Tate McRae in talks to perform at the BRIT Awards

Tate McRae is said to be one of the leading contenders to take the stage at next year’s BRIT Awards.

The Sports Car singer made her BRITs debut at last year’s ceremony, where she performed her breakout hit Greedy, and her profile has continued to rise rapidly ever since.

A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Tate’s name has come up in conversations about performers for next year’s show.

“It’s the first BRITs in Manchester and they’re really pushing to secure major artists to usher in this new chapter for the awards.

“Since she appeared at the BRITs, Tate’s career has gone from strength to strength and organisers have seen the response from fans during her Miss Possessive world tour, which included shows at London’s O2 Arena and Manchester’s Co op Live.

“Having Tate return for an extended performance would be incredible and it’s something that has definitely been talked about. There are a lot of moving parts with the BRITs so nothing is confirmed yet. It will come down to timing and availability, but Tate is absolutely one of the names being considered.”

For the first time ever, the BRIT Awards will take place outside London, with Manchester’s Co op Live arena hosting the event.

Jack Whitehall has also been confirmed as the returning host for The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard.

Marking a first in nearly five decades of the iconic music ceremony, the British comedian will front the show in Manchester on February 28.

He said: “I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that means so much to me. It’s the city where I began my comedy career, so returning to host this landmark night at the Co op Live feels like a real full circle moment. The venue is just a short walk from the comedy club where I performed my first ever 10 minute set all those years ago. Hopefully I’ll get a few more laughs this time. I really can’t wait.”

News of Jack’s return followed the announcement of the three artists shortlisted for this year’s Critics’ Choice Award, a category widely seen as a launchpad for emerging UK talent.

Jacob Alon, Rose Gray and Sienna Spiro are the three acts in the running, with the winner set to be revealed in January ahead of the main ceremony.

Folk artist Alon earned a nomination for his debut album In Limerence, which was also shortlisted for this year’s Mercury Prize.

Dance pop singer Gray capped off a standout year with her nomination after releasing her debut album Louder, Please to strong reviews.

Singer songwriter Spiro, meanwhile, broke into the UK Singles Chart Top 10 after her viral track Die on This Hill climbed to number nine.

The Critics’ Choice Award has a strong track record of spotlighting future stars, with past winners and nominees including Dua Lipa, Adele, Florence + The Machine, James Blake, Michael Kiwanuka, Sam Smith, Jorja Smith, Griff, FLO, The Last Dinner Party, Myles Smith and many others who later found global success.

For 2026, the award has returned to its original Critics’ Choice name after being known as the Rising Star Award since 2020.

Tickets for The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard are now available at brits.co.uk, with the ceremony set to air live on ITV and ITVX.