Award season news: What to expect in the 2026 BRIT awards
One of the most anticipated award shows of the year is just around the corner.
The BRIT Awards are this week, Music News Blitz's Megan Rogers-Jones is here to tell you what to expect!
Where and when?
The BRIT Awards will be held this Saturday, and this one is making history by moving out of London for the first time in nearly 50 years.
This year it will be hosted in Manchester, also known as the ‘London of the North’.
The award show will be held in the Co-op Live arena, which is the UK’s largest indoor arena, so the Brits are getting bigger and better.
Performances
One of the arena's minority shareholders will be taking to the stage at this year's awards, and it's his first live television performance in three years and will include music from his upcoming album, yes, it's the North’s very own ‘Harry Styles’.
Also confirmed to be gracing our screens are recent Grammy nominee singer ‘Alex Warren’, Mercury prize winners ‘Wolf Alfie’, stars of award-winning Netflix show ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, and many more.
‘Jack Whitehall’ is proof that certain things are perfect as they are, as the comedian returns to host the Brits for the sixth year.
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Nominees
The nominations this year include record-breaking representation with women and non-binary artists making up almost 70% of the shortlist.
Recent Grammy winners Olivia Dean and Lola Young are both leading with 5 nominations, a big win for the girlies!
We don’t have to wait until Saturday for all the excitement.
The Special awards recognise those who have had a significant impact on the music industry and have already been announced ahead of the main ceremony.
After a big reunion with his brother and touring the globe, ‘Noel Gallagher’ won Songwriter of the year honouring his 30 year career and the cultural impact ‘Oasis’ has had and will receive his award in his hometown, Manchester.
Other awards
Other Special Awards that have been announced are the Critics’ Choice’s rising star, which is being awarded to ‘Jacob Alon’, and the Outstanding Contribution to music title, given to legendary producer ‘Mark Ronson’, who has worked with ‘Amy Winehouse’ and ‘Dua Lipa’ and will be performing at the ceremony.
Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of awards to be announced.
The BRIT awards will be available to watch on ITV from 8 pm GMT, and on ITVX on catch up.
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