Tribute to Music Legends at the BRIT Awards
The 2026 BRIT Awards made a heartfelt gesture by honoring music legends who passed away in the past year. The ceremony, held at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, featured a touching In Memoriam segment that paid tribute to several influential figures in the music industry.
Host Jack Whitehall introduced Tim Burgess, the frontman of The Charlatans, who delivered a powerful speech for English bassist Mani. Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, who died in November last year at the age of 63, was remembered as a significant figure in music. Burgess shared his thoughts on Mani’s impact and legacy:
“Hi everyone, I’m here tonight to pay tribute to my good friend. Mani changed music and inspired generations ahead of him. These songs he recorded will be his legacy. He was truly one of the phenomenal ones. I’d like you to think about Mani for a moment and we can cherish the thought that we got to experience our time and his time together. Let’s take a few moments to remember Mani.”
Following Burgess’s speech, a video package showcased other notable names lost in the previous year, including Ozzy Osbourne. However, the segment received mixed reactions from viewers. Many expressed disappointment with the way the tribute was presented, pointing out issues such as:
- Some names were displayed in larger fonts while others were barely visible for a fraction of a second.
- The tribute was criticized as being the worst seen at the BRITs, with some questioning if it was a competition to read quickly.
- There were complaints that the segment felt rushed and lacked the depth deserved by the individuals honored.
One viewer said: “What a touching tribute with some people’s names in bigger font while others are tiny and barely stay on screen more than half a second.” Another commented: “This is the worst tribute ever. A load of random names on a screen with about 5 clips shown through out ahahahahahhahaa wtffffff.”
Despite the criticism, the tribute to Mani was praised for its sincerity. One person noted: “Nice tribute to Mani by Tim Burgess, before a shockingly long list of names cycle past for a sombre In Memoriam section.”
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award later in the ceremony. His wife, Sharon, curated an all-star rock tribute performance led by Robbie Williams. The performance will feature a special arrangement of “No More Tears,” a track from Ozzy’s 1991 album of the same name.
Robbie will be joined on stage by Zakk Wylde, Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, and Tommy Clufetos, all of whom have been part of Ozzy’s band over the years.
Changes and New Beginnings
The 46th edition of the BRIT Awards marks a new chapter for the ceremony. Since removing gendered categories such as Best Male and Best Female, the event has faced criticism for the lack of female representation in nominations. However, 2026 brings positive changes, with 70 percent of this year’s nominations being female or non-binary.
Comedian Jack Whitehall returns as host for the sixth time, having previously hosted the event in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025. He stepped away in 2022 when Mo Gilligan took over for two ceremonies, and Maya Jama, Roman Kemp, and Clara Amfo co-hosted the event in 2024.
Whitehall, 38, credits Manchester as a city that shaped his early comedy career after studying at The University of Manchester. In a recent social media clip titled “Ode to Manchester,” he highlighted the city’s cultural landmarks, from the Curry Mile to Coronation Street.
“I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me. The city I started my comedy career in, it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at the Co-op Live, a venue that is only a stone’s throw away from the comedy club I did my first 10-minute set in all those years ago.”
He added: “Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait.”
