The BRIT Awards has announced the three shortlisted artists for its annual Critics’ Choice award, which tips rising British acts for commercial success.
Alternative folk artist Jacob Alon (Island) and pop breakthrough acts Rose Gray (Polydor) and Sienna Spiro (Capitol Records) make up this year’s group of contenders, with the winner set to be announced on Jan. 14 on Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders.
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The award was introduced in 2008, and is voted for by a select panel of music journalists, radio and TV heads of music, as well as songwriters, producers and booking agents. Previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, The Last Dinner Party and 2025 recipient, Myles Smith.
Between 2020 and 2025 it was known as the BRITs’ Rising Star award, before reverting back to the Critics Choice award for 2026. To be eligible, artists must not have yet achieved a top 20 album or more than one top 20 single on the Official U.K. charts as of Oct. 31, 2025.
Alon, who was raised in Dunfermline, Scotland, released their debut album In Limerence back in May. The record went on to be nominated for the Mercury Prize, and led to the artist delivering much talked-about performances at British festivals including Glastonbury and Green Man.
East London-born Gray has enjoyed a slow-burning ascent leading up to her crossover moment. The singer began putting out music in 2019 via PIAS, who released her debut album Louder, Please in January. She has built a cult following throughout 2025, having supported the likes of Sugababes, Kesha and Scissor Sisters on tour.
Buzzy singer-songwriter Spiro, meanwhile, earned a top 10 hit in the U.K. with “Die On This Hill” for the week of Nov. 27 – meaning the 20-year-old still falls within the Critics’ Choice eligibility criteria. She has previously listed jazz and traditional pop greats Etta James and Frank Sinatra as formative influences, who she was introduced to by her father, the renowned jeweller Glenn Spiro.
Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music U.K., said: “How exciting to spotlight a new wave of UK musicians shaping popular culture. Awards and recognition for emerging artists is now more important than ever, and Critics’ Choice has long championed brilliantly talented new artists.
“This cohort shares the same early spark displayed by previous winners like Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Fender, Myles Smith and Emeli Sande. This year’s finalists are a great reminder that commercial momentum grows from creative ambition and artistic bravery.”
The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard – as the show is formally known – will take place on Feb. 28, at The Co-Op Live arena in Manchester. This marks the first time the show will be held outside of London. It will be broadcast live on ITV and ITVX.
