The BRIT Awards has revealed its brand-new trophy design for 2026, drawing inspiration from the ceremony’s new host city. See the preview video below.
Next year’s ceremony is due to take place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on Saturday February 28. It’ll mark the first time in history that the event is being held outside of London.
The awards, which were previously held at The O2 in the capital, will then return to the Co-op Live in 2027. Plans for the 2028 instalment have not yet been confirmed.
Today (Wednesday November 19), organisers have shared details of the new BRIT Award statue. The project was led by acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson, who drew inspiration from “his Manchester roots and the city’s famous drive and resilience”.
The amber-toned resin trophy resembles the golden honey of a worker bee – Manchester’s mascot – atop a globe representing the worldwide reach of British music. It is described as being “simple, sophisticated and striking”.
Williamson, who worked on the design alongside Stacey Tang, BRIT Awards Committee Chair and Co-President of RCA, and Glyn Aikins, Co-President of RCA, explained: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Williamson added: “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.”
Born in Manchester, Williamson has been celebrated throughout his 30-year career for his vibrant use of colour, bold patterns, and unique fusion of fashion and interiors.
He began his work in the mid-’90s, quickly attracting a global following. Since his debut collection at London Fashion Week in 1997, Williamson has worked across multiple disciplines, collaborated with brands including Bulgari, Swarovski and H&M, and served as Creative Director at Emilio Pucci.
Stacey Tang explained: “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.”
She concluded: “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.”
ITV remains the official BRIT Awards broadcaster for the 34th year. The ceremony is set to air exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. The nominations for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said previously: “For The BRIT Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester. After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture.”