The BRIT Awards have always had a knack for seeing the future before the rest of the world catches up! Adele, Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Jessie J – the one Critics’ Choice females (returned to its original name for 2026 after several years as Rising Star Award) has become one of the most reliable predictors of which artists will define the next decade of British music.
Now the BRITs have revealed the three artists who are competing 2026 Critics’ Choice Awardwith the support of BBC Radio 1, and the shortlist reads like a snapshot of where British music is headed next: emotionally dense songwriting, dancefloor pop revival and bold, genre-fluid new voices ready to take global stages.
This year’s nominees – Jacob Alon, Rose Grey and Sienna Spiro — arrive at very different moments in their early careers, but all three have already forged distinct musical identities. And if history is any indication, one of them could soon become a household name.
JACOB ALON: THE NARRATOR WHO QUIETLY TAKES OVER
Few new artists have built momentum as steadily – or as organically – as Jacob Alon. Raised in Fife and steeped in the folk traditions of Scotland’s east coast, Alon writes songs that feel weathered, as if they’ve been in the bloodstream for years. Their debut album “In Limerence” served a The Mercury Prize shortlist spot in 2025, and suddenly the low-key singer-songwriter found themselves thrust into the national conversation.
Jakob’s strength lies in a kind of emotional excavation. Their arrangements are bare but deliberate, mixing acoustic intimacy with sudden, cinematic swells. They have already earned one BBC presents artist of the year the title and delivered one of the most talked about sets at Glastonbury The BBC introduces the scene last summer—a performance that some critics called “the moment Alon’s career quietly shifted”.
For an award that has historically championed boundary-defining singers, Jacob fits neatly into the lineage of past alumni: performers whose raw honesty disarms before it dazzles.
“Ya beauty! Tapadh leibh for recognizing my work for this award you legends! Even though I’m Scottish & Irish before I’m British, I appreciate the BRIT critics for this recognition. I truly care and believe in this music and it brightens my world every time it reaches someone else. Hopefully this nomination means more beautiful people that we can find!!!” – Jacob Alon
ROSE GRAY: THE POP SURGERY BRINGING RAVE CULTURE TO THE MAINSTREAM
If Jakob Alon represents introspection, Rose Grey is the opposite: ecstatic, explosive and built for the dance floor.
The East London singer – whose debut album “Higher please” landed earlier this year – has become one of the most exciting new figures in the UK club pop renaissance. Drawing inspiration from 90s rave energy, glossy electropop and the industrial sheen of modern club music, Gray has created a sound that feels nostalgic yet brand new.
Her follow-up luxury project, “A little higher, please”further expanded her sound world. She spent 2025 on a string of major festival bills and landed a coveted support slot for Kesha on her European tour – a sign that confirmed what fans on TikTok and in nightclubs already knew: Rose Gray is on the verge of international stardom!
Where Alon is subtle, Gray is maximalist. Her choruses are designed for masseuphoria, for nightclub catharsis, for packed festival tents. In a year when British dance pop is undergoing a renaissance, her nomination feels particularly timely.
“I’m so excited about this nomination!! This moment feels like a special reminder of how far this journey has taken me and what a crazy year it’s been. A year ago I showed so hard that my album ‘Louder, Please’ would travel, find its people, to really find its light. And it did. Releasing this record has truly changed my life. I can be so grateful to be a part of this journey. what’s to come. Thank you BRITs!” – Rose Grey
SIENNA SPIRO: THE RAW NEW VOICE IS ALREADY FILLING ROOMS ACROSS CONTINENTS
Sienna Spiro’s the rise has been the fastest of the three. She only started her music career in 2024 and entered 2025 with real momentum – thanks in large part to her debut EP “SINK NOW, SWIM LATER” which showcased her ability to translate real-life experiences into timeless, modern songs, with the fan favorite ‘PERHAPS.’ marks a breakthrough moment that drew praise from artists including SZA, Snoh Aalegra, Testimony and Mark Ronson.
Her rise has been fueled by a voice that cuts cleanly through the noise – unpolished in the best way, full of jagged edges and lived-in emotion. Her latest single “Die on This Hill” became her first UK Top 10 hit, transforming Spiro from a promising newcomer to a legitimate chart presence almost overnight. Since then she has toured relentlessly and opened for Sam Smith on theirs Being Free: New York City residency, before headlining her own sold-out dates across Europe. Festival slots, late-night TV appearances and a growing US fan base have further boosted her profile and positioned her as one of the most compelling new artists of the moment.
“So beyond honored and grateful to be nominated for this year’s Critics’ Choice BRIT Award! To think I started releasing music last year I never expected this at all. Thank you so much!” – Sienna Spiro
The Critics’ Choice Award first introduced in 2008 to highlight the UK’s next generation of game-changing talent. It is decided by a panel of music journalists, radio and television executives, plus industry insiders. To qualify, artists must not have achieved a Top 20 album or more than one Top 20 single by October 31, 2025.
In addition to upfront artists, past winners and nominees include heavyweights such as James Blake, Our Sandden Sandé, Tom Odell, Ella Eyre, James Bay, Year & year, Rag’n’Bone Man, Dua Lipa, Jorja Smith, Sam Fenderand – lastly – Myles Smith and The last dinner party. Many of these names have since gone on to global success – underlining how Critics’ Choice remains one of the best predictors of the next wave of great British artists.
This year’s winners will be revealed in mid-January, ahead of the main BRIT Awards 2026 ceremony, which takes place on Saturday 28 February 2026 at Co-op Live, Manchester – the first time the BRITs will be held outside London.
Speaking after the unveiling of the 2025 nominees, Stacey Tangchairman of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: “How exciting to highlight a new wave of British musicians who are shaping popular culture. Awards and recognition for new artists are now more important than ever, and Critics’ Choice has long championed brilliantly talented new artists. The same early group of winners, the same early winners, Florence. Machine, Sam Fender, Myles Smith and Emeli Sande. This year’s finalists are a good reminder that commercial momentum grows from creative ambition and artistic courage.
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