Since 1977, the BRIT Awards have returned annually to commend and celebrate the best of each year’s music in Britain and beyond. In 2011, they moved to a new home at The O2 Arena in London, but have accompanied the MOBO Awards in relocating to Manchester for the first time in 2026. With this change comes a design for the BRIT Award trophy by Manchester-born fashion designer Matthew Williamson, featuring amber-toned resin inspired by the city’s worker bee symbol. With performances from Olivia Dean, Harry Styles and Wolf Alice on the cards, and a night of perfectly chaotic hosting guaranteed through Jack Whitehall, millions across the UK are expected to tune in to ITV1 on the evening of Saturday 28 February.
Speaking at the launch event for the BRIT Awards nominations, also held at Co-Op Live, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig both emphasised the positive impact the BRITs' movement will have on the city, as well as its role as a form of homage to Manchester's musical history. Social media superstar Charley Marlowe and BBC Radio One DJ Sarah Story added humour and star power, while the BRIT Awards 2026 Chair, Stacey Tang, offered insight into the behind-the-scenes of the event and its movement to Manchester alongside British Phonographic Industry Chair Yolanda Brown and CEO Jo Twist.
Credit: Samuel Chamberlain @ The Mancunion
Some notable names appear in the 2026 nominations, particularly amongst those selected for Artist of the Year, including JADE, who recently headlined the New Music Stage at BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend in Liverpool. She is joined, among others, by Self Esteem, whose third studio album, A Complicated Woman, and its accompanying tour attracted critical acclaim throughout last year. The nominees for Group of the Year include The Last Dinner Party and Wolf Alice, who also released highly praised records last year in the form of From the Pyre and The Clearing.
Another highlight amongst the nominations is Loyle Carner, who is nominated for Best Hip-Hop/Rap/Grime Act after recently taking over O2 Victoria Warehouse for a three-date residency in support of his fourth album hopefully !. The BRIT Awards nominations are also sure to come with some surprises: Lily Allen, for example, is nominated for three awards, and it would have been impossible to predict her return to pop stardom this time last year. Reflecting the emergence of the UK’s underground rap scene, EsDeeKid is nominated for Breakthrough Artist, in another nomination that would have sounded outlandish a year ago.
One BRIT Award winner for 2026 has already been announced, with Jacob Alon receiving the Critics’ Choice award, while fellow nominees Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro were also honoured. This is one of the BRITs’ most prestigious awards, seen as a predictor of extreme success in the British music industry after Adele was honoured with its inception in 2008. Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year are also yet to be announced, but in the meantime the British public can have their say by voting for Song of the Year and International Song of the Year via WhatsApp.
Accompanying the BRIT Awards this year will be a continuation of the long-standing BRITs Week tradition, which sees the UK’s biggest artists appear at small venues in support of War Child. While previous years have been noticeably London-centric, BRITs Week shows will this year reach more cities than ever before, in line with the Awards’ own new northern home.
Manchester will host The K’s at Gorilla, as well as Olivia Dean at Albert Hall, a venue she headlined in April 2024 shortly before her rise to superstardom. The Pink Room at YES is also due to host DJ sets from ROSSI. and hometown hero Josh Baker, who both appear in preparation for huge slots at this year’s Parklife Festival. For all four shows, those interested can either purchase a limited amount of tickets or enter a prize draw for the chance to attend, and donations to War Child remain open.
Credit: BRITs Week & War Child / Dawbell
This year’s BRIT Awards may not see the final public appearance of Freddie Mercury, the height of Oasis vs Blur, or a repeat of Chumbawamba’s Danbert Nobacon throwing a bucket of iced water over the Deputy Prime Minister, but it is sure to be a night to remember. For a full list of nominees, look no further than below:
Artist of the Year: Dave, Fred again.., JADE, Lily Allen, Little Simz, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress, Sam Fender, Self Esteem
Group of the Year: The Last Dinner Party, Pulp, Sleep Token, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice
Song of the Year: Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas – ‘Blessings’, Chrystal & NOTION – ‘The Days’, Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – ‘Defying Gravity’, Ed Sheeran – ‘Azizam’, Fred again.., 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 & Olivia Dean – ‘Rein Me In’, Skye Newman – ‘Family Matters’
International Artist of the Year: Bad Bunny, Chappell Roan, CMAT, Doechii, Lady Gaga, Rosalía, Sabrina Carpenter, sombr, Taylor Swift, Tyler, The Creator
International Group of the Year: Geese, HAIM, Huntr/x, Tame Impala, Turnstile
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 – ‘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’
Breakthrough Artist: Barry Can’t Swim, EsDeeKid, Jim Legxacy, Lola Young, Sky Newman
Best Alternative/Rock Act: Blood Orange, Lola Young, Sam Fender, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice
Best Pop Act: JADE, Lily Allen, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, RAYE
Best Hip-Hop/Rap/Grime Act: Central Cee, Dave, Jim Legxacy, Little Simz, Loyle Carner
Best R&B Act: Jim Legxacy, kwn, Mabel, Sasha Keable, Sault
Best Dance Act: Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas, FKA twigs, Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax, PinkPantheress, Sammy Virji
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