BRITs 2026: nominations date and Fringe details revealed

With just over a month to go until the main event, the BRITs today announces details of the first-ever BRITs Fringe programme and Bring on the BRITs with Mastercard: The 2026 Nominations.

In a first for the iconic award ceremony, BRITs Fringe will celebrate the rich musical heritage of Manchester, its 2026-2027 host city, shining a spotlight on its vibrant scene and the next generation shaping the future of UK music.

Delivered by Brighter Sound, a locally rooted and globally connected music development organisation - in collaboration with Manchester Music City and supported by Manchester City Council, GMCA and the Manchester Accommodation BID - BRITs Fringe will highlight Manchester’s dynamic music scene through an exciting programme of events.

This comes just says after the announcement of the BRITs Week 26 for War Child delivered by DHL line-up, too. Exciting times.

MORE: Every BRITs Critics' Choice winner ever

At the centre of the BRITs Fringe celebration is FRINGE LAB, a one-day creative music industry forum, mixer and live showcase at New Century Hall on Friday 27th February, the eve of the BRITs. Bringing together emerging artists, music professionals and creatives, FRINGE LAB will host bold talks, workshops, immersive masterclasses and high-energy discussions. The day culminates in a public live showcase spotlighting four of Manchester’s potential future BRIT Award winners.

In the days leading up to the awards, Brighter Sound will also deliver BRITs Fringe: First Steps – a trio of targeted development events for young learners aimed at supporting them to pursue careers in the music industry. Hosted at Band on the Wall, the School of Digital Arts (SODA) and the Royal Northern College of Music, these sessions aim to inspire, upskill and empower the next generation of Manchester’s music talent.

A collaborative project with Manchester's music education service will take BRITs Fringe into schools across the city, too, further encouraging early musical engagement and nurturing creativity at every level.

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK says: "We’re excited to launch the first programme of BRITs Fringe events, helping to unlock opportunities and reach the creative communities within Manchester. The BRIT Awards have a strong history of championing music education, and these events will give local communities a chance to be part of the biggest night in British music, while highlighting the region’s unique culture and talent. I’m grateful for the energy our partners have brought to this remarkable series of events, creating space for the next generation of creative talent."

Kate Lowes, Director at Brighter Sound, adds: "We’re incredibly proud to be delivering the very first BRITs Fringe, and it feels especially fitting that it’s happening in Manchester – known for its long history of being a true 'city of firsts.' We're also delighted to be working with a steering group of incredible Greater Manchester creatives and music professionals (made up of representatives from the Manchester Music City network and the Greater Manchester Music Commission) to ensure the BRITs Fringe is rooted in local scenes.

Brighter Sound has always supported and championed underrepresented creative voices and aims to make music-making accessible, inclusive, and rooted in community. Everything we do is led from the heart, with grassroots creativity at the centre. BRITs Fringe is about ensuring that the energy, ideas, and talent coming from the ground up have a real presence and impact around the BRIT Awards. By creating space for emerging artists, young people, and new voices, we’re helping to shape the next generation of creative talent – while showing how a values-led approach can influence the biggest stages in music."

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, comments: "Manchester is known the world over for music and for the musical talent that has come out of the city - which is why The BRITs and Manchester are such a perfect fit for each other.

"Music in all its forms makes a massive contribution to the economic wellbeing of the city thanks to an infrastructure that supports both major music artists and local up and coming musicians.  

"Our independent music scene is legendary and continues to grow, with well-established networks of support for creatives across the city. This year's first-ever BRITs Fringe looks set to build brilliantly on this by providing some incredible additional opportunities in the run-up to the awards both for local Manchester artists to directly showcase their talents, and also for young people looking to break into the music industry to hear direct from people already working in the sector."

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive, says: "The BRIT Awards are as much about the lasting cultural and economic impact they help to create, as they are presenting a compelling global platform to showcase the next generation of brilliant new talent and a stage to entertain and inspire audiences. That’s why we’re so delighted to develop our first BRITs Fringe with Brighter Sound and with Manchester Music City and other valued partners – so that we can really turn up the dial and engage communities across the city and region.  We want the fans to know this is as much their event, and to encourage them to embrace all that The BRIT Awards with Mastercard will bring to Manchester."

When are the BRIT Awards 2026 nominations announced?

This year's nominees will be revealed on Wednesday January 21 from 5pm via Bring on the BRITs with Mastercard: The 2026 Nominations, livestreamed exclusively across the BRITs' official Instagram and Facebook pages.

Presented by DJ and BBC Radio 1 broadcaster Sarah Story and presenter and content creator Charley Marlowe, Bring on The BRITs with Mastercard, filmed at Co-op Live, will feature exclusive interviews with some of this year’s nominees, and a performance from the 2026 BRITs Critics’ Choice winner.

When are the BRIT Awards 2026?

The 2026 BRITs will take place on Saturday February 28.

Where are the BRIT Awards 2026 held?

For the first time ever, this year's BRITs will be held outside of London, at Manchester's Co-op Live.

Who is hosting the BRIT Awards 2026?

Jack Whitehall returns to host this year's ceremony for the sixth time.