The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard has officially announced that Manchester’s own Noel Gallagher will be honored as Songwriter of the Year. The legendary musician is set for a triumphant homecoming on Saturday, 28th February, when the ceremony takes place at Manchester’s Co-op Live—marking the first time the awards have been held in the city.
A Legacy Celebrated
The Songwriter of the Year award, decided by an expert panel, recognizes Noel’s thirty-year reign over British culture. From the era-defining anthems of Oasis to his acclaimed solo work with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, his catalogue remains a global phenomenon.
The honor follows a historic 2025, which saw the record-breaking Oasis Live ‘25 reunion tour dominate the charts. During the tour, Oasis became the only UK artist to sell over 1 million albums in a single year, at one point occupying three of the top five spots on the UK Album Chart.
A Star-Studded Night in Manchester
The 2026 ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious in BRITs history. Hosted by the returning Jack Whitehall, the night will feature live performances from:
Harry Styles
Wolf Alice
Olivia Dean (who leads the nominations with five nods)
Mark Ronson (recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Music award)
The iconic BRIT trophy has also been reimagined for the occasion by Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson, featuring an amber-toned resin inspired by the city’s worker bee mascot.
