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BRIT Awards 2026 nominations and first performer announced live in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 21st January 2026

The full list of nominations for the BRIT Awards 2026 have been announced today live from Manchester, as the landmark music awards ceremony moves up north for the first time in its 30-year history.

With just weeks to go until the Co-op Live arena hosts one of the biggest nights in music, all eyes are firmly on Manchester.

And now, thanks to a live broadcast from the venue this afternoon, we know exactly who’s up for an award – and have our first live performer confirmed too.

Olivia Dean is set to perform live at the BRIT Awards when they take place in Manchester on Saturday 28 February.

She’s out in front as one of the most-nominated artists too, with five nominations including MasterCard Album of the Year, Song of the Year (for Man I Need), and Artist of the Year.

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Also coming out on top with five nominations is Lola Young, marking a key moment for the next generation of British talent.

With four nominations, there’s Sam Fender, following on from his Mercury Prize win.

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And with three nominations apiece is Lily Allen, Wolf Alice, Dave, Fred Again, and Jim Legxacy.

Representing as one of the north’s greatest bands are Sheffield’s Pulp, who have their first BRIT Awards nomination in 30 years.

Other artists to be recognised include Jade, Chapel Roan, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Little Simz, Skye Newman, Sombr, Wet Leg, and loads more.

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The live-streamed announcement has been hosted by Charley Marlowe and Sarah Storey, with artists nominated across 15 categories revealed today at Co-op Live, and viewers given a glimpse inside the new home of the BRIT Awards.

There was also a performance from this year’s Critics Choice winner, Jacob Alon.

The actual awards will take place on 28 February, hosted by Jack Whitehall, with an amazing new trophy designed by Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson.

The BRIT Awards 2026 nominations have been revealed in Manchester

Some winners will be determined by public vote, including Song of the Year with Mastercard, and International Song of the Year – voting is open on the BRITs WhatsApp channel and socials from Friday 30 January until Friday 13 February.

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “The breadth of artists nominated reflects a thriving year in music and reaffirms that British artists continue to capture imaginations across the globe. I think this list is a powerful demonstration of how vibrant and varied music is right now, with artists across different genres and generations reflecting music that is both commercially successful and has lasting cultural impact.

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“At its core, the BRIT Awards exists to celebrate creativity, and these nominations set the stage for an exciting and memorable night.”

BPI Chief Executive, Dr Jo Twist OBE, said: “It’s fantastic to see British talent doing so well across the board, especially a next generation of brilliant artists who have broken through with such impact on the global stage in the past 12 months led by Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Sam Fender, PinkPantheress, Skye Newman, among others – our congratulations to all The BRITs nominees and their labels.

“The BRIT Awards with Mastercard in Manchester will provide a compelling moment for them all to shine brightly and to spotlight the diverse breadth of talent drawn across the UK and internationally.”

The BRIT Awards 2026 nominations in full

Artist of the year

  • Dave
  • Fred again..
  • JADE
  • Lily Allen
  • Little Simz
  • Lola Young
  • Olivia Dean
  • PinkPantheress
  • Sam Fender
  • Self Esteem

Group of the year

  • The Last Dinner Party
  • Pulp
  • Sleep Token
  • Wet Leg
  • Wolf Alice

Album of the year

  • Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
  • Lily Allen – West End Girl
  • Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving
  • Sam Fender – People Watching
  • Wolf Alice – The Clearing

Song of the year

  • Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas – Blessings
  • Chrystal & Notion – The Days (Notion Remix)
  • Cynthia Erivo (feat. Ariana Grande) – Defying Gravity
  • Ed Sheeran – Azizam
  • Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax – Victory Lap
  • Lewis Capaldi – Survive
  • Lola Young – Messy
  • Myles Smith – Nice To Meet You
  • Olivia Dean – Man I Need
  • Raye – Where Is My Husband!
  • Sam Fender (with Olivia Dean) – Rein Me In
  • Skye Newman – Family Matters

International artist of the year

  • Bad Bunny
  • Chappell Roan
  • CMAT
  • Doechii
  • Lady Gaga
  • Rosalía
  • Sabrina Carpenter
  • Sombr
  • Taylor Swift
  • Tyler, The Creator

International group of the year

  • Geese
  • Haim
  • Huntr/x, Ejae / Audrey Nuna/ Rei Ami
  • Tame Impala
  • Turnstile

International song of the year

  • Alex Warren – Ordinary
  • Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
  • Disco Lines & Tinashe – No Broke Boys
  • Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
  • Gracie Abrams – That’s So True
  • Huntr/x, Ejae / Audrey Nuna/ Rei Ami – Golden
  • Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
  • Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not
  • Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT.
  • Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
  • Sombr – Undressed
  • Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

Breakthrough artist

  • Barry Can’t Swim
  • EsDeeKid
  • Jim Legxacy
  • Lola Young
  • Skye Newman

Critics’ Choice

  • Jacob Alon (winner)
  • Rose Gray
  • Sienna Spiro

Best alternative / rock act

  • Blood Orange
  • Lola Young
  • Sam Fender
  • Wet Leg
  • Wolf Alice

Best pop act

  • Jade
  • Lily Allen
  • Lola Young
  • Olivia Dean
  • Raye

Best hip-hop / rap / grime act

  • Central Cee
  • Dave
  • Jim Legxacy
  • Little Simz
  • Loyle Carner

Best R&B act

  • Jim Legxacy
  • Kwn
  • Mabel
  • Sasha Keable
  • Sault

Best dance act

  • Calvin Harris & Clementine Douglas
  • FKA twigs
  • Fred again..Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax
  • PinkPantheress
  • Sammy Virji

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Audio

Manc rock band left ‘broke as f***’ despite just finishing EU arena tour as industry concerns grow

Danny Jones Danny Jones Witch Fever broke even after EU arena tour with Volbeat

Manchester musicians Witch Fever have revealed that they are now almost completely “broke” despite having just finished touring with a major rock band on a lengthy arena run across Europe, as concerns continue to grow around shows in the EU.

