Ask Onix
Brit Awards move to Manchester for first time in 46 years
The 46th Brit Awards will take place in Manchester this Saturday, marking the first time the ceremony has been held outside London since its launch in 1977. Olivia Dean and Lola Young, both London-born artists, lead the nominations with five each, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive night.
Diverse nominations reflect shifting musical landscape
The 2026 shortlist highlights a broad spectrum of talent, from Lily Allen's critically acclaimed break-up album West End Girl to songs from hit musicals Wicked and KPop Demon Hunters. Britpop veterans Pulp also earned a best group nomination, three decades after their infamous 1996 protest during Michael Jackson's performance.
This year's race stands out for its unpredictability, particularly in the best British artist category, where Dean, Young, Allen, Dave, Sam Fender, and PinkPantheress are all strong contenders. Dean's sophomore album, The Art of Loving, has dominated charts since its October release, but she faces stiff competition from Mercury Prize winner Sam Fender and Allen's raw divorce memoir in song.
Harry Styles returns with mystery performance
Harry Styles will take the stage to perform Aperture, the lead single from his upcoming album Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally. Details remain tightly guarded, with closed-door rehearsals at Manchester's Co-Op Arena keeping fans guessing. Styles will also appear in a comedic sketch with host Jack Whitehall, though his team reportedly vetoed the comedian's more outlandish ideas, including a gag involving Styles as a Hagrid-like recluse.
The performance follows Styles' last Brits appearance in 2023, when he won four awards, including album of the year, for As It Was.
Tributes and lifetime achievement awards
The ceremony will honour late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne with a posthumous lifetime achievement award. A tribute performance of No More Tears, arranged by his wife Sharon Osbourne, will feature Robbie Williams. Foo Fighters, performing in Manchester the night before, may also make an appearance to pay respects to the Black Sabbath frontman.
Mark Ronson will receive the Outstanding Contribution award, with a star-studded finale expected to showcase his hits like Uptown Funk and Dance The Night. Meanwhile, Noel Gallagher, despite confessing he hasn't written a song in two years, will be named Songwriter of the Year. PinkPantheress, the first woman to win Producer of the Year, called the accolade "bittersweet."
Emerging talent and historic moments
Jacob Alon, the Scottish folk artist and Mercury Prize nominee, will receive the rising star award and perform live. Pulp's nomination for best group revives memories of frontman Jarvis Cocker's 1996 stage invasion during Michael Jackson's performance-a moment Cocker now views with mixed feelings.
"For a while, I thought that was really the only thing I was going to ever be remembered for. It put me into a kind of recognisability bracket that I could never have imagined. I'd always wanted to be famous from being a young kid. I got it, and then I regretted it."
Jarvis Cocker, Pulp frontman
How to watch
The ceremony will air live on ITV and ITVX at 20:15 GMT, with UK viewers able to stream it on ITV's YouTube channel. International audiences can tune in via the Brit Awards' official YouTube page. BBC News will cover the red carpet from 17:00 GMT, with live interviews and text commentary available on their website.
Confirmed performers include Harry Styles, PinkPantheress, Jacob Alon, and Pulp, among others.
