Jack Whitehall heads back to Manchester to host the BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard

09 December 2025 - Press release

JACK'S "ODE TO MANCHESTER", FROM THE CURRY MILE TO CORONATION STREET, NOW LIVE - WATCH HERE

PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE FROM 10AM FROM BRITS.CO.UK 

SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2026 AT CO-OP LIVE, MANCHESTER ON ITV

 

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard today announce that award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and writer Jack Whitehall will host this year's ceremony, taking place in Manchester on Saturday 28th February at the Co-op Live and broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX. After five years hosting the show in London, 2026 will see Jack lead the charge for the BRITs in Manchester, as the show moves north for the first time in its nearly 50 year history. 

The news of Jack's return was announced via his "Ode to Manchester", shared exclusively across BRITs' socials this morning. In true Jack fashion, he covers everything from the cobbles of Coronation Street to the Curry Mile, the Industrial Revolution to the invention of barm cake.

Watch Jack's "Ode to Manchester" here

The BRIT Awards 2026 are particularly special for Jack as his connections to the BRITs' new home run deep, having studied at the University of Manchester before moving into comedy and, by his own account, credits the city as one of the most influential places that helped shape his early comedy career. With his trademark humour and effortless charisma, Jack's return to Manchester is the latest addition to what is shaping up to be a supercharged award show, on a night which will be bursting with unforgettable moments. This will mark Jack's sixth time presenting the show, having previously hosted in 2025, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018. 

 

Jack said: "I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me. The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone's throw away from the comedy club I did my first 10 minute set in all those years ago. Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait."

News surrounding the 2026 BRITs has come thick and fast in recent weeks, building excitement ahead of the show on 28th February. It was also announced today that public tickets for the show are on sale from 10am, offering those lucky enough to secure a ticket the chance to experience an epic night celebrating the past year in music. 

Public tickets for The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard are on sale from 10am at brits.co.uk

Last week, the shortlist was revealed for the prestigious BRITs Critics' Choice award, with Jacob Alon, RoseGray and SIENNASPIRO the chosen three. They follow in the footsteps of an impressive alumni of former winners and nominees who have gone on to achieve remarkable 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 Critics' Choice shortlist continues to act as a barometer for the next generation of British talent.  

This year the BRIT award has been designed by internationally acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson. Inspired by his 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. 

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said:"Jack is absolutely brilliant at his craft so we are thrilled to welcome him back and excited for the fun and mischief he's bound to bring to the show again this year. His legacy hosting the awards speaks for itself and as the BRITs enters a new era, in a city familiar to him, there's nobody better placed to take the helm of the biggest night in music."

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28th February from Manchester's Co-op Live and will also be broadcast on ITV and ITVX.

Jack's portfolio of work has continued to go from strength to strength in recent years. 2025 saw the release of his Amazon Prime thriller, MALICE, in which he starred alongside David Duchovny and Carice Van Houton and which reached number 1 in the Prime UK viewing chart. In addition, he also filmed FATHERHOOD WITH MY FATHER for Netflix that saw Jack and his father Michael travelling the world to explore what fatherhood means in different countries and cultures, as well as a Christmas special, JACK IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS for Amazon Prime.

An acclaimed comedian who loves the stage, Jack toured the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and more with his father in JACK AND MICHAEL WHITEHALL LIVE. That tour followed in the footsteps of his fourth sold out arena tour, SETTLE DOWN in 2023, which was released as a Netflix Special. Jack's previous shows were the sold out arena tour JACK WHITEHALL: STOOD UP (2019) that was also a Netflix Special, JACK WHITEHALL: AT LARGE GETS AROUND (2017) and JACK WHITEHALL GETS AROUND (2014), also filmed for Netflix.

As a presenter, Jack has hosted the BRIT Awards for five years (2018-2021 and 2025) and several other prestigious award ceremonies including the GQ Men of the Year Awards (2020), the BAFTA Britannia Awards (2015, 2017-18) and The British Fashion Awards (2014-17). He became the youngest-ever host of the Royal Variety Performance in 2015.

Mastercard will continue their long-standing headline sponsorship of The BRITs as it moves into its 29th year. ITV remains the official broadcaster for the 34th year, with the awards airing on ITV, STV, ITVX and STV Player. 

These partnerships are vital in supporting and amplifying The BRITs' vision and values, including fundraising for the awards' charitable arm, The BRIT Trust, with a core pillar of the Trust the distribution of funds to charities which promote education and wellbeing through music, including The BRIT School and Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy.