Mark Ronson will also perform at the Manchester BRITs ceremony – alongside previously-announced Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Wolf Alice
Mark Ronson is to receive the Outstading Contribution to Music Award at The BRITs being held in Manchester for the first time this year(Image: The Hollywood Reporter via Getty)
The winner of The BRIT Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the 2026 ceremony in Manchester has been announced as award-winning artist and producer Mark Ronson. The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place at Co-op Live in Manchester for the first time in its history on February 28 this year.
Ronson will be there to accept the award in person and is also confirmed to perform on the night, adding to what is shaping up to be spectacular live line-up of British and global talent, which will see fans tuning in from all over the world. Ronson joins a live line-up which so far includes the recently announced Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Wolf Alice.
He is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music and has played a pivotal role in shaping era-defining and multi-platinum records for renowned artists worldwide, while also achieving significant international recognition as both a solo artist and producer. His accolades include two BRIT Awards, nine Grammy Awards for notable works such as ‘Uptown Funk’ featuring Bruno Mars and ‘Back To Black’ with Amy Winehouse, as well as an Academy Award and Golden Globe for co-writing ‘Shallow’ with Lady Gaga for the film A Star Is Born.
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Over his two decade career, he has accumulated 25 billion global streams and produced numerous multi-platinum records, including ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars, ‘Valerie’ with Amy Winehouse, ‘Nothing Breaks Like a Heart’ with Miley Cyrus and ‘Electricity’ with Silk City & Dua Lipa.
Renowned for his genre-spanning sound and collaborations, he is celebrated for bridging the worlds of pop, soul, funk and electronic music, cementing his status as an internationally celebrated cultural tastemaker whose work “consistently defines moments in music history”.
Alongside his production work, he has released a string of critically acclaimed solo albums, with Uptown Special debuting at 1 in the UK, and Uptown Funk a global and UK Number 1. He has also contributed award-winning songs to the soundtracks and scores of Barbie, A Star Is Born, Euphoria and more.
He recently released a best-selling memoir Night People, chronicling his formative years as a DJ in the 1990s New York club scene, and joins an esteemed list of previous BRIT Awards Outstanding Contribution to Music recipients including David Bowie, Oasis, Sir Paul McCartney, Spice Girls, Elton John, Queen, U2, Robbie Williams, P!NK and Blur.
Mark Ronson is known for his collabs, including with Miley Cyrus, pictured here in 2019(Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
Mark Ronson said: “This is the most meaningful honour of my career. I think of the times I’ve watched artists I revere accept this same award.
“The idea that I’m now standing in that lineage feels impossible. I left England as a kid, but this country runs through everything I’ve made.
“The UK artists I’ve worked with—their brilliance and refusal to compromise—shaped not just my work but how I understand what music should do. And more than anything, it’s the crowds here who’ve sustained and showed up for me.
“The fans, the festival crowds, the record buyers and streamers—the love has always been overwhelming. I’m beyond grateful for all of it.”
Mark Ronson will perform at The BRITs in Manchester(Image: WireImage)
Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “Mark’s creative influence spans every corner of contemporary culture. He has shaped the musical landscape globally with incredible albums, his own artist releases as well as those in collaboration with phenomenal talents he has discovered and nurtured.
“Mark has an extraordinary ability to elevate each project he works on. This award recognises his huge contribution to British music’s global story and cements his place as one of the most innovative creators of our time.”
The public vote opened on Friday for Song of the Year with Mastercard and International Song of the Year, exclusively on WhatsApp as part of the BRITs continued partnership with Meta. Fans have the chance to vote for their favourite songs once daily from now until the vote closes at 6pm GMT on Friday 13th February, with further information at the brits.co.uk/vote website.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday February 28 from Manchester’s Co-op Live, broadcast exclusively on ITV and ITVX and hosted by Jack Whitehall. This year’s BRIT winners trophy has been designed by the acclaimed British and Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson.
The trophy has been made with amber toned resin to resemble the golden honey of a worker bee(Image: BRIT Awards)
Nominations were recently announced for this year’s awards. Leading the charge for 2026 are Olivia Dean and Lola Young with five nominations each, closely followed by Sam Fender with four nominations following his Mercury Prize win last year.
Other British artists up for awards this year include Lily Allen, Calvin Harris, Cynthia Erivo, JADE, Wolf Alice, Ed Sheeran, Little Simz, PinkPantheress, Pulp, RAYE, Skye Newman, Wet Leg and more, with international artists recognised including Alex Warren, Bad Bunny, Doechii, ROSALÍA, sombr, Chappell Roan, CMAT, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift and Tame Impala.
Scottish singer/songwriter Jacob Alon was also recently announced as the winner of this year’s BRITs Critics’ Choice. Rose Gray and SIENNA SPIRO joined Jacob on the shortlist of the prestigious Critics’ Choice award.
Details for the BRITs Fringe, a programme of engagement taking place across Manchester ahead of this year’s event, were also announced recently. BRITs Fringe celebrates the city’s rich musical heritage, its vibrant contemporary scene and the next generation shaping the future of UK music.