The BRIT Awards has announced that British designer Matthew Williamson is the creative force behind the 2026 trophy.
Inspired by his Manchester roots and the city’s famous drive and resilience, the trophy is amber-toned resin – resembling the golden honey of a worker bee, the city’s mascot – atop a globe representing the worldwide reach of British music.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday, February 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live, marking the first time the event has been held in the city and outside of London.
The BRIT trophy design project was led by Matthew Williamson, together with Stacey Tang, BRITs chair and co-president of RCA, and Glyn Aikins, co-president of RCA.
Matthew Williamson said: “Following in the footsteps of great designers and artists before me, it’s an honour and a career highlight to design the 2026 BRITs trophy. The BRITs is an event I've watched since childhood, and I’m still so immersed in it to this day. I've always looked at it in awe and wonder, so to even be offered this opportunity feels like a real milestone moment.”
As a creative from Manchester, he's brought a unique perspective to the design process, developing a simple, sophisticated and striking concept
Stacey Tang
On his inspiration for this year’s trophy, he added: “I wanted to create something timeless and stylish that each recipient would feel proud to own and display. Whilst colour and pattern may have been a more predictable route for me, I wanted to pause, take stock and offer something truly personal to me. Above all, I wanted to ensure it connected to Manchester, the BRITs’ new location and my hometown.
“Cast in a chic amber toned resin, the statue resembles the golden honey of a worker bee, Manchester‘s logo symbolising the city's role during the Industrial Revolution and so much more. This spirit to work hard and be part of the essential fabric of the nation still resonates with me today. The BRITs also represents the global reach of British music and so I designed the statue to sit on top of a globe. I imagine each deserving winner will feel on top of the world as they receive their award and I cannot wait to see the trophy I designed being part of the celebrations on the night.”
Stacey Tang, chair of the BRIT Awards and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: “The BRITs' move to Manchester has enabled us to think about how we do things in such a brilliant and different way so I am delighted that Matthew accepted the invitation to design the award for next year's show. As a creative from Manchester, he's brought a unique perspective to the design process, developing a simple, sophisticated and striking concept that embodies the spirit and values of the city and is also a visual statement for the show, supporting our ambition to put British music on the global stage. We couldn't be more pleased with what Matthew has created, and to have him be part of such a historic show in BRITs history.”
Glyn Aikins, co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: "I’m thrilled to welcome Matthew Williamson as the designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy. Matthew’s bold, expressive creativity has shaped British fashion for over two decades, and his work has always stood at the intersection of art, style and cultural imagination. His vision for this year’s trophy draws inspiration from the iconic worker bee, a powerful symbol of Manchester’s resilience, community and creative spirit. The result brings a new sense of colour, optimism and individuality to the BRITs, perfectly capturing the energy of British music today. I couldn’t be more excited to unveil his design to artists, fans and the wider creative community."
