By Estefany Rial
BRITs Week 2026 Manchester transformed YES into an unforgettable celebration for War Child, as the venue’s Pink Room became a hazy, euphoric dance floor ahead of The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard.
From the moment guests stepped inside, the atmosphere was immersive. The room was draped in shifting pink light, softened by beams of white cutting through a thick layer of fog that hovered in the air. The effect was almost dreamlike, as if the crowd were dancing on a cloud. The production was minimal yet effective, allowing the lighting and sound to work in harmony, creating a setting that felt both intimate and expansive.
Olive F: A Rising Force in House Music
Opening the evening was Olive F, the Manchester-based DJ who has rapidly built a name for herself within the UK’s house scene. Crowned Newcomer of the Year at the 2025 DJ Awards in Ibiza, she brought confidence and clarity to the decks.
Her set leaned into groove-led house rhythms, crisp percussion layered over rolling basslines, gradually building the room’s energy rather than forcing it. The crowd responded in kind, swaying at first before fully committing to the dance floor as her transitions grew sharper and more dynamic. There was a clear sense of control in her mixing; each track selection felt intentional, warming up the space while maintaining momentum.
In a venue designed for closeness, Olive F thrived. The fog-diffused lighting amplified the pulse of her set, and by the time she closed, the room felt unified, fully prepared for the headline act.
Rossi.: Precision, Energy, and a Crowd at Full Volume
Headliner Rossi. took the energy to another level. Known for his minimal house sound and sharp underground sensibility, he delivered a set that balanced technical precision with undeniable crowd control.
The night’s highlights included “Don’t Touch That Dial”, which had the crowd erupting, hands in the air, voices singing along, the fog-filled room amplifying every note. He followed with a remix of Outta My Mind by Chrystal, transforming the track into a pulsing, club-ready anthem.
Rossi.’s expert mixing, deep basslines, and rhythmic builds kept the energy flowing throughout the set, turning the intimate Pink Room into a fully immersive experience. Where opener Olive F built the atmosphere, Rossi. detonated it, pushing the crowd to full intensity while maintaining musicality and control. The moving pink and white lights paired with the beat created a cinematic, almost otherworldly feeling, leaving the audience buzzing long after the final track ended.
Music With Meaning
Beyond the music, the evening formed part of a much larger national moment. BRITs Week 26, delivered by DHL for War Child, gives fans the unforgettable opportunity to experience intimate, one-off performances from some of the biggest and most exciting names in music across some of the UK’s best venues.
The 2026 series concluded on February 27th, as musicians take over stages in Edinburgh and Manchester with performances from Jacob Alon at the Music Hall at Assembly Rooms and Robbie Williams at Aviva.
BRITs Week is took place around The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard which will be on Saturday, 28th February in Manchester. With the awards leaving London for the first time in nearly 50 years, this year’s expansion into cities including Newcastle, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Brighton and Manchester marks a significant new era for the UK’s biggest night in music.
Most importantly, all proceeds from BRITs Week shows go directly to War Child, supporting the charity’s essential work providing aid, education and specialist mental health support for children whose lives have been devastated by conflict. With over 520 million children currently affected by war globally, initiatives like this transform live music into tangible impact.
Produced by War Child alongside AEG Presents and BPI, the series is supported by returning partner DHL, whose global logistics network helps extend War Child’s humanitarian reach. BUILDHOLLYWOOD also donated outdoor advertising space across London and Manchester to support this year’s shows.
A Night That Captured the Spirit of BRITs Week
What made the evening at YES special was its balance, rising artists sharing space with established names, production that felt immersive without overwhelming, and a crowd that understood they were part of something bigger than a typical club night.
In The Pink Room, under shifting lights and suspended in fog, BRITs Week 26 for War Child proved exactly why these intimate performances matter. They strip music back to its core connection, while amplifying its ability to create meaningful change.
As part of a wider cultural moment, BRITs Week 2026 Manchester brought together emerging and established artists while directly supporting War Child’s global humanitarian efforts.
More than just a club night, BRITs Week 2026 Manchester proved why these intimate performances continue to define the spirit of the awards season.
