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BRIT Awards Move to Manchester in 2026 as Matthew Williamson Reveals Worker‑Bee Trophy

The Mancunian designer’s amber‑resin Britannia evokes the city’s worker bee while resting on a globe to reflect the BRITs’ worldwide outlook.

Overview

  • The ceremony is set for Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Manchester’s Co‑op Live, the first BRITs held outside London since the awards began in 1977.
  • Manchester‑born Matthew Williamson designed an amber‑toned resin Britannia that nods to the city’s worker bee and sits on a globe symbolizing the global reach of British music.
  • Williamson says the statuette is moulded from a 3D render in honey‑pigmented resin, oven‑cured, then polished and finished with a high‑gloss lacquer.
  • The trophy project was led by Williamson with BRITs chair and RCA co‑president Stacey Tang and RCA Records co‑president Glyn Aikins.
  • Organisers say the relocation celebrates Manchester while the show remains for national and international audiences, with the 2026 event airing on ITV in partnership with Mastercard.