come early.
Known for their massive tracks like ‘Dakota’, ‘Have A Nice Day’, ‘Handbags And Gladrags’ and more, this four-piece has been powering us through life for the past three decades.
Their latest album Make ‘Em Laugh Make ‘Em Cry Make ‘Em Wait dropped back in April, and fans will be eager to hear singles from this LP like ‘There’s Always Gonna Be Something’ and ‘Seems Like You Don’t Know Me’.
Stereophonics come to Co-op Live, Manchester on 12 December (Credit: James D Kelly)
Now, Kelly, Richard, Adam and Jamie are playing a string of arena shows across the UK, and they’ve decided to stop off at Manchester’s largest indoor entertainment venue, Co-op Live, too.
Gig guide | Stereophonics Co-op Live
Stereophonics UK tour dates
We’ve highlighted all the Northern dates for you.
Sat 6 December – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Utilita Arena
Sun 7 December – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
Tue 9 December – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live
Wed 10 December – Glasgow, UK -OVO Hydro
Fri 12 December – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sat 13 December – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Tue 16 December – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
Thu 18 December – London, UK – The O2
We were lucky enough to catch them in Yorkshire earlier this month, and they did not disappoint. You can read our full review HERE.
Are there tickets left for Stereophonics in Manchester?
The staple rock band are visiting every stretch of the UK, stopping off for one night only in Manchester on 12 December before they close out in London and the ever-impressive The O2.
Well, we hope you ‘Have a Nice Day’ and an even better one after we tell you that tickets to Stereophonics’ upcoming arena date in Manchester are still available HERE.
Stereophonics setlist
Vegas Two Times
I Wanna Get Lost With You
Have a Nice Day
There’s Always Gonna Be Something
Do Ya Feel My Love
Pick a Part That’s New
Hurry Up and Wait
Superman
Geronimo
Maybe Tomorrow
Colours of October
Local Boy in the Photograph
I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio
Rewind
Mr. Writer
Seems Like You Don’t Know Me
Mr and Mrs Smith
Fly Like an Eagle
The Bartender and the Thief
100MPH
Traffic
C’est La Vie
Dakota
What are the stage times for Stereophonics in Manchester?
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can rock out all night long to these Welsh lads without wondering if it ’Maybe Tomorrow′ or not.
There’s no official support act listed, but when this current run of UK shows is labelled the No Hit Left BehindTour, Stereophonics will more than likely be rocking out on the stage for a pretty lengthy amount of time, as you can see by the setlist.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
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Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
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For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Danny Jones -
31st August 2024 
