For 2026, the Rising Star award reverted to what original Brit Awards name?

For 2026, the Rising Star award reverted to its original name, the Critics' Choice Award.

The BRITs made the change to emphasise the role of critical acclaim in identifying artists at an early stage of their careers. The category was first presented in 2008, when Adele won, and it has since become one of the ceremony's best-known indicators of emerging talent.

Recent winners under the Rising Star name included Griff, Holly Humberstone, FLO, The Last Dinner Party and Myles Smith. For 2026, the shortlist consisted of Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro, with Jacob Alon taking the prize.

This can be confused with British Breakthrough Artist, a separate BRIT category. Breakthrough Artist recognises a wider group of developing acts, whereas Critics' Choice is a specially curated early-career award decided through the BRITs voting academy.