The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has revealed the nominees for the revived BRITs Critics’ Choice supported by BBC Radio 1.
Amid growing optimism about the global impact of UK talent, including international success for acts including Olivia Dean, Raye, Lola Young and Central Cee, the return of the Critics’ Choice comes at a crucial time for the music industry.
Our recent special interview series with Universal Music Group UK presidents and CEO & chairman Dickon Stainer was focused on the export opportunities for domestic talent.
The award (previously known as Rising Star) has reverted to its original name of Critics’ Choice for 2026, in acknowledgement of the importance of ‘critical acclaim’ to artists at this early and crucial stage of their career.
Jacob Alon (Island Records), Rose Gray (Polydor) and Sienna Spiro (Capitol/Method) are the artists nominated for the 2026 BRITs Critics’ Choice supported by BBC Radio 1. The shortlist continues to act as a “barometer for the next generation of British talent”, said a statement.
The nominations were exclusively revealed this evening on Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders. The winner will be announced in January.
This year’s finalists are a great reminder that commercial momentum grows from creative ambition and artistic bravery
Stacey Tang
Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: "How exciting to spotlight a new wave of UK musicians shaping popular culture. Awards and recognition for emerging artists is now more important than ever, and Critics’ Choice has long championed brilliantly talented new artists.
“This cohort shares the same early spark displayed by previous winners like Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Fender, Myles Smith and Emeli Sande. This year’s finalists are a great reminder that commercial momentum grows from creative ambition and artistic bravery."
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday, February 28 from Manchester’s Co-op Live, marking the first time the event has been held in the city and outside of London, and will also be broadcast on ITV and ITVX.
The 2026 cohort follow former winners and nominees who have gone on to achieve success after being shortlisted, including Dua Lipa, Adele, Florence + The Machine, James Blake, Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Smith, Jorja Smith, Griff, Flo, The Last Dinner Party, Myles Smith and more.
The prize was introduced in 2008 to identify the future stars of British music and is decided by an expert panel of new music champions across media, broadcast and industry.
The Critic’s Choice is designed to highlight British artists at the foundational point of their career, with criteria remaining the same as previous years: artists must not have yet achieved a Top 20 album or more than one Top 20 single.
2026 BRITs Critics Choice shortlist
Emerging from Edinburgh’s folk community, Jacob Alon has already secured a Mercury Prize nod for this year’s debut album In Limerence and became the first Scottish winner of BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Year.
“Even though I’m Scottish and Irish before I’m British, I appreciate the BRITs critics for this recognition,” said Jacob Alon. “I really care about and believe in this music and it makes my world brighter every time it reaches someone else.”
East London pop/electronic artist Rose Gray broke through with 2025 debut album Louder, Please. She has toured Europe supporting Kesha, Confidence Man and Sugababes.
Now signed to Polydor (previously PIAS), she is collaborating with long-time creative partners Justin Tranter and Sega Bodega and aims to push deeper into dance-driven experimentation for new music.
“This moment feels like a special reminder of how far this journey has carried me and what a crazy year it’s been,” said Rose Gray. “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.”
Sienna Spiro’s latest release, the ballad Die On This Hill, has become her first UK Top 10 hit with consumption to date of 106,708 units (Official Charts Company). Two other singles reached new chart peaks in recent weeks.
“So beyond honoured and grateful to be nominated for this year's Critics' Choice BRIT Award!” said Sienna Spiro. “To think I started releasing music last year, I would never have expected this at all. Thank you so much!”
The track Maybe has earned praise from artists including SZA, Snoh Aalegra, Finneas and Mark Ronson.
Following her sold-out UK and European headline tour, she joined Sam Smith on a duet of Lay Me Down at the UK star’s New York residency. Spiro has also stepped onto major stages at All Points East and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, as well as supporting Teddy Swims across the US.
In the US, Spiro made her late night TV debut performing Maybe on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and her morning TV debut with Die On This Hill on Today.
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)
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