Before the ceremony, which will take place in Manchester next month, it has been announced that Scottish singer Jacob Alon has won the prestigious BRITs Critics’ Choice award.
The BRIT Awards have announced who’s won the Critics’ Choice award, supported by BBC Radio 1. This year, Jacob Alon, Rose Grey and Sienna Spiro were nominated for the prestigious trophy, which in the past has featured the likes of Dua Lipa, Myles Smith, Adele, Jorja Smith and the Last Dinner Party.
However, it was revealed today that Scottish singer Jacob, who is renowned for Fairy in a Bottle and Don’t Fall Asleep from their debut album, In Limerence, which was released last year, would be bringing home the first of Matthew Williamson’s trophies.
Jack Saunders of Radio 1’s new music show, which aired live across the country on Monday evening, revealed the exciting news. Jacob, from Dunfermline in Fife, was thrilled to learn about their Celtic roots, saying, “Taing mhr]Thanks a lot… to the critics for recognising my work for this award, you absolute dotes!
“In the wee town where I grew up in Scotland, it often felt like there was a limit to how high you could dare to dream. So being part of something like this makes me feel like I’m floating far above the sky.”
Jacob added: “In a world full of broken and rusted jaggy edges, I’m grateful to find a place for softness still. And I will keep fighting for it. I really care about and believe in this music, and it makes my world brighter every time it reaches someone else. Hopefully, this means some more beautiful people might find something in my album.
“Thank you to everyone who has listened.” This award has an incredible track record as a launchpad for so many brilliant artists who have gone on to achieve amazing successes, according to Stacey Tang, chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and co-president of RCA Records at Sony Music UK. The BRITs are greatly helped by the Critics’ Choice category. Although the recognition it provides is extremely important, it should not be underestimated that it also benefits artists by giving them visibility, support, and thus confidence to experiment and grow.
When Jacob first discovered their talent for performance in a school talent competition, they soon realized they could captivate an audience with just the piano and a story. Through songwriting, they were able to embrace and transform this natural gift that remained with them throughout their youth, which included twisting forests, playful antics, and an increase in their awareness of being different.
Within Edinburgh’s folk scene, Jacob and his wife found their artistic voice, using music as both a refuge and a tool to express their profound, unspoken self. In Limerence, their debut album, earned them a reputation as one of Britain’s most distinctive emerging talents and placed them on the 2025 Mercury Prize longlist for Album of the Year due to this sincere approach to storytelling.
Jacob won the BBC Introducing Artist of the Year award, received a nomination for the Scottish Album of the Year Award, grace the stage of Later… with Jools Holland, give a standout performance on Glastonbury’s BBC Introducing stage, and be recognized as one of BBC Radio 6 Music’s Artists of the Year. They have established themselves as a performer capable of producing moments that are both intimate and thrilling thanks to their sharp-witted lyrics, delivered with surgical precision and dark comedy.
Jacob enters their next phase with unstoppable drive and a distinctive sound that defies categorisation as they continue to develop their musical style, moving seamlessly between folk-influenced authenticity and commanding pop sensibilities. The honor has reclaimed its original title, “Critics’ Choice for 2026,” acknowledging the crucial role that “critical acclaim” plays for performers during this defining and defining period of their careers.
A distinguished panel of new music advocates from across media, broadcasting, and industry chose the award, which was first instituted in 2008 to highlight the emerging talents of British music. With the same eligibility requirements as in previous years (performers must not have a Top 20 album or more than one Top 20 single), it aims to highlight acts at the pinnacle of their professional careers.
British acts who had not yet placed in the Top 20 of the Official Album Charts or had received more than one Top 20 position on the Official Singles Chart were eligible for the prize as of October 31.25.
For the first time in the history of the awards, this year’s ceremony will take place at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday, February 28 and will be broadcast on ITV and ITVX.
Source: Mirror
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