Your ultimate guide to this year’s event

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Following the 2025 BRIT Awards with Mastercard, which took place in March last year, bosses announced the prestigious music ceremony was 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, Harry Styles has now been announced to perform, along with Wolf Alice and Olivia Dean. The Critics’ Choice winner, the nominees, and this year’s host have also been announced, 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.

Who will be performing?

So far, three artists have been announced for this year’s BRITs. Rock band Wolf Alice are the third artist to be announced, following Harry Styles and ‘Man I Need’ singer Olivia Dean. No other artists have been announced to perform just yet.

Relive the performances from 2025 right here.

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:

How to vote

Fans can vote in two categories, including Song of the Year with Mastercard and International Song of the Year. Voting is taking place on WhatsApp.

Voting is now open until 11:59pm on Friday 13th February.

You can find out more 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

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