The BRIT Awards have revealed the three artists nominated for its 2026 Critics’ Choice Award – previously known as the Rising Star Award – ahead of the announcement of the overall winner in the new year. The esteemed trio includes ethereal folk favorite and DIY Class of 2025 member Jacob Alon (whose impressive debut, ‘In Limerence’, was also nominated for the 2025 Mercury Prize); club-pop sensation Rose Gray (who released her vibrant first album, ‘Louder, Please’, earlier this year); and poignant storyteller Sienna Spiro (who recently achieved her first UK Top 10 hit with her latest single ‘Die On This Hill’). They join a celebrated lineup of past nominees, including former winners The Last Dinner Party, Griff, Jorja Smith, Michael Kiwanuka, Florence + The Machine, Adele, and Dua Lipa. Established in 2008, the Critics’ Choice Award is determined by a panel of industry experts, aimed at showcasing artists on the rise. Jacob expressed his excitement about the nomination, stating: “Ya beauty! Tapadh leibh for recognizing my work for this award, you legends! Even though I’m Scottish & Irish before I’m British, I appreciate the BRITs critics for this acknowledgment. I truly care about and believe in this music, and it brightens my world every time it resonates with someone else. Hopefully, this nomination will lead more lovely people to discover something in this wee album. ‘Mon the gays!!!” The 2026 BRIT Awards are scheduled to occur on Saturday, February 28th, at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena – marking the first time the event will be held outside of London. The Critics’ Choice Award winner will be announced in the new year, so stay tuned; in the meantime, learn more about all three nominees below.
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Past winners include The Last Dinner Party, Jorja Smith, Adele, and others.