Post-Brexit, it has become increasingly more difficult for UK bands not only to make money playing around the mainland but to even book support slots in the first place.

From more stringent visa requirements that limit the amount of time they can perform on the road, as well as other essential work permits, to tax, transport and wider logistics, almost every aspect of the live music landscape has become more complicated on the continent.

Unfortunately, ‘Doom-punk’ outfit Witch Fever is one of countless groups being affected by these issues; opening up on a recent podcast appearance, they said that this is simply “what the music industry is like at the moment.”

As you can see, speaking in the most recent episode of the 101 Part Time Jobs with Giles Bidder – a fellow artist as well as pod and radio host – two members of the local outfit put it as plainly as they could: “we’re broke as f***”.

Breaking things down into as basic terms as possible, bassist Alex Thompson said that while the “fees are [already] low, the costs are getting higher and higher” relative to what they can afford.

Thompson went on to admit that she is now relying on the remainder of her late mother’s pension to get by and that no one in the band can even get a steady enough job right now because they’re heading back out on tour again this March.

As explained by lead singer Amy Walpole, the band has only just finished supporting Danish veterans Volbeat, but any potential ‘profit’ from the two-months’ worth of shows is currently “stuck in withholding taxes across Europe” – a common problem for most British artists trying to play overseas right now.

Surprisingly, they even received a little bit of backlash on social media since the interview (which you can watch in full HERE) went live.

It wasn’t long ago that the Witch Fever gang booked a big hometown gig here in the city centre, either, as their warm-up shows for Volbeat also involved a trip to the AO Arena back in November.

We’ve seen them live a couple of times now, and if those shows were anything to go by, we really think you should go see them on their upcoming tour.

As it happens, we put them on our artists of the month round-up in January 2024, and they’ve only got bigger since then; it’s more important than ever that we support rising bands and grassroots venues on our doorstep when we can.

If you’re interested, you can grab your tickets now. Even if not, in the meantime, you can see what we had to say about them and four other fantastic Greater-Manchester-based bands down below.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | January 2024
There are lots of other bands that need our support now more than ever.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press shot (supplied)/101 Part Time Jobs (screenshot via YouTube)

Audio

A$AP Rocky announces huge Manchester gig on new world tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A$AP Rocky announces huge Manchester gig on new world tour

A$AP Rocky is heading out on a massive world tour, and is including a gig here in Manchester.

The rapper, producer, actor and entrepreneur has just announced his upcoming 2026 tour, the Don’t Be Dumb World Tour, with a whopping 42 dates across the globe.

This will be fans’ first chance to hear his latest album and first release in eight years, Don’t Be Dumb, live.

The huge A$AP Rocky tour kicks off this May in the USA, before heading across to Europe in July.

That leg will include a gig at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday 5 September, one of only three UK shows on the tour.

The announcement has come hot on the heels of the release of his fourth album last week, which Billboard has said ‘not only rewards patience but adds new wrinkles to the rapper’s approach — an evolved relationship with melody and a wiser lyrical slant’.

It became Spotify’s most pre-saved hip-hop album, with one million saves even before its release.

As well as his music career, A$AP Rocky has starred in films including the Golden Globe-winning If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and has cemented himself as a fashion icon with his work as co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala.

He’s also been announced as the creative director for Ray-Ban, and was appointed as Chanel’s new house ambassador.

General sale for the Don’t Be Dumb World Tour will go live at 9am on Tuesday 27 January HERE.

There’ll be artist pre-sales, a Mastercard pre-sale, and various VIP packages available too.

Don’t Be Dumb European tour 2026 dates

  • Tue Aug 25 Brussels, Belgium ING Arena
  • Thu Aug 27 Amsterdam, Netherlands Ziggo Dome
  • Sun Aug 30 London, UK O2 Arena
  • Wed Sep 02 Dublin, Ireland 3Arena
  • Fri Sep 04 Glasgow, UK OVO Hydro
  • Sat Sep 05 Manchester, UK Co-op Live
  • Tue Sep 08 Cologne, Germany Lanxess Arena
  • Thu Sep 10 Milan, Italy I-DAYS*
  • Fri Sep 11 Munich, Germany Olympiahalle
  • Sun Sep 13 Lodz, Poland Atlas Arena
  • Wed Sep 16 Hamburg, Germany Barclays Arena
  • Fri Sep 18 Copenhagen, Denmark Royal Arena
  • Sun Sep 20 Oslo, Norway Unity Arena
  • Mon Sep 21 Stockholm, Sweden Avicii Arena
  • Thu Sep 24 Riga, Latvia Xiaomi Arena
  • Fri Sep 25 Kaunas, Lithuania Zalgiris Arena
  • Mon Sep 28 Berlin, Germany Uber Arena
  • Wed Sep 30 Paris, France Accor Arena

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Featured image: @pleckham

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