Comedian Jack Whitehall has been announced as the host for the BRIT Awards 2026, marking his sixth time in the role and establishing a new record for most times hosting the prestigious event. Whitehall surpasses former talk-show host James Corden's previous record with this significant return.

Whitehall expressed his excitement about coming back for what he described as a "very special BRIT Awards in Manchester," a city that holds personal significance for him. "The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone’s throw away from the comedy club where I did my first 10-minute set all those years ago. Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait," he stated.

In a historic move, the 2026 ceremony will be held outside of London for the first time, taking over Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on February 28. The event will be broadcast live on ITV 1 and made available for streaming on ITVX.

Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, lauded Whitehall's return. "Jack is absolutely brilliant at his craft so we are thrilled to welcome him back and excited for the fun and mischief he’s bound to bring to the show again this year. His legacy hosting the awards speaks for itself and as the BRITs enters a new era, in a city familiar to him, there’s nobody better placed to take the helm of the biggest night in music," Tang commented.

Whitehall's previous hosting stints for the BRIT Awards include 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and a comeback in 2025. His career began gaining prominence with the British dramedy series 'Fresh Meat' in 2011, followed by creating and starring in the BBC show 'Bad Education'. More recently, he has toured arenas across the U.K. and Ireland and starred in the original Amazon Prime series 'Malice'.

While main nominations for the 2026 edition of The BRIT Awards, alongside performers at the event, are expected to be announced in the coming months, the nominees for The BRIT’s Critics Choice Award 2026 have already been revealed. Jacob Alon, Sienna Spiro, and Rose Gray were announced on December 3 as the rising stars tipped for future success. Notable past winners of this award include Adele (2008), Sam Smith (2014), and Myles Smith (2025).