Noel Gallagher to be awarded prestigious Songwriter of the Year at 2026 BRITs in Manchester

Noel Gallagher is set to receive a special honour at this year’s BRIT Awards.

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has just announced that Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s ‘Songwriter of the Year’ award, which is an accolade that recognises exceptional songwriting talent, and is decided by a select panel of expert judges – with previous recipients ranging from Ed Sheeran through to Charli xcx.

Noel will accept the award in person when the BRITs comes to Manchester for the first time ever at Co-op Live on 28 February. 

According to the panel of expert judges, Noel’s songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for more than 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.

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Of course, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Oasis ended 16 years of speculation by confirming a return to the stage last year 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 – including right here in Manchester’s Heaton Park.

Oasis sold in excess of one million albums in 2025 alone, the only UK artist to achieve such a feat… and the albums didn’t even come out in that year.

Alongside his brother, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Noel has multiple BRITs to his name so far, but this time around, it’s Noel’s chance to shine in his own right with this important accolade.

“For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story – bold, brilliant, and always recognisable,” commented Stacey Tang, who is the Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, as Noel’s songwriting honour was announced last night.

⁠“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.”

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• Huge artists announce intimate charity gigs for BRITs Week 26 for War Child
• All the artists announced to perform at the BRIT Awards 2026 in Manchester (… so far)

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28 February from Manchester’s Co-op Live, and audiences at home can watch on ITV live or stream later on ITVX.

Comedian and actor Jack Whitehall will return to presenting duties in 2026 – his sixth time hosting the show.

Featured Image – RTP (via Flickr)