Jack Whitehall has spoken to NME about returning to host the BRITs for a record-breaking sixth time, as well as the artists on his radar, wanting a “few little hand grenades” in the live show, and what he has planned next.
This year’s instalment will be held on Saturday (February 28) at the Co-op Live in Manchester – the first time that it has been held outside of London in its nearly 50-year history.
Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, HUNTR/X’s EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, Wolf Alice, Mark Ronson, Alex Warren, Sombr, RAYE and Rosalía have already been announced as performers, and viewers at home will be able to watch the ceremony live on both ITV and YouTube.
Among those already named as winners are Jacob Alon (BRITs Critics’ Choice Award), Mark Ronson (Outstanding Contribution to Music), Noel Gallagher (Songwriter Of The Year award), and PinkPantheress. The latter has become the latest Producer Of The Year winner, making her the youngest recipient of the award and the first woman to take home the trophy.
Comedian Jack Whitehall is back to host the ceremony – returning to the role for a sixth time, having already taken it on in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025.
“It’s great to be back. I’ve had such an amazing time hosting this award show and it’s wonderful that they keep asking me because it’s one of the highlights of my year, getting to be at the centre of this huge celebration of music,” the comedian, actor and writer told NME. “It feels like being the ring master in this crazy circus.”
As for whether the monumental task gets easier each time around, Whitehall said that he is still cautious to not let his guard down – particularly given the impressive number of unpredictable, viral moments seen over the years.
“There is a little bit of muscle memory, and I don’t think I shit the bed quite as much as I used to. In those early years it was quite terrifying and exhilarating, but I still get a few butterflies now before I step out there,” he explained. “I know my way around it more, and I’m relatively well-prepared going into it, but also, you can only prepare so much. There are always surprises and things that get thrown in your direction that you didn’t see coming, so you have to remain pretty on it.”
Check out the rest of our interview with Whitehall below, where he also revealed the artists he’ll be looking out for, how he feels about reuniting with “kindred spirit” Harry Styles, and what he has next in the pipeline.
NME: Hi Jack. The BRITs are heading to Manchester for the first time this year. Do you think the move will create a different vibe on the night?
Jack Whitehall: “I think so. It’s great that it’s going to be in Manchester. It’s on a Saturday night again, and it’ll hopefully see a slightly different audience coming along too. It’s great to have it in a city which has such a rich heritage and such a strong place within culture and within music. Plus I think they really appreciate having the BRIT Awards there!
“I’ve always had a great time touring in Manchester. It always has brilliant crowds who are really receptive and up for it, so it’s a really good place to have an award show.”
What would you say is the best way to spend a day in Manchester?
“I love the Northern Quarter. There’s a great vibe there and some really cool bars, funny little shops, vintage places, and record stores… all the stuff like that. There are some very good comedy clubs as well. I’ve never not had a good time in the Northern Quarter. My old stomping ground was Fallowfield… not that I think I would return there as a 37-year-old man, but I had a lot of fun there when I was a student hanging around.
“Manchester is just a great city and it holds a lot of memories for me. It’s where I started doing my standup. It’s where I was at university. It’s where I filmed Fresh Meat. So it’s a really special place for me.”
You’ve often got people talking with your spicy approach to hosting the BRITs, and you’re definitely not afraid to poke fun at the people who are there on the night. Have you already got some material in mind?
“I’ve got a few little barbs and there will be a few stray bullets that people will have to catch on the night, but I always try to blend it in positivity and love and charm as well. But sometimes I can’t help myself! People like having a little edge, so it’s good to have a few little hand grenades in there. It’s also always good to make sure that the ITV lawyers are paying attention, and give them a few moments where their hearts are in their mouths.”
One moment in particular that fans enjoyed was in 2020, when you poked fun at Harry Styles and he then gave a shoutout to your mum. How are you feeling about having him back this time?
“Oh, I’m very much looking forward to seeing him again. I’m very excited to have Harry back and I’m really looking forward to his performance. It’s amazing that the BRITs have got him there doing his first live television performance [since releasing new single ‘Aperture’] .
“He’s back announcing himself onto the world stage again and about to embark on this epic tour of his, so it’s great that we get to see him first! He’s always so game and has such a great energy. I’m very fond of him, and I’m very happy that he’s doing this year’s show.”
Have you checked out his new single?
“Yes, and I really like it. I like LCD Soundsystem, which I think was one of the inspirations behind it, and I love a lot of Harry’s other stuff too. I’m a sort of closeted raver, so I like this new direction that he’s taking his music.”
Looking at those nominated this year, what do you think it tells us about music in 2026?
“Weirdly, a lot of the artists that are nominated and performing this year have a slightly throwback feel as well to them, like Olivia Dean and RAYE. There’s also Rosalía, and I love all of her music. There’s a lot of connective tissue in their music to classic music and soul there and, in Rosalía’s case, there are even some opera elements in there as well. They are artists that are really distinctive, and I already know that their performances are going to be great.”
We also have Noel Gallagher attending and Pulp are nominated. It feels like there is a mini Britpop reunion going on too…
“Yes! And keep an eye out for some special guests that I can’t mention yet, who will be appearing throughout the evening…”
How has the BRITs been an education for you in discovering new music?
“It’s always a learning experience for me. But it’s not great when you are doing the voice-overs for the nominations package and you realise Sombr is a person, not a band.
“But by the night, I know everything. I feel like I’m really knowledgeable at that point and I seem like I know what I’m talking about. Keep in mind, there are a lot of nominees, and while some of them have names like RAYE, which I can remember, with some of them, it’s like when your computer suggests a really strong password. It could just be a jumble of letters, and I’m then like, ‘Yeah, what hope do I have of remembering this one?’”
What have you got coming up after the BRITs?
“I’m going to go on tour at the beginning of next year, so I’ll be back on the road doing stand-up, which I love. I haven’t done it for a while, and doing the BRITs – being up on stage, writing a monologue and getting up in front of an audience – it always makes me pine for being in comedy clubs.
“I love being on a stage in front of an audience, so I’m excited that I get the opportunity to write material for a new tour and get back out on the road with it. We’ll even be coming back to the Co-op Live, which I’ve never played before. I’ve heard great things about the venue, so it’s a nice feeling to be going back there doing my own show in a year’s time… and to know that I won’t have any musical interruptions that time!”
Next month marks 10 years since Fresh Meat ended. Have you been in touch with any of the cast, or planned something to mark the occasion?
“We had a 10 year anniversary, but I think that was 10 years since the start of the show. For that, we all got together and did a special screening and a Q&A, which was great. I got to see everyone there, but I haven’t seen them for a while, actually. We are all still in a WhatsApp group though, and there are the odd reunion drinks or dinners here and there. But I haven’t had the chance to see them all because I’ve been away quite a lot. I’d love to catch up with them again.
“I bumped into Zawe [Ashton] in an airport the other day and it was really fun to see her and catch up with her. We’re all still so fond of each other and I have such great memories of that show — including winning an NME Award once. I think I was in the lavatory when they called us to go up on stage, so I had to run on and ended up interrupting the speech!”
Funnily enough, that also happened to Harry Styles at the BRITs in 2014, when One Direction won an award…
“Yes! He wasn’t on stage either because he was in the toilet. I remember that. We’re actually very similar. Kindred spirits, even.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 will be broadcast live from 8pm GMT this Saturday (February 28). Leading the way in terms of nominations are Olivia Dean, former NME Cover star Lola Young, Sam Fender, Lily Allen and rapper Jim Legxacy – check out a full list of nominees here.
Jack Whitehall’s ‘Bad Influence’ stand-up tour will kick off in January 2027. Visit here for information and tickets.