Following the exciting news earlier this summer that The BRIT Awards with Mastercard will leave the capital for the very first time in nearly five decades, and move to a new home in Manchester for 2026 and 2027, organisers today reveal the first details of next year's ceremony as plans for 2026 start to take shape, and a new era for the UK’s biggest night in music beckons.
Stacey Tang, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, announced as Chair of the 2026 BRITs Committee
Having spearheaded the move to Manchester, Sony Music UK will steer The BRITs for the next three years, and today it is announced that Stacey Tang will be Chair of the 2026 BRITs Committee. In this role, Stacey will take responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the show, including the creative direction, with the support of the Committee which is made up of representatives from the UK major and independent record labels, BRITs TV, and the BPI.
Stacey Tang says: “As a massive music fan I always watched the BRIT Awards growing up, but revisiting the shows through the lens of Chair has given me a totally different perspective. Being inspired by the spectacle and show as a young person, now motivates me to create something that feels important nationally and globally, while capturing the brilliant and eccentric nuance of British music and culture.
The decision to move to Manchester has been met with amazing feedback from the local community and the industry. To oversee a show that’s doing something for the first time feels energising but ultimately, we also want to inject fun into the proceedings ... and people in Manchester know how to have fun!”
As Co-President of RCA Records UK, Stacey is widely recognised and celebrated for her global marketing expertise, having successfully spearheaded campaigns for UK artists such as Cat Burns, Myles Smith, JADE, Tems and Bring Me The Horizon alongside international success with Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, P!NK, SZA, Sleep Token and Future. Prior to RCA, Stacey was involved in the early careers of Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris and George Ezra. Committed to supporting social justice and diversity within the industry, Stacey sits on the board of Sony Music's Social Justice Fund, is a trustee of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, a member of ESEA Music and has an advisory role at The Evamore Music Project (Cancer Awareness Trust). Stacey was named on Billboard's UK Power Players 2025 and was recognised as the fifth most influential woman in music on BBC’s Women in Music list, behind Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Adele.
BRITs 2026 Creative Team revealed
The move to Manchester creates an unparalleled opportunity to approach the show with a fresh and innovative mindset, enabling The BRITs brand to continue growing its reach and impact. To that end, organisers today also reveal details of its best-in-class creative team that will deliver the 2026 show.
Multi-Emmy-award winning production designer Misty Buckley will be at the helm of the show once again to deliver another spectacular set design, for the first time at Manchester’s Co-op Live. With numerous accolades for her production design, including another Emmy award this year, Misty’s credits include tours and productions for global artists including Elton John, U2, Coldplay, Stormzy, Ariana Grande and Take That, in addition to the London 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the Oscars.
Double BAFTA-winning entertainment director Phil Heyes, an acclaimed specialist within Entertainment who has directed prime-time TV shows on all major US and UK networks, will apply his creative approach and vision to the 2026 BRIT Awards in Manchester. BRITs TV Executive Producer Sally Wood will lead the production in its new home for 2026, bringing her inimitable wealth of expertise, with recent credits including An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile for Disney and Dua Lipa at the Royal Albert Hall for ITV and CBS. Maggie Crowe OBE, BPI’s Director of Events & Charities, will oversee the overall running of the event.
Stacey Tang says: “It’s been a revelation getting to work alongside Sally, Misty, Phil and Maggie. I thought I had a good understanding around the amount of work that went into the show, but I have a new depth of respect and appreciation for the team. It’s an absolute gift to work with people who not only know the show inside out but know exactly how to make the impossible happen.”
Award categories and criteria evolve in line with The BRITs breaking new ground
The 2026 awards categories, eligibility and voting processes will evolve for 2026, supporting The BRITs’ ambition and vision to offer an unrivalled platform to both established and new artists, celebrate creativity and diversity, showcase stand-out British talent to a global audience, and create moments that live beyond the night itself.
The Rising Star award will revert to its original name for 2026 - the BRITs Critics’ Choice award - in acknowledgement of the importance of ‘critical acclaim’ to artists at this early and crucial stage of their career. This prestigious prize, which was introduced in 2008 to identify the future stars of British music and is decided by an expert panel of new music champions across media, broadcast and industry, has been presented to artists including Adele, Sam Smith, Sam Fender, Celeste, Jorja Smith, The Last Dinner Party and Myles Smith. It’s designed to highlight artists at the foundational point of their career, with criteria remaining the same as previous years (artists must not have yet achieved a Top 20 album or more than one Top 20 single).
The Best New Artist award will also switch in 2026 to Breakthrough Artist, celebrating the transformative point for British artists as they cut through to a wider audience and in support of the long-term development of artists and their progression, with recent recipients of this award including The Last Dinner Party, RAYE, Wet Leg and Little Simz.
The BRITs in 2026 will see 16 awards, and for Artist of the Year, International Artist of the Year, Mastercard Album of the Year, Group of the Year, International Group of the Year, artists will need to have achieved either a Top 30 Album or two Top 20 singles in the eligibility period. For the five genre awards Alternative/Rock, Dance, Hip Hop/Grime/Rap, Pop and R&B, the criteria remains as having achieved a Top 40 Album or Single.
Mastercard will continue their long-standing headline sponsorship of The BRITs as it moves into its 28th year. ITV remains the official broadcaster for the 33rd year, with the awards airing on ITV, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
These partnerships are vital in supporting and amplifying The BRITs’ vision and values, including fundraising for the awards’ charitable arm, The BRIT Trust, with a core pillar of the Trust the distribution of funds to charities which promote education and wellbeing through music, including The BRIT School and Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy.