Jack Whitehall to host The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard have today announced that award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and writer Jack Whitehall will host this year’s ceremony, taking place in Manchester on Saturday 28th February at the Co-op Live and broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX.

After five years hosting the show in London, 2026 will see Jack lead the charge for the BRITs in Manchester, as the show moves north for the first time in its nearly 50 year history. 

The news of Jack’s return was announced via his “Ode to Manchester”, shared exclusively across BRITs’ socials this morning. In true Jack fashion, he covers everything from the cobbles of Coronation Street to the Curry Mile, the Industrial Revolution to the invention of barm cake.

The news was announced via Jack’s “Ode to Manchester”, featuring everything from the Curry Mile to Coronation Street – watch it HERE. Jack said: “I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me. 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 I did my first 10 minute set in all those years ago. Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait.”

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “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.”

Public tickets for The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard are on sale from 10am at brits.co.uk