BRIT Awards Reveals 2026 Critics' Choice Shortlist

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has revealed the three artists selected for this year’s Critics’ Choice Award, a category known for spotlighting the UK’s most promising rising talent.

Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro were announced as the contenders, revealed exclusively on BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders. The winner will be announced in January ahead of the main ceremony.

Folk musician Alon, whose debut album In Limerence earned a nomination for this year’s Mercury Prize, reacted by saying, “Ya beauty! Tapadh leibh 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!!!”

Dance pop artist Gray closed out an impressive year with her nomination, following the release of her debut album Louder, Please, which received widespread praise.

She shared, “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 Louder, Please to travel, to find its people, to really get its light. And it did. Releasing this record has genuinely changed my life. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s been part of this journey and I can't wait for what's to come. Thank you BRITs.”

Singer songwriter Spiro, who reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart with her viral hit Die on This Hill, 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!”

The Critics’ Choice award has a strong legacy of recognising artists who go on to global success, with past winners and nominees such as Dua Lipa, Adele, Florence + The Machine, James Blake, Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Smith, Jorja Smith, Griff, FLO, The Last Dinner Party, Myles Smith and many others who later achieved widespread acclaim.

The prize has returned to its original name Critics’ Choice for 2026, after being known as the Rising Star Award beginning with the 2020 ceremony, “in acknowledgement of the importance of ‘critical acclaim’ to artists at this early and crucial stage of their career.”

This year’s BRIT Awards will be held on Saturday, February 28 at Manchester’s Co op Live arena, marking the first time the event will be hosted outside London. The show will air live on ITV and ITVX.