Established in 1977 and held annually from 1982 by the BPI, the awards were renamed The BRIT Awards in 1989. Mastercard has been a long-term sponsor. The Classic BRIT Awards, celebrating classical music, ran from 2000 to 2013, returned briefly in 2018, but have not been held since.

This year’s ceremony makes history as the prestigious awards arrive in Manchester for the first time in their nearly 50-year history. Hosted at the Co-op Live arena on Saturday, February 28, the event will see Jack Whitehall return as host for the sixth time.

Nominations for the 2026 BRITs have been announced, with Sam Fender, Lily Allen and Olivia Dean among the artists up for multiple awards on the night.

The Artist of the Year category features nominees including Dave, Fred Again.., JADE, Lily Allen, Little Simz, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Pink Pantheress, Sam Fender and Self Esteem.

Group of the Year sees The Last Dinner Party, Pulp, Sleep Token, Wet Leg and Wolf Alice go head-to-head.

The Mastercard Album of the Year category features nominations for Dave’s The Boy Who Played The Harp, Lily Allen’s West End Girl, Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving, Sam Fender’s People Watching and Wolf Alice’s The Clearing.

The Breakthrough Artist category includes nominations for Barry Can’t Swim, Esdeekid, Jim Legxacy, Lola Young and Skye Newman.

The International Artist category features nominations for Bad Bunny, Chappell Roan, CMAT, Doechii, Lady Gaga, Rosalia, Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, Taylor Swift and Tyler, The Creator.

The International Group category features nominations for Geese, HAIM, HUNTR/X (K-Pop Demon Hunters), Tame Impala and Turnstile.

Song of the Year sees a competitive shortlist including Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas, Chrystal and NOTION, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Fred Again, Kkepta and PlaqueBoyMax, Lewis Capaldi, Lola Young, Myles Smith, Olivia Dean, RAYE, Sam Fender with Olivia Dean, and Skye Newman.

International Song sees a diverse shortlist including Alex Warren, Chappell Roan, Disco Lines and Tinashe, Gigi Perez, Gracie Abrams, HUNTR/X, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Ravyn Lenae, Rose and Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter, Sombr, and Taylor Swift.

Alternative/Rock sees Blood Orange, Lola Young, Sam Fender, Wet Leg and Wolf Alice going head-to-head.

Pop sees JADE, Lily Allen, Lola Young, Olivia Dean and RAYE going head-to-head.

Hip-Hop, Grime and Rap sees Central Cee, Dave, Jim Legxacy, Little Simz and Loyle Carner go head-to-head.

R&B sees Jim Legxacy, Kwn, Mabel, Sasha Keable and Sault go head-to-head.

While Dance sees Calvin Harris and Clementine Douglas, FKA Twigs, Fred Again.., Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax, PinkPantheress and Sammy Virji go head-to-head.

Matthew Williamson has designed this year’s trophy, inspired by “his Manchester roots and the city’s famous drive and resilience.” The amber-resin statue evokes the golden honey of a worker bee, Manchester’s enduring symbol.

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