MANCHESTER-INSPIRED TROPHY PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S WORKER BEE EMBLEM

CEREMONY TAKES PLACE AT THE CO-OP LIVE ON SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY

The BRIT Awards with Mastercard today announces that internationally acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson is the creative force behind the 2026 trophy. 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. 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. 

The BRIT trophy design project was led by Matthew Williamson, together with Stacey Tang, BRITs Chair and Co-President of RCA, and Glyn Aikins, Co-President of RCA.

On what designing this year's trophy means to him, Matthew says: "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."

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. His book Living Bright (Thames & Hudson, 2023) encapsulates his vibrant design philosophy, and his work in interiors earned him the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award (2024).

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."

"Cast in a chic amber toned resin, 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."

Stacey Tang, Chair of the BRIT Awards and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK says: "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. 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."

Glyn Aikins, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK says: "I'm thrilled to welcome Matthew Williamson as the designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy. Matthew's bold, expressive creativity has shaped British fashion for over two decades, and his work has always stood at the intersection of art, style and cultural imagination. His vision for this year's trophy draws inspiration from the iconic worker bee, a powerful symbol of Manchester's resilience, community and creative spirit. The result brings a new sense of colour, optimism and individuality to the BRITs, perfectly capturing the energy of British music today. I couldn't be more excited to unveil his design to artists, fans and the wider creative community."

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28th February from Manchester's Co-op Live. The 2026 awards will be delivered by a best-in-class creative team including multi-Emmy-award winning production designer Misty Buckley, double BAFTA-winning entertainment director Phil Heyes, BRITs TV Executive Producer Sally Wood and BPI's Director of Events & Charities Maggie Crowe OBE.

To support the creative vision and ambition of this year's show, The BRITs today confirm that award-winning multimedia design & creative studio NorthHouse, whose credits include major Royal events including the Queen's Jubilee and the King's Coronation along with global artists such as Coldplay, Katy Perry, Hans Zimmer and many more will be providing visuals and graphics across the whole branding campaign for 2026.

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.