Noel Gallagher to be awarded Songwriter of the Year at this year's BRIT Awards with Mastercard

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard today announces that Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s Songwriter of the Year award. The BRITs Songwriter of the Year award recognises exceptional songwriting talent, and is decided by a select panel of expert judges, with previous recipients including Ed Sheeran, Kid Harpoon, RAYE and Charli xcx. Noel will accept the award in Manchester, at the Co-op Live on 28th February.

Noel Gallagher’s songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for over 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.

In August 2024, Oasis ended 16 years of speculation by confirming a return to the live stage, in a reunion that many thought would never come to pass. The Oasis Live ‘25 tour became a cultural phenomenon, with 41 electrifying performances in cities across the world. Fans devoured a setlist packed with some of the most iconic songs in music history, with Oasis fever dominating the airwaves, streaming platforms and UK Official Charts; at one juncture during the tour the Top Five of the UK Album Chart featured three Oasis albums, with Time Flies… at Number 1, (What's The Story) Morning Glory? at 2 and Definitely Maybe at 4. Oasis sold in excess of 1 million albums in 2025 alone - the only UK artist to achieve such a feat.

Noel’s songwriting for Oasis defined a cultural movement, delivering seven studio albums and forming a catalogue which contains some of the most recognisable songs in British music history, including ‘Live Forever’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’. Beyond Oasis, Noel released four critically and commercially successful studio albums with his High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Chasing Yesterday, Who Built the Moon? and Council Skies - and a 10 years solo career retrospective with the chart topping Back the Way We Came: Vol 1.

Alongside his brother, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Noel has multiple BRITs to his name so far, with the group taking home awards including Best British Group, Album of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Music. Noel’s songwriting has also been recognised by the Ivor Novello Awards, taking home the prestigious Outstanding Song Collection award in 2013.

News is coming thick and fast ahead of the BRITs’ debut at its new Manchester home, with a line-up of global, critically acclaimed stars confirmed to perform. Outstanding Contribution to Music recipient Mark Ronson, announced this week, joins Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Wolf Alice, with more to be announced over the coming weeks.

The BRIT Awards will be broadcast live from Co-op Live on Saturday 28th February, exclusively on ITV and ITVX. Award-winning comedian and writer Jack Whitehall returns to host the show, and the winners of each category will each take home the iconic BRITs trophy, this year conceptualised and designed by internationally acclaimed and Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson, inspired by his roots to the city.

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: ⁠"For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story - bold, brilliant, and always recognisable. His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally. Honouring Noel as Songwriter of the Year celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”

The public vote is open for Song of the Year with Mastercard and International Song of the Year, exclusively on WhatsApp as part of The BRITs continued partnership with Meta. To vote, fans can head to the BRITs WhatsApp channel or BRITs socials from midday today (Friday 30th January) until the vote closes at 6pm on Friday 13th February. Further information on the vote can be found at brits.co.uk/vote.

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28th February from Manchester’s Co-op Live.

Nominations were recently announced for this year’s awards. Leading the charge for 2026 are Olivia Dean and Lola Young with five nominations each, closely followed by Sam Fender with four nominations following his Mercury Prize win last year. Other British artists up for awards this year include Lily Allen, Calvin Harris, JADE, Wolf Alice, Ed Sheeran, Little Simz, PinkPantheress, RAYE, Skye Newman, Wet Leg and more. British icons Pulp have received their first nomination since 1996. 

Hollywood is also represented in this year’s nominations, with two of 2025’s biggest cultural moments featured with Cynthia Erivo for her rendition of Wicked’s ‘Defying Gravity’ and KPop Demon Hunter’s ‘Golden’ from HUNTR/X - EJAE / Audrey Nuna / REI AMi. A number of artists have received nominations across International categories too, including Bad Bunny, Doechii, ROSALÍA, sombr, Chappell Roan, CMAT, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, HAIM and Tame Impala. 

Scottish singer/songwriter Jacob Alon was also recently announced as the winner of this year’s BRITs Critics’ Choice. Rose Gray and SIENNA SPIRO joined Jacob on the shortlist of the prestigious Critics’ Choice award.  

Details for the BRITs Fringe, a programme of engagement taking place across Manchester ahead of this year’s event, were also announced recently. BRITs Fringe celebrates the city’s rich musical heritage, its vibrant contemporary scene and the next generation shaping the future of UK music.

Award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and writer Jack Whitehall will be the host for this year’s ceremony. The news was announced via his “Ode to Manchester”, shared exclusively across BRITs’ socials. In true Jack fashion, he covers everything from the cobbles of Coronation Street to the Curry Mile, the Industrial Revolution to the invention of barm cake. Jack’s return to Manchester marks his sixth time presenting the show, having previously hosted in 2025, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.  

This year the BRIT award has been designed by internationally acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson. Inspired by his Manchester roots and the city’s famous drive and resilience, the trophy is amber toned resin - resembling the golden honey of a worker bee, the city’s mascot - atop a globe representing the worldwide reach of British music. 

Mastercard will continue their long-standing headline sponsorship of The BRITs as it moves into its 29th year. ITV remains the official broadcaster for the 34th 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.