JACK WHITEHALL RETURNS TO HOST THE BRIT AWARDS 2026 AS SHOW MOVES TO MANCHESTER

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard today announce 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 BRIT Awards 2026 are particularly special for Jack as his connections to the BRITs’ new home run deep, having studied at the University of Manchester before moving into comedy and, by his own account, credits the city as one of the most influential places that helped shape his early comedy career.

With his trademark humour and effortless charisma, Jack’s return to Manchester is the latest addition to what is shaping up to be a supercharged award show, on a night which will be bursting with unforgettable moments. This will mark Jack’s sixth time presenting the show, having previously hosted in 2025, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018. 

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.”

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