2026 BRIT Awards trophy pays homage to new host city Manchester
British fashion designer Matthew Williamson has designed this BRIT Awards 2026 trophy.
British fashion designer Matthew Williamson has been revealed as the creative mind behind the 2026 BRIT Awards trophy — a striking new design that pays tribute to the host city of Manchester.
Crafted in amber-toned resin, the trophy draws inspiration from the city’s iconic worker bee symbol. Its honey-like hue sits atop a globe, symbolising the international reach of UK artists. The design reflects Manchester’s spirit of resilience and creativity, aligning with the BRITs’ decision to host the ceremony outside London for the first time in its history.
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday, February 28 at Co-op Live, Manchester’s state-of-the-art arena. The move marks a major shift for the event, spotlighting the North West’s cultural influence on a global stage.
Williamson joins a prestigious list of past trophy designers, including Gabriel Moses, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Sir Peter Blake, Tracey Emin, and Es Devlin. Each year, the BRITs commission a new artist to reinterpret the iconic award, ensuring it remains a symbol of both artistic excellence and contemporary design.
The design project was led by Williamson in collaboration with Stacey Tang, Chair of the BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA, and Glyn Aikins, also Co-President of RCA.
The trophy will be presented to British and international winners on the night, honouring standout achievements in music with a distinctly Mancunian twist.
Sharing his inspiration for the statuette, Williamson said: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, commented: “The BRITs' move to Manchester has enabled us to think about how we do things in such a brilliant and different way so I am delighted that Matthew accepted the invitation to design the award for next year's show. As a creative from Manchester, he's brought a unique perspective to the design process, developing a simple, sophisticated and striking concept that embodies the spirit and values of the city and is also a visual statement for the show, supporting our ambition to put British music on the global stage. We couldn't be more pleased with what Matthew has created, and to have him be part of such a historic show in BRITs history.”
Glyn Aikins, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, added: "I’m thrilled to welcome Matthew Williamson as the designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy. Matthew’s bold, expressive creativity has shaped British fashion for over two decades, and his work has always stood at the intersection of art, style and cultural imagination. His vision for this year’s trophy draws inspiration from the iconic worker bee, a powerful symbol of Manchester’s resilience, community and creative spirit. The result brings a new sense of colour, optimism and individuality to the BRITs, perfectly capturing the energy of British music today. I couldn’t be more excited to unveil his design to artists, fans and the wider creative community."
