On what date was Jacob Alon announced as Critics' Choice winner?

Jacob Alon was announced as the winner of the 2026 Critics’ Choice award on 19 January 2026.

The award, supported by BBC Radio 1, was one of the early announcements connected with the 2026 Brit Awards. Alon won from a shortlist that also included Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro. The shortlist itself had been revealed on 3 December 2025.

Critics’ Choice is intended to spotlight emerging British artists before they become established mainstream stars. For 2026, the category returned to its original name after previously being known as Rising Star. Its past winners include Adele, Sam Fender, Dua Lipa and Florence + the Machine, making Alon’s win part of a notable career-launching tradition.

The Critics’ Choice result was announced before the main ceremony, which was held on 28 February 2026 in Manchester.