The BRIT Awards have found a new home in Manchester
Manchester’s Co-op Live – the new home to The BRIT Awards(Image: The BRIT Awards)
The BRIT Awards with Mastercard has announced British designer Matthew Williamson as the creative force behind the 2026 trophy. Inspired by his Manchester roots, 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 will take place on Saturday, February 28, at Manchester’s Co-op Live, marking the first time the event has been held in the city and outside of London. Matthew continues the legacy of the illustrious designers who have come before him, such as Gabriel Moses, Rachel Jones, Slawn and Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Each year, the commissioned artist brings reimagine the statue in their own unique creative vision. Organisers are embracing the event’s new home but will continue to showcase The BRITS to a national and global audience.
The BRIT trophy design project was led by Matthew Williamson, Stacey Tang, BRITs chair and co-president of RCA, and Glyn Aikins, co-president of RCA. Matthew said: “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.”
The BRIT Award 2026 designer, Matthew Williamson(Image: The BRIT Awards)
On his inspiration for this year’s trophy, Matthew added: “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.”
The BRIT Award trophy 2026(Image: The BRIT Awards)
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).