The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard today announces that Noel Gallagher is the recipient of this year’s Songwriter of the Year award.

The BRITs Songwriter of the Year award recognises exceptional songwriting talent, and is decided by a select panel of expert judges, with previous recipients including Ed Sheeran, Kid Harpoon, RAYE and Charli xcx. Noel will accept the award in Manchester, at the Co-op Live on 28th February.

Noel Gallagher’s songwriting has permeated the fabric of British culture for over 30 years, from his seminal work with Oasis to his ambitious and acclaimed solo albums with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. His songs span generations and have continued to resonate with audiences around the world like no other.

Noel Gallagher is pictured on stage during the Oasis concert at Sheffield Arena in 1997. | Sheffield Newspapers

placeholder image — Noel Gallagher is pictured on stage during the Oasis concert at Sheffield Arena in 1997. | Sheffield Newspapers

In August 2024, Oasis ended 16 years of speculation by confirming a return to the live stage, in a reunion that many thought would never come to pass. The Oasis Live ‘25 tour became a cultural phenomenon, with 41 electrifying performances in cities across the world. Fans devoured a setlist packed with some of the most iconic songs in music history, with Oasis fever dominating the airwaves, streaming platforms and UK Official Charts; at one juncture during the tour the Top Five of the UK Album Chart featured three Oasis albums, with Time Flies… at Number 1, (What's The Story) Morning Glory? at 2 and Definitely Maybe at 4. Oasis sold in excess of 1 million albums in 2025 alone - the only UK artist to achieve such a feat.

Noel’s songwriting for Oasis defined a cultural movement, delivering seven studio albums and forming a catalogue which contains some of the most recognisable songs in British music history, including ‘Live Forever’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ and ‘Champagne Supernova’. Beyond Oasis, Noel released four critically and commercially successful studio albums with his High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Chasing Yesterday, Who Built the Moon? and Council Skies - and a 10 years solo career retrospective with the chart topping Back the Way We Came: Vol 1.

Alongside his brother, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, Noel has multiple BRITs to his name so far, with the group taking home awards including Best British Group, Album of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Music. Noel’s songwriting has also been recognised by the Ivor Novello Awards, taking home the prestigious Outstanding Song Collection award in 2013.

News is coming thick and fast ahead of the BRITs’ debut at its new Manchester home, with a line-up of global, critically acclaimed stars confirmed to perform. Outstanding Contribution to Music recipient Mark Ronson, announced this week, joins Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Wolf Alice, with more to be announced over the coming weeks.

The BRIT Awards will be broadcast live from Co-op Live on Saturday 28th February, exclusively on ITV and ITVX. Award-winning comedian and writer Jack Whitehall returns to host the show, and the winners of each category will each take home the iconic BRITs trophy, this year conceptualised and designed by internationally acclaimed and Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson, inspired by his roots to the city.

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK said: ⁠"For more than three decades, Noel has crafted songs that have become part of our collective story - bold, brilliant, and always recognisable. His songs have soundtracked memories for multiple generations and defined the spirit of British music globally. Honouring Noel as Songwriter of the Year celebrates a remarkable body of work and a creative force that continues to connect and inspire artists and fans worldwide.”

The public vote is open for Song of the Year with Mastercard and International Song of the Year, exclusively on WhatsApp as part of The BRITs continued partnership with Meta. To vote, fans can head to the BRITs WhatsApp channel or BRITs socials from midday today (Friday 30th January) until the vote closes at 6pm on Friday 13th February. Further information on the vote can be found at brits.co.uk/vote.

The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard will take place on Saturday 28th February from Manchester’s Co-op Live.