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The nominees for the Critics’ Choice award at the 2026 BRITs in Manchester have been revealed

If you haven't heard of them already, you'll see plenty more of them soon.

Danny Jones - 4th December 2025

With the upcoming BRITs ceremony coming to Manchester, we’re more all over the nominations than ever, especially now that the Critics’ Choice nominees for 2026 have been confirmed.

In case this rather massive news somehow passed you by, Manchester is set to host the BRIT Awards for the first time ever next year, and we’re understandably buzzing about it.

2023 was the annual Chanel ‘Metiers D’Art’ show, 2024 was the MTV EMAs, and next summer will see the BRITs; gosh, Manchester really is in vogue, isn’t it?

Anyway, here’s who’s been nominated this year:

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The 2026 BRITs Critics’ Choice Awards nominees

Jacob Alon

First up is a non-binary singer with roots all over the country, best-known for tracks like ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’, ‘Fairy In A Bottle’ and ‘Liquid Gold 25’. This year really has been a golden one for him, having also been nominated for the Mercury Prize, despite ultimately missing out to Sam Fender.

Commenting on the nomination, he told the BRITs: “Ya beauty! Tapadh leibh [‘thank you’ in Gaelic] for recognising my work for this award, you legends! Even though I’m Scottish and Irish before I’m British, I appreciate the BRITs critics for this recognition.

“I really care about and believe in this music, and it makes my world brighter every time it reaches someone else. Hopefully, this nomination means some more beautiful people might find something in this wee album. ‘Mon the gays!”

Rose Gray

Next up in the nods is London’s Rose Gray – a solo star who has developed a cult following thanks to songs like ‘ATTENTION!’, ‘Wet & Wild’, ‘Angel of Satisfaction’ and more.

Also the long-time partner and childhood sweetheart of Babygirl, Iron Claw and The King’s Man actor, Harris Dickinson, Gray has been riding a particular wave of popularity over the past year or so, especially after the release of her A Little Louder, Please (Deluxe) double album this past October.

She said in a statement: “I’m so excited for this nomination! This moment feels like a special reminder of how far this journey has carried me and what a crazy year it’s been. One year ago, I was manifesting so hard for my album to travel, to find its people, to really get its light. And it did. Releasing this record has genuinely changed my life…”

we made a movie https://t.co/dKMzWiY4fn pic.twitter.com/MuKAcqyc7F
— ☆*:. ｡Rose Gray ｡.:*☆ (@rosegray_) November 22, 2025

Sienna Spiro

Lastly, in at number three is the 20-year-old singer-songwriter, Sienna Spiro, whose soulful voice sounds like one with much more life experience and years of emotion under its belt; it’s no wonder that she’s resonated with multiple generations, let alone been recognised by the panel.

With big theatrical ballads like ‘Die On This Hill’, ‘You Stole The Show’, as well as heavily-streamed songs like ‘MAYBE.’, ‘BACK TO BLONDE’ and more in her impressive and fast-growing discography, we know she’ll go far even if she doesn’t win – you can bank on that.

She added: “So beyond honoured and grateful to be nominated for this year’s Critics’ Choice BRIT Award! To think I started releasing music last year, I would never have expected this at all. Thank you so much!”

@siennaspiro
Die On This Hill Visualizer OUT NOW ON YOUTUBE Link in bioooo 🦕
♬ Die On This Hill – SIENNA SPIRO

Having looked again at the list of people who’ve been both shortlisted and those who have gone on to win it, trust us, you’ll want to be paying attention to this one…

For context:

Past BRITs Critics’ Choice / Rising Star winners and nominees

2008 – Adele (Duffy, Foals)
2009 – Florence + The Machine (Little Boots, White Lies)
2010 – Ellie Goulding (Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds)
2011 – Jessie J (James Blake, The Vaccines)
2012 – Emeli Sandé (Michael Kiwanuka, Maverick Sabre)
2013 – Tom Odell (AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula)
2014 – Sam Smith (Ella Eyre, Chlöe Howl)
2015 – James Bay (George The Poet, Years & Years)
2016 – Jack Garratt (Izzy Bizu, Frances)
2017 – Rag ’n’ Bone Man (Anne Marie, Dua Lipa)
2018 – Jorja Smith (Stefflon Don, Mabel)
2019 – Sam Fender (Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia)
2020 – Celeste (Beabadoobee, Joy Crookes)
2021 – Griff (Pa Salieu, Rina Sawayama)
2022 – Holly Humberstone (Bree Runway, Lola Young)
2023 – FLO (Cat Burns, Nia Archives)
2024 – The Last Dinner Party (Caity Baser, Sekou)
2025 – Myles Smith (Elemiene, Good Neighbours)

So yeah, it’s fair to say that anyone even in the running for this accolade tends to go on to do even more bigger and better things than they already have.

Tickets to be at the 2026 BRIT Awards at Co-op Live in person for whoever picks up the Critics’ Choice gong, as well as all the other categories, are live now.

If you’re interested, you can grab yours HERE.