The BRIT Awards 2026: Everything you need to know
The nominees have been announced
Following the 2025 BRIT Awards with Mastercard, which took place in March last year, bosses have announced the prestigious music ceremony is on the move for 2026, set to take place outside of London for the first time in history.
Moving to Manchester's Co-op Live, the all-important date has now been announced, along with the Critics' Choice winner, the nominees, and this year's host, so here's all of the details we know so far about The BRIT Awards 2026, including the fancy new trophy!
When are The BRIT Awards 2026?
It's now been confirmed the 2026 BRIT Awards will take place on Saturday 28th February.
Where will they be held?
The BRIT Awards have been held in London since they first started 48 years ago, with the show taking place at The 02 Arena since 2011. However, that's all set to change for the next two years, with The BRIT Awards moving to Manchester's Co-op Live.
Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK and Ireland said: “This is a very exciting time for The BRIT Awards. Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the BRITs legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music.
"Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the BRIT Awards. I can’t wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said: “For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture.
"Greater Manchester has an unparalleled music heritage known around the world, and this summer will play host to some of the biggest gigs on the planet. That was only made possible by our strong commitment to new talent and giving emerging artists the opportunities to make their name. We thank our friends at the BPI for choosing Manchester and we will pull out all the stops to show they made the right decision.
"Celebrating the BRIT Awards right here in the home of 24 hour party people is the next chapter in its story and you can be sure that we will help them do it in style.”
Can I get tickets?
Tickets have now sold out.
How can I watch the ceremony?
The BRIT Awards 2026 will air exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX and STV1 and STV Player.
Who has been nominated?
Nominations for the main ceremony were announced on 21st January from 5pm, during a live stream on The BRIT Awards Instagram and Facebook channels.
Check out The BRIT Award nominations below:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dave
Fred again..
JADE
Lily Allen
Lola Young
Olivia Dean
PinkPantheress
Sam Fender
Self Esteem
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bad Bunny
Chappell Roan
CMAT
Doechii
Lady Gaga
ROSALÍA
Sabrina Carpenter
Sombr
Taylor Swift
Tyler, The Creator
GROUP OF THE YEAR - Promoted by Absolute Radio
The Last Dinner Party
Pulp
Sleep Token
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice
INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Geese
HAIM
HUNTR/X - EJAE/ Audrey Nuna/ REI AMI
Tame Impala
Turnstile
MASTERCARD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dave: 'The Boy Who Played the Harp'
Lily Allen: 'West End Girl'
Olivia Dean: 'The Art of Loving'
Sam Fender: 'People Watching'
Wolf Alice: 'The Clearing'
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Barry Can't Swim
EsDeeKid
Jim
Lola Young
Skye Newman
SONG OF THE YEAR WITH MASTERCARD
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas: 'Blessings'
CHRYSTAL, NOTION The Days - 'NOTION Remix CHAOS'
Cynthia Erivo (feat. Ariana Grande): 'Defying Gravity'
Ed Sheeran: 'Azizam'
Fred again.. and Skepta: 'PlaqueBoyMax Victory Lap'
Lewis Capaldi: 'Survive'
Lola Young: 'Messy'
Myles Smith: 'Nice To Meet You'
Olivia Dean: 'Man I Need'
RAYE: 'WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!'
Sam Fender (with Olivia Dean): 'Rein Me In'
Skye Newman: 'Family Matters'
INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
Alex Warren: 'Ordinary'
Chappell Roan: 'Pink Pony Club'
Disco Lines & Tinashe: 'No Broke Boys'
Gigi Perez: 'Sailor Song'
Gracie Abrams: 'That's So True'
HUNTR/X - EJAE/ Audrey Nuna/ REI AMI: 'Golden'
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars: 'Die With A Smile'
Ravyn Lenae: 'Love Me Not'
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars: 'APT'
Sabrina Carpenter: 'Manchild'
Sombr: 'undressed'
Taylor Swift: 'The Fate of Ophelia'
POP ACT
JADE
Lily Allen
Olivia Dean
Lola Young
RAYE
DANCE ACT
Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas
FKA twigs
Fred again../Skepta/ PlaqueBoyMax
PinkPantheress
Sammy Virji
HIP HOP, GRIME, RAP ACT
Central Cee
Dave
Jim Legxacy
Little Simz
Loyle Carner
R&B ACT
Jim Legxacy
kwn
Mabel
Sasha Keable
SAULT
ALTERNATIVE/ROCK ACT
Blood Orange
Lola Young
Sam Fender
Wet Leg
Wolf Alice
How to vote
Fans will be able to vote in two categories, including Song of the Year with Mastercard and International Song of the Year. Voting will take place on WhatsApp.
Voting opens at from 12pm GMT on Friday 30th January until 11:59pm on Friday 13th February.
Who is performing?
After picking up four noms, it was revealed that Olivia Dean will be performing on the night! No other artists have been announced to perform just yet.
Check out all of the performances from 2025 right here.
Who won BRITs Critics' Choice Award 2026?
The Critics' Choice nominees were announced as Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and SIENNA SPIRO in late 2025.
In January 2026, the Critics' Choice winner for 2026 was announced as Scottish and Irish singer Jacob Alon.
Who is hosting?
Comedian Jack Whitehall will return to host the ceremony for the sixth time. The BRIT Awards announced the news on social media, in December 2025, with Jack Whitehall's Ode to Manchester.
The BRIT Awards 2026 trophy
The 2026 BRIT Award was unveiled on Wednesday 19th November 2025! British designer Matthew Williamson, who was born in Manchester, designed the 2026 award.
On what designing this year's trophy meant to him, Matthew says: “Following in the footsteps of great designers and artists before me, it’s an honour and a career highlight to design the 2026 BRITs trophy. The BRITs is an event I've watched since childhood, and I’m still so immersed in it to this day. I've always looked at it in awe and wonder, so to even be offered this opportunity feels like a real milestone moment.”
On his inspiration for this year’s trophy, Matthew said: “I wanted to create something timeless and stylish that each recipient would feel proud to own and display. Whilst colour and pattern may have been a more predictable route for me, I wanted to pause, take stock and offer something truly personal to me. Above all, I wanted to ensure it connected to Manchester, the BRITs’ new location and my hometown.”
“Cast in a chic amber toned resin, the statue resembles the golden honey of a worker bee, Manchester‘s logo symbolising the city's role during the Industrial Revolution and so much more. This spirit to work hard and be part of the essential fabric of the nation still resonates with me today. The BRITs also represents the global reach of British music and so I designed the statue to sit on top of a globe. I imagine each deserving winner will feel on top of the world as they receive their award and I cannot wait to see the trophy I designed being part of the celebrations on the night.”
Who won a BRIT Award in 2025?
Charli xcx was the big winner on the night, picking up a huge five awards! JADE also won her first ever solo BRIT, taking home an award for Pop Act, whilst International artist Chappell Roan won two awards.
After breaking records in 2024, RAYE added another BRIT Award to her collection, whilst Sabrina Carpenter was awarded with the Global Success Award.
The BRIT Awards will return in February 2026.
Now read:
The BRIT Awards to leave London for the first time and move to Manchester
The most memorable BRIT Award performances ever
Famous artists who started their careers at BRIT school