BRIT Awards to move to Saturday night slot in 2023
Next year's O2 Arena ceremony is set for February 11
By Joe Goggins
The date for the 2023 edition of the BRIT Awards has been confirmed, with the bash moving to a Saturday night slot for the first time ever.
The show on February 11 next year will mark a break with its tradition of taking place midweek, and will again be broadcast on ITV from London’s O2 Arena. Further details on the ceremony are expected to follow in due course, with the evening’s host yet to be announced.
The 2022 awards were compered by comedian Mo Gilligan, who took over from fellow funnyman Jack Whitehall after the latter had hosted four years in a row. That ceremony also saw reinventions of the format, with organisers responding to criticism by non-binary three-time BRIT winner Sam Smith by ditching gendered categories, as well as reviving the awards for Best Alternative/Rock Act, Best Dance Act, Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act, and Best Pop/R&B Act.
Adele was the night’s biggest winner, picking up a hat-trick of gongs from four nominations to bring her career tally to 12 BRITs, leaving her one short of Robbie Williams’ solo record of 13. In a further sign of the Awards’ increasingly diverse scope, the 2022 nominations included the most female artists since 2010.
In addition to confirming the date for the ceremony – which will be the 30th edition of the Awards broadcast by ITV – organisers have also announced that Damian Christian, Managing Director and President of Promotions at Atlantic Records, has been appointed as Chair of the BRIT Committee for 2023.
“The BRITs is the biggest night of the year for the UK music industry, and we want as many eyes on it as possible as we showcase the best and most diverse British talent,” said Christian in a press release. “Moving the show to a Saturday will breathe new life into the iconic ceremony, while also introducing a new and more engaged audience.”
Organisers are promising “an unforgettable and far-reaching evening of live music and entertainment,” with announcements on performances to follow in the coming months; this past February’s event saw live turns from Little Simz, Dave, Olivia Rodrigo, Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish.