How to watch 'The BRIT Awards' 2026 online from anywhere — stream the music awards live

Host Jack Whitehall clutches an award in a promotional image for the BRITs 2025
(Image credit: BRIT Awards)

The BRIT Awards 2026 marks the 46th edition of the U.K.’s biggest music awards — and it already feels like a turning point. For the first time, the ceremony is leaving London for the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, in a bid to shine a light on the country’s regional music powerhouses. In the run-up, the new BRITs Fringe will bring the city to life with murals, art trails, and masterclasses.

Below, we’ll walk you through how to watch The BRIT Awards 2026 from anywhere with a VPN, and how to stream it for free in the U.K..

The BRIT Awards 2026 start time and streaming details

The BRIT Awards 2026 airs on Saturday, February 28, with live coverage starting at 8:15 p.m. GMT in the U.K. on ITV1 and ITVX.
• LIVE U.K. STREAMS ITV1, ITVX, STV, STV Player from 8:15 p.m. GMT
• Scotland — (live)
• U.S. BRITs YouTube stream (delayed) from 3:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. PT
• CanadaBRITs YouTube stream (delayed) from 3:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. PT
• AustraliaBRITs YouTube stream (delayed) from 7:45 a.m. AEDT Sunday, March 1 / 4:45 a.m. AWST Sunday, March 1
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN risk-free

Jack Whitehall is back to host for a record-breaking sixth time — with a neat bit of symmetry, since he studied in Manchester.

The nominations tell their own story, too. Nearly 70% of this year’s contenders are women or non-binary artists, and PinkPantheress has made history as the first woman – and the youngest person ever – to be named Producer of the Year.

There’s a new milestone on the performance line-up as well, with HUNTR/X becoming the first K-pop act to be nominated and set to perform at the BRITs.

Traveling when the ceremony takes place, or finding ITVX blocked where you are? A VPN like NordVPN can help you access your usual streaming services securely while abroad, as long as you stick to the platform’s terms and your existing subscriptions.

Watch The BRIT Awards 2026 from anywhere

If you’re away from home and find that your usual streaming app is blocked, a VPN (virtual private network) can help. It routes your connection through a secure server in your home country, so your device appears to be back where you signed up, allowing you to continue using your existing services while you travel.

We’ve tested plenty of VPNs, and our top pick right now is NordVPN. It’s fast and reliable, works on all the major devices, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free.

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How to use a VPN:

1. Install a VPN on the device you plan to watch on. NordVPN is the one we recommend. As we've said, NordVPN is our favourite.

2. Connect to a server in the country where your streaming service works as normal.

3. Open your streaming app and start watching.

Watch The BRIT Awards 2026 in the U.K.

Uk Flag

(Image credit: Free)

The BRIT Awards 2026 air in the U.K. on Saturday, February 28. You can watch live on ITV1 and ITVX from 8:15 p.m. GMT.

In Scotland, the show will also be available on STV, with streaming on STV Player.

There’s also a brand-new way to tune in this year: ITV will stream the full ceremony on its official YouTube channel from 8:45 p.m. GMT, around 30 minutes behind the TV broadcast.

Want all the build-up too? Red carpet coverage kicks off at 5:30 p.m. GMT on the BRITs Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Already have a U.K. ITVX account but heading overseas? A VPN can help you securely keep watching from abroad. At Tom’s Guide, our top recommendation for this is NordVPN.

Watch The BRIT Awards 2026 in the U.S.

US flag

(Image credit: free)

In the U.S., you can watch The BRIT Awards 2026 on a half-hour delay on Saturday, February 28 via the official global stream on the BRITs YouTube channel. The broadcast starts at 3:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. PT.

If you want the red carpet build-up too, the BRITs will stream pre-show coverage on Instagram and Facebook from 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.

Prefer the full live U.K. broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX, which starts a little earlier at 3:15 p.m. ET / 12:15 p.m. PT? You’ll need a VPN to access ITVX while you’re traveling.

Already have a U.K. ITVX account but heading abroad? A VPN can help you keep watching securely from overseas. Tom’s Guide’s go-to pick for this is NordVPN.

Watch The BRIT Awards 2026 in Canada

Canada flag

(Image credit: Free)

In Canada, the easiest way to watch is the official global stream on The BRITs YouTube channel, which you can tune in for free on Saturday, February 28. The digital broadcast starts at 3:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. PT.

Want the arrivals and interviews first? The red carpet show will stream on the BRITs Instagram and Facebook from 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.

If you’d rather watch the full U.K. broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX, it starts 30 minutes earlier — but you’ll need a VPN to access ITVX outside the U.K..

Already have a U.K. ITVX account, but traveling abroad? A VPN can help you securely keep watching from overseas. As we’ve already said, NordVPN is our favorite.

Watch The BRIT Awards 2026 in Australia

Australia flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In Australia, you can watch "The BRIT Awards" 2026 on the official global stream via The BRITs YouTube channel, starting at 8:45 p.m. GMT — that’s 7:45 a.m. AEDT or 4:45 a.m. AWST on Sunday, March 1.

If you’d like to see the show 30 minutes earlier, the full U.K. broadcast begins at 8:15 p.m. GMT on ITV1 and ITVX, but you’ll need a VPN to access ITVX from outside the U.K..

Red carpet coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. GMT on the BRITs Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Traveling outside Australia? A VPN can help you keep access to your usual streaming services while you’re away. Our number one streaming option is NordVPN.

The BRIT Awards 2026 — FAQs

When and where is the ceremony?

The awards will take place on Saturday, February 28 2026, at Co-op Live in Manchester. It’s the first time in the event’s nearly 50-year history that the ceremony has been held outside London.

Is there a Red Carpet show?

Yes. BRITs 2026: Live From The Red Carpet, hosted by Tyler West and Charley Marlowe, will be livestreamed from 5:30 p.m. GMT on the official BRITs Instagram and Facebook pages.

Can the public vote for winners?

Public voting for the 2026 awards has already closed. It ran from January 30 to February 13, 2026, with fans able to vote exclusively via WhatsApp in two categories: Song of the Year and International Song of the Year.

All other categories – including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year – are decided by the BRITs Voting Academy.

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Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Caroline Preece
Contributing Smart Home Writer

Caroline is a freelance writer and product tester, previously working in roles such as smart home editor across various titles at Future, including Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, and TechRadar. As a technology and lifestyle expert, Caroline specializes in smart home tech, appliances, and more. She currently operates out of her cozy Suffolk apartment and is more dedicated than ever to helping people find the best products for their own homes.

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