David Bailey's Only in Manchester artwork at New Islington Marina, celebrating the BRIT Awards 2026 and the city's music legacy

Only in Manchester, a large illustrated billboard by North West artist David Bailey, displayed at New Islington Marina in Ancoats as part of the BRITs Art Trail for the 2026 BRIT Awards. The bright comic-style design places the familiar BRIT trophy character within a series of humorous Manchester scenes, including arrival in the city, local food, music history and a visit to Co-op Live. A central panel lists influential acts associated with Greater Manchester, including New Order, Elbow, Joy Division, Doves, Blossoms, The Stone Roses, Oasis, The Smiths, The Fall and The 1975. The artwork formed part of a free citywide trail staged across Ancoats and the Northern Quarter from 12 February to 16 March 2026. Curated by Manchester artist Stanley Chow and produced by Wild in Art, the programme featured work by 21 North West artists through murals, window installations and billboard takeovers. It accompanied the first BRIT Awards ceremony ever held outside London, staged at Co-op Live on 28 February 2026 after nearly five decades in the capital. Bailey's design celebrates Manchester's long-established reputation for independent music, nightclubs, record labels, bands and distinctive local humour. References to rice and three, the worker bee, red-brick industrial buildings and the city's musical roll call combine civic pride with playful visual storytelling. The clear blue sky and bold white billboard make the colours and hand-drawn lettering especially prominent. This editorial image suits themes involving the BRIT Awards, Manchester music heritage, public art, cultural tourism, urban regeneration, Ancoats, New Islington, creative industries and regional identity. It records how a major national awards event used street art and local artists to connect the ceremony with Manchester's wider cultural history and contemporary city life