We’re super excited that the BRIT Awards will be coming to Manchester in 2026, and the tension is building with news coming in thick and fast. Now, the BRIT Awards has announced today (November 19) that internationally acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson is the creative force behind the 2026 trophy.
Every year, the design of the BRITs trophy is kept under wraps, with a big reveal so the nominees can see what they’re competing for. We can now tell you that the 2026 BRITs trophy is set to be a truly Manc affair.
What will the Manchester BRITs 2026 trophy look like?
Inspired by Matthew’s 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 28th February and from Manchester’s Co-op Live, marking the first time the event has been held in the city and outside of London.
This award, presented to winning artists on the night, will reward British and international creativity with Mancunian creativity as Matthew continues the legacy of the illustrious designers who have come before him. He joins an exclusive pantheon of creatives in undertaking this task, including last year’s designer, Gabriel Moses, as well as Rachel Jones, Slawn, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Sir Peter Blake, Tracey Emin, Dame Zaha Hadid, Sir David Adjaye and Es Devlin and Yinka Ilori.
Each year, the commissioned artist brings their own unique creative vision to The BRITs, reimagining the iconic statue that all the winners proudly take home on the night.
As The BRITs enters this exciting new era in Manchester, the organisers of the biggest night in music will embrace not only the local culture in the city and surrounding areas and region, but continue to showcase the event to a national and global audience. Having a Manchester-born designer at the helm of this year’s trophy places the city firmly at the centre of the 2026 story.
On what designing this year’s trophy means to him, Matthew 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.”
Who is Matthew Williamson?
Born in Manchester, Matthew has been celebrated throughout his 30-year career for his vibrant use of colour, bold patterns, and unique fusion of fashion and interiors. From his beginnings in the mid-90s, he quickly attracted a global following and, in the years since his debut collection at London Fashion Week in 1997, he has worked across multiple disciplines, collaborated with brands including Bulgari, Swarovski and H&M, and served as Creative Director at Emilio Pucci.
Transitioning to interiors from 2010, Matthew has since created bestselling wallpaper and fabric collections with Osborne & Little, designed spaces for Blakes Hotel and Belmond La Residencia, and launched collaborations with Pooky, Ruggable and Dusty Deco.
On his inspiration for this year’s trophy, Matthew says: “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.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28th February from Manchester’s Co-op Live.