Looking back at 2025/26 at BIMM
As we get ready to welcome students back for a new year, we’re looking at some of the moments that made 2025/26 a year to remember.
Wretch 32 × BMC Scholarship welcomes its first recipient
The academic year began with an exciting new chapter for BIMM London student Mars Tshoko, who was announced as the recipient of the Wretch 32 × Black Music Coalition Scholarship.
The scholarship was developed to help address inequalities within higher music education. Mars received full tuition for all three years of their undergraduate degree. They also have access to mentorship, placements, and the BMC’s industry network.
In October, Wretch 32 and members of the BMC visited BIMM London to meet Mars and share advice with aspiring creatives at the start of their journey.
DIY’s Class of 2026 and the BRITs Fringe
At the end of 2025, BIMM students supported DIY’s Class of 2026 launch at Colours Hoxton across production, event coordination, technical support, and artist operations. BIMM Manchester student Megan Wyn opened the night, joining Silver Gore and Class of 2026 cover stars Florence Road on the bill.
A few months later, that collaboration continued during one of the biggest weeks in the UK music calendar.
The sold-out BIMM × DIY BRITs showcase took over YES Pink Room in Manchester as part of the official BRITs Fringe programme, with Zoë’s Brothers, Grrace, Cutscene, and Megan Wyn all performing.
At the same time, BIMM students were working behind the scenes at the BRIT Awards 2026, gaining experience across live production, press, and digital roles at one of the UK’s highest-profile music events.
In the space of a week, BIMM could be found both on stage and behind it at the UK’s biggest awards show.
Careers Week brings the industry to our campuses
In March, Careers Week 2026 took place across all seven BIMM locations.
A packed programme of workshops, panels, live showcases, and one-to-one guidance gave students the opportunity to learn directly from people working across the music industry.
Organisations involved included BBC Introducing, AWAL, Sofar Sounds, TuneCore, The Great Escape, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), RTÉ 2FM, and more, covering different sides of the industry and giving students practical insight into the range of careers available to them.
It was one of the biggest examples this year of industry coming directly into BIMM, helping students develop their knowledge, build connections, and think about where their own careers could take them.
Into the studio with Katie May
For students at BIMM Manchester, one opportunity took them out of the classroom and into Liverpool’s iconic Motor Museum Studio.
Organised by BIMM Manchester’s Sound Engineering Society and supported by Solid State Logic, the session saw students work alongside Grammy Award-winning engineer, producer, and mixer Katie May, whose credits include Peter Gabriel, The 1975, Foals, and Florence Welch.
BIMM Manchester bands Plastic Soul and Zoe’s Brothers were recorded during the session, while Music Production students shadowed Katie throughout the process.
Everyone had the chance to experience everything from microphone setup and working with a professional mixing console to collaborating with artists and making decisions in a live recording environment.
Our biggest Great Escape yet
May brought one of the biggest moments in the BIMM calendar as The Great Escape celebrated its 20th anniversary.
As the festival’s lead education partner, BIMM marked its biggest involvement in The Great Escape to date, with more stages, artists, alumni, and opportunities for students than ever before.
Across three days in Brighton, students and alumni performed on seafront stages, in grassroots venues, at busking spots, and across official showcases. More than 20 BIMM alumni acts appeared at the festival, while current students had opportunities to perform in front of new audiences and meet people working in the industry.
Graduating artists take over Outernet
Also in May, more than 20 graduating BIMM London artists were given the opportunity to perform at HERE at Outernet.
The 2,000-capacity venue once again hosted BIMM London’s annual Graduation Showcase, with each artist performing one track as part of a fast-paced night celebrating the graduating class.
Hosted by Swarzy, the showcase gave students the chance to finish their time at BIMM on a major professional stage in front of friends, family, and members of the music industry.
BIMM Birmingham creates its own festival
The year finished with a first for Birmingham as students from BIMM Music Institute, Performers College, and MetFilm School came together for BIMM Backyard.
Taking place across both Digbeth campuses, the student-led festival featured live music, film screenings, theatre performances, workshops, DJ sets, and creative displays.
The entire programme was created or presented by students, bringing different disciplines together and giving performers, filmmakers, musicians, and creatives the opportunity to share their work with the wider community.
Following its first year, BIMM Backyard is already set to return in 2027.
Here’s to 2026/27
It’s been a busy year for BIMM students, with opportunities to perform, work behind the scenes, build industry experience, and connect with professionals across the music industry.
With the new academic year approaching, we’re looking forward to seeing what 2026/27 brings!
Thinking about studying at BIMM? Explore our courses and find out where a future in music could take you.